 Cisgender- individuals’ gender identifies correspond
Human sexuality and its moral evaluation
It is the total of our physical, emotional, and spiritual
responses, thoughts and feelings. Sexuality is more about who
we are than about what we do.
Human sexuality is the expression of sexual sensation and
related intimacy between human beings.
1. Sensuality
- Awareness, acceptance of, and comfort with one’s
own body; physiological and psychological
enjoyment of one’s own body and the bodies of
others.
2. Intimacy
- The ability and need to experience emotions
closeness to another human being and have it
returned.
3. Identity
- The development of a sense of who one is
sexually, including a sense of maleness and
femaleness.
4. Sexualization
- The use of sexuality to influence, control, or
manipulate others.
5. Sexual Heath and Reproduction
- Attitudes and behaviors related to producing
children and health consequences of sexual
behavior.
 It is carried out in the philosophy of sexuality in order
to clarify the fundamental notions of sexual desire and
asexual activity. Conceptual analysis is also carried
out in attempting to arrive at satisfactory definitions
of adultery, prostitution, rape, pornography, and so
forth.
 Of sexuality inquires about the value of sexual activity
and sexual pleasure and of the various forms they take.
Thus, the philosophy of sexuality is concerned with
the perennial questions of sexual morality and
constitutes a large branch of applied ethics.
Sex- refers to the biological differences between males and
females, such as the genitalia and genetic differences.
Gender- describes the psychological (gender identity) and
sociological (gender role) representations of biological sex.
with their birth sexes.
 Transgender- individuals’ gender identities do not
correspond with their birth sexes.
Sexual orientation- refers to a person’s sexual attraction to
others. Sexual orientation may include attraction to the same
gender (homosexuality), a gender different than your own
(heterosexuality), both men and women (bisexuality), all
genders (pansexual), or neither (asexuality).
Sexual behavior- it is a manner in which humans experience
and express their sexuality.
Sexual fantasies- any mental imagery that is sexually arousing
(e.g., replacement fantasy).
 Masturbation- physical stimulation of the body for
sexual pleasure. Empirical evidence links
masturbation to increased levels of sexual and marital
satisfaction, and physical and psychological health.
 Coital Sex- is the term for vaginal-penile intercourse
 Oral sex- sexual activity in which the genitals of one
partner are stimulated by the mouth of other.
Cunnilingus oral stimulation of the female’s external
sex organs and fellatio oral stimulation of the male’s
external sex organs.
 Anal sex- sexual activity involving the penetration of
the anus. Anal sex is not exclusively a “homosexual
behavior”.
 Refers to the voluntary, conscious, and empathic
participation in a sexual act, which can be withdrawn
at any time (Jozkowski & Peterson, 2013).
 It is the baseline for what are considered normal
acceptable and healthy behaviors; whereas,
nonconsensual sex– i.e. forced, pressured, or
unconscious participation–is unacceptable and
unhealthy.
 Kristen Jozkowski and her colleagues (2014) found
that females tend to use verbal strategies of consent,
whereas males tend to rely on nonverbal indications
of consent.
 “The universal principles of pleasure, sexual
behaviors, and consent are intertweined. COnsent is
the foundation on which sexual activity needs to be
built. Understanding and practicing empathic
consent requires sexual literacy and an ability to
effectively communicate desires and limits, as well as
to respect others’ parameters.”
Sexual acts can be distinguished as:
 Acts are morally rights acts one ought to do, one is
morally prohibited from not doing them, they are
 moral duties, they are acts that are required. In
general, something is ‘right’ if it is morally obligatory.
 Example: a spouse might have a moral obligation to
engage in sex with the other spouse.
 Permitted means behavior that is within the bounds
of the moral system. It is normally permitted to act in
any way that does not cause others unjustified harm.
 In short, “permitted” is the lowest bar for moral
behavior. Anything that is not morally forbidden is
permitted.
 Example: it might be morally permissible for married
couples to employ contraception while engaging in
coitus.
 ‘Supererogatory’ designates any actions which are
deemed morally good but which carries or implies no
obligation to act SUpererogatory actions are also
known as altruistic actions.
 Example: one person’s agreeing to have sexual
relations with another person when the former has no
sexual desire of his or her own but does want to please
the latter might be an act of supererogation.
 Acts are morally prohibited, morally impermissible,
acts one ought not for, and acts one has a duty to
refrain from doing.
 Example: rape and incest are commonly thought to be
morally wrong.
 Humankind’s most basic and oldest social unit is the
family,
 It is a social institution primarily established society
to ensure its continuity and to regulate the sexual
behaviors of its members.
 Light and Keller (1985)- marriage is a socially
recognized union between two or more individuals
that typically involves sexual and economic rights and
duties.
 Bronislaw Malinowski- marriage is a contract for the
production and maintenance of children.
 According to the Executive Order No. 209 or the
Family Code of the Philippines- marriage is a special
contract of permanent union between a man and a
woman entered into in accordance with law for the
establishment of conjugal and family life. It is the
foundation of the family and an inviolable social
institution.
 Marriage, also called as matrimony or wedlock, is a
legally and socially sanctioned union, usually between
a man and a woman, that is regulated by laws, rules,
customs, beliefs, and attitudes that prescribe the
rights and duties of the partners and accords status to
their offspring (if any). It is another human
construction to ensure the continuity of the family
and the eventual perpetuation of the human species.
 Monogamy- an ideal, widespread, and rational type of
marriage. It refers to a marriage of one man with one
woman at a time.
 Polygamy or Plural Marriage- refers to the marriage
of more than one mate at a given time.
o Polygyny- a type of marriage in which a man
marries more than one wife at a time.
o Polyandry- woman marries several men at a
time; opposite of polygyny
o Endogamy or Group Marriage- a group of
men marry a group of women at a time; is
common in many cultures and ethnic
groups.
1. Connection- a relationship in which a person, thing,
or idea is linked or associated with something else. In
marriage, connection means a bond that holds
partners together in a relationship and it is one fo the
most important strengths for couples to have.
Without this, relationships or marriage can easily drft
apart. A strong connection often serves as a
foundation upon which other elements are built.
2. Commitment- the state or quality of being dedicated
to something. Commitment in marriage means that
both parties are willing to do whatever it takes to
make the marriage work. It means both have to find
ways to compromise to make the relationship
successful.
3. Giving- the act of presenting something voluntarily
and witjout wxpedcting any compensation. It is the
tangible show of commitment, of choice, of a deeper
attachment than mere friendship.
4. Respect- may best be defined as the way you show
true appreciation for another person. Respect is an
action, not just a feeling. It’s a declaration of value for
someone. Respect is shown in marriage not because
one person is more superior than the other, but
because each person recognizes the value of the other.
It eliminates fear of being different, upholds healthy
boundaries in the relationship, and strengthens the
relationship.
5. Trust- it is an indispensable ingredient in building
and maintaining a healthy marriage. It is one of the
most important elements of a relationship, and a
crucial element of any lifetime commitment. Without
trust, the quality of the relationship will deteriorate.
6. Intimacy- in marriage, intimacy is an essential art to
keep the relationship strong. It involves feelings of
emotional closeness and connectedness with another
person.
o Emotional Intimacy- involves opening
up to deeper authentic feelings by
sharing emotions verbally or
nonverbally.
o Intellectual Intimacy- a cerebral
connection often obtained through
thoughtful conversations such sharing
whatever you are thinking and your
skills. It could be sharing your hopes,
dreams, fears, and experiences.
 o Physical intimacy- is about touch and
closeness between bodies. In a romantic
relationship, it might include holding
hands, kissing, cuddling, and sex.
o Sexual Intimacy- when people engage
in sensual or sexual activities. It consists
of exploring and sharing sexuality
together—sharing fantasies, foreplay,
role-play, mutual masturbation, or non-
genital, sensual touch.
o Spiritual Intimacy- entails sharing a
spiritual or religious connection.
1. Pre-marital Sex- is any sexual activity with an
opposite sex partner or with the same sex partner
before they have started a marriage life. The term is
usually used to refer to intercourse before a marriage.
Sexual activities among young people have been
increasing worldwide.
2. Adultery and Concubinage- adultery is committed by
a married woman and her paramour who knows of her
marital status, when they engage in sexual intercourse.
Concubinage is committed by a married husband by:
a. Keeping a mistress in the conjugal dwelling;
b. Having sexual intercourse under scandalous
circumstances with a woman who is not his
wife;
c. Cohabiting with her in any other place.
3. Cohabitation- to live together as a couple without
being married.
a. Pros
o Your relationship may be deepened
and enriched.
o The stresses of getting married can
be eased.
o Reducing your expenses can save
you more money.
b. Cons
o Cohabitation is not a permanent
relationship.
o There is always uncertainty with
cohabitation.
o Couples who cohabitate have less
fulfilling sexual lives.
4. Prostitution- it is the practice of engaging in
relatively indiscriminate sexual activity, in general
with someone who is not a spouse or a friend, in
exchange for immediate payment in money or other
valuables. Prostitutes may be female or male or
transgender, and prostitution may entail heterosexual
or homosexual activity, but historically most
prostitutes have been women and clients men.
- It is the same-sex affection of men or women;
attracted to individuals of the same sex.
Lesbians- traditionally exclusively referred to women who are
attracted to other women.
Gay- exclusively referred to men who are attracted to other
men.
Bisexual- Individuals who are attracted to both men and
women
Transgender- term used to describe people whose gender
identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth
Pansexual- Individuals whose sexual attraction is limited by
either the traditional binary types of male & female nor other
categories of sex, gender & gender identity
Queer- re-appropriated (in recent years) by lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons and others to denote
a general self-identification as non-heterosexual or non-
cisgender.
Transvestism- a condition in which a person, usually
heterosexual in orientation is more comfortable sexually while
wearing clothing symbolic of the opposite sex.
Transsexualism- differs markedly form the foregoing by gender
dysphoria syndrome, i.e., an anxiety, sometimes reaching
suicidal depression, as the result of the obsessive feeling that
one’s “real” sex is the opposite of one’s phenotypic sex.
The expression of the conjugal will of a man and a woman to
parenthood is commonly called sexual intercourse or coitus, the
celebration of physical, mental, and spiritual intimacy.
- Contraception is thus defined as the voluntary
prevention and contraception b the positive used
of artificial means which hinders the generative
cells from uniting during sexual act.
- The moral issue of contraception is concerned
with the rightness or wrongness of the use of
various methods by which contraception can be
prevented in the conjugal union.
1. Age
 Differing age at menarche
 Risk takers
2. Culture
 Cultural attitudes to premarital sex
 Cultural isolation
3. Religion
 Orthodox religions
 Christianity
1. Many think contraception is inherently wrong
because it is unnatural, anti-life, form of abortion,
separates sex from reproduction, leads to “immoral
behavior”.
2. It also rings bad consequences which include health
risks, prevents potential human beings from being
conceived, prevents people who might benefit
humanity from being born and may lead to
depopulation.
Many believe that it is not wrong because of the following:
a. Human right benefits- Procreative liberty
b. Health benefits- prevents contraception of unwanted
children thus reducing the number of abortions and
the use of condoms help prevent STDs and HIV.
c. Family benefits- prevents the conception of children
that a family cannot support.
d. Enables people to avoid having more children than
they want.
e. Improves marriages.
f. Benefits for the woman
g. Demographic benefits- it enables world population to
be controlled and thus protects the environment and
reduces poverty.

1. Doing no harm
2. Voluntary participation
3. Informed consent
4. Confidentiality and anonymity
5. Ethical decision making

 Natural law moralists are divided on the issue of

contraception: only rhythm method and abstinence.
The Neo-Scholastic ethicians consider the natural
order as designed by God. Majority of the members of
this commission took the position that contraception
does not conflict with human nature and the natural
law if it is practiced to promote responsible
parenthood.
 Rhythm or safe method is allowed by the encyclical.
 Roman Catholic church views voluntary sterilization
as intrinsically wrong in so far as it involves the
frustration of natural power and function.