HEALTH 8

MOD. 1 Sexuality as an Important Component of One’s Personality

Sexuality is an essential part of what we do and who we are. It is the way in which
we experience and express ourselves as human beings. It is the entire expression of an
individual’s self-concept. Sexuality involves the physical, mental, social, emotional and
ethical aspects of one’s personality.
Sexuality is a natural and healthy part of life. It is everything about being a male or
female. It’s the most important aspect in masculine or feminine identification. It involves the
name given at birth, the toys played with, the garments worn, the buddies played with, the
roles and responsibilities at home. Sexuality provides a sense of self-worth when sexual
understanding is positive.
Gender is a social concept on how men and women should think, feel, and act. It
refers to femininity or masculinity of a person’s role and behavior as defined by society.
Human sexuality is the quality of being male or female. It is the way in which we
experience and express ourselves as sexual beings. (Department of Education, 2013)

MOD.2 DIMENSION OF HUMAN SEXUALITY

Ethical Self – the way you value relationships

Emotional Self – the way you feel about yourself and others
Social Self – the way you interact with others.
Mental Self – the way you think as man or a woman.
Physical Self – the way you look as a man or a woman.

Sexuality means you need to be aware of yourself better.

Healthy sexuality means taking high sense of responsibility for all your actions since this can
affect self-esteem, decision-making, and behavior.

MOD.3 Factors Affecting One’s Attitude and Practices Related to Sexuality

and Sexual Behaviors

Factors that affect one’s attitude and practices related to sexuality and sexual
behaviors:

Family. It is a factor that oftentimes determines your family values. Family, especially the parents
are usually the first mentors of your sexual identity. They teach you about love, kindness
and humility. Family’s relationship lays the foundation of your personality, life options and
total behavior. It can also affect the strength of your social, physical, mental and emotional
health. Making a strong connection within your family is significant in nurturing yourself.
Culture. Cultural background can affect your values regarding sexuality. Sexual identities and
orientations, the contents of sexual behavior, and the social consequences of these
behaviors vary largely across cultural contexts. Cultures all over the world recognized
standards for individuals to match your sex role prescriptions and feel psychologically
well adjusted.

Peers. Like your family, your friends can also have an important impact on your views on human
sexuality. Peers are the one of important sources of knowledge about sexuality, but they are
not the most effective and efficient sources. As an adolescent, you may begin to spend more
time with peers – friends and classmates in your age group. As a result, their values and
beliefs may influence you.

Media. Media plays a significant role in your lives as you regularly watch televisions, listen to
radio, search the internet read newspaper, etc. Television and magazines are the
maineducational sources ofyouth’s sexual relationships.

MOD.4 Personal Health Attitude and its Influence to Sexual Behavior.

 Sex – is the biological basis of being male or female.
Gender – refers to femininity or masculinity of a person’s role and behavior. It is a social
concept on how men and women should think, feel and act.
Gender Equality – permits man and woman equal enjoyment of human rights.
Gender Role – refers to set of roles, characteristics, and expectations of how a man or a woman
should feel, think, and act as influenced by parents, peer, and society.
Sexuality – an integral part of what we do and who we are; it is the way in which we experience
and express ourselves as sexual beings. It is the total expression of an individual’s
self-concept.
DOUBLE STANDARD OF MORALITY
Boys and girls are given the impression of men being superior to women. In as much as we
would like to practice gender equality, the roles for human conduct and human appropriateness
are not alike for both sexes as practiced in most areas in the Philippines. This is likely shown in
the examples below:
A. Boys and men are permitted to stay out more and up to a later time than the girls and
women.
B. A philandering or immoral man is considered as demonstrating his manliness or
“pagkalalaki.” A philandering or immoral woman is considered as cheap, bad, or
“masamang babae.”
C. Women are expected to remain virginal until they marry, while it is generally acceptable
for men to have sexual experience before marriage.
D. Women are socially judged and legally penalized for adultery and for having children out
of wedlock.
E. Men who stay at home to do household chores instead of having jobs to earn money for
the family are considered by some as “under ‘d saya.”
F. Men showing weakness are considered girly.
G. Men are always be the last to say and decide on situation in the family.
H. Women are not allowed to display their breasts in public when nursing a baby.
I. Cooking foods is always delegated to women than men.
J. Engineering courses are seldom taken by the women.
K.
HOW DOES ONE STAY VIRGIN?

KNOW- your attitudes and standards

VALUE- your virginity for your own good and your future spouse
ACT- 1. Choose friends with high standards
2. Stay away from dangers and temptations
3. Be kind, firm and proud of your values.