SEXUAL SELF
• express skepticism about various
claims regarding the origin of sex,
highlighting that some sources seem
to rely on secondary information and
might present a skewed view that
suggests sex started only recently (in
the 1950s).
• there is misinformation and
deception surrounding the topic of
sex. This misinformation is found
not only in books but also on the
internet. The author points out that
some sources treat sex as if it only
became relevant or significant in the
1950s, which they believe is
misleading.
Sex as a Commodity: sex is sometimes
portrayed in society, particularly on social
media, as a commodity. This implies that sex
is treated as something that can be bought,
sold, or used for personal gain, whether that
be financial or taking advantage of others.
Principles of Research:
Evaluating truth claims. These principles
include:
- Chronology: Examining the order of
events.
- Continuity: Assessing the consistency of
information over time.
- Consistency: Ensuring that information
does not contradict itself.
- Creator: Considering the source or author
of the information.
- Contextualization: Understanding
information in its proper context.
- Connection: Recognizing how different
pieces of information relate to each other.
- Citations: Checking for references and
sources that support truth claims.
What is Sexuality?
• One of the fundamental drives
behind a person's feelings, thoughts,
and behaviors.
• Human sexuality is viewed in three
domains: Biological, Psychological,
Social.
1. BIOLOGICAL SEX: Biological
sex refers to the anatomical and
physiological characteristics
associated with being male or
female.
• Referring to the concept of
"assigned sex."
• Assigned sex is the label given
based on an individual's sex
organs. For females, this includes
ovaries, and for males, it involves
testes.
• Sex is commonly assigned at
birth based on external sex
organs - ovaries for females and
testes for males.
• Biological sex definitions focus
on the physical attributes that
contribute to the scientific
 understanding of human
sexuality.
• Traits associated with biological
sex include chromosomes,
hormones, reproductive organs,
and secondary sex
characteristics.
• Traditional views see biological
sex as binary - male or female
based on reproductive potential.
Sex Hormones: Both females and males
have the same hormones - estrogens,
progesterone, and testosterone.
• There are differences in their
production sites.
• There are differences in their blood
concentrations.
• There are differences in their
interactions with various organs,
systems, and apparatus.
• While the basic hormones exist in
both sexes, the way they function
and influence the body can differ
significantly between males and
females.
1. Production Sites:
• Males: Sex hormone production in
males primarily occurs in the testes.
The testes produce testosterone.
• Females: In females, sex hormone
production occurs mainly in the
ovaries. The ovaries produce
estrogen and progesterone.
2. Blood Concentrations:
• Males: The concentration of
testosterone in the bloodstream is
higher in males.
• Females: Females have higher
concentrations of estrogen and
progesterone in their blood.
3. Interactions with Various Organs,
Systems, and Apparatus:
• Males: Testosterone interacts with
various organs and systems in males
to promote the development of male
secondary sex characteristics.
• Females: Estrogen and progesterone
interact with different organs and
systems in females to support the
development of female secondary
sex characteristics.
Difference of Sexual Development (DSD):
DSD describes a condition where an
individual is born with reproductive or
sexual anatomy that deviates from typical
male or female.
• This can involve variations in:
1. Hormones:
• Typical males have higher
testosterone. Typical females have
higher estrogen/progesterone.
• In DSD, there may be variations in
these hormone levels.
2. Chromosomes:
• Typically, males are XY. Females are
XX.
• In DSD, there may be variations like
XXY or XO.
 3. Internal/External Reproductive
Structures:
• Typically, males have testes/penis.
Females have ovaries/uterus/vagina.
• In DSD, there may be a mix of
male/female structures. For example,
both ovarian and testicular tissue.
Intersex: describes people with differences
in sex development.
• Examples in infants: no vaginal
opening, labia that do not open, penis
without urethral opening,
smaller/larger than expected genitals.
• 1.7% of population is born with
intersex traits.
Stages of Life and Sexual Development:
1. Adolescence:
• Secondary sex characteristics may
have unusual development or be
absent (e.g. irregular menstruation,
abnormal male breast growth).
2. Adulthood:
• Some may discover differences when
attempting to conceive.
• Others may find out during medical
procedures (e.g. absence of uterus,
undescended testes).
2. PSYCHOLOGICAL: The
psychology of human sexuality is the
scientific examination of our
thoughts, emotions and behavior,
both individually and culturally.
Individual Perspective:
Thoughts: Examining individual thoughts
involves understanding cognitive processes
related to sexual identity, desires, fantasies,
and attitudes. This could include the
development of sexual self-concept and
personal beliefs about sex.
Emotions: Studying emotions explores the
range of feelings associated with sexuality,
including pleasure, desire, arousal, guilt,
shame, or anxiety. Understanding emotional
responses is crucial for a comprehensive
view of sexual experiences.
Behavior: Analyzing behavior involves
observing and studying actions and
interactions related to sexuality,
encompassing a broad spectrum from sexual
expression to interpersonal dynamics.
Cultural Perspective:
Cultural Influence: Recognizing the cultural
dimension involves understanding how
societal norms, values, and beliefs impact
individuals' sexual thoughts, emotions, and
behaviors. Cultural factors shape sexual
identities, norms, and expectations.
Social Construction: Acknowledging that
aspects of human sexuality are socially
constructed means understanding that
societal influences play a significant role in
shaping individual and collective sexual
experiences.
Gender Identity:
• Definition: Gender identity refers to
how an individual feels inside and
how they express their gender
through clothing, behavior, and
 personal appearance, irrespective of
their assigned sex at birth.
• Cisgender: Individuals who identify
with the sex assigned to them at
birth. For example, if someone was
assigned female at birth and
identifies as a woman, they are
cisgender.
• Explanation: Cisgender
individuals align with
societal expectations related
to their assigned gender at
birth.
• Transgender:
• Definition: Individuals
whose gender identity does
not align with the sex
assigned to them at birth.
• Explanation: This term is an
umbrella encompassing those
whose gender identity,
expression, or behavior
doesn't conform to societal
norms associated with their
assigned sex at birth.
Sexual Orientation:
• Definition: Sexual orientation refers
to the gender(s) to which an
individual is sexually attracted and
desires relationships with. Common
orientations include gay, lesbian,
straight, bisexual, and asexual.
• Gay and Lesbian:
• Explanation: Individuals who
are attracted to individuals of
the same gender. For
example, a gay man is
attracted to other men, and a
lesbian woman is attracted to
other women.
• Straight:
• Explanation: Individuals who
are attracted to individuals of
the opposite gender.
• Bisexual:
• Explanation: Individuals
attracted to more than one
gender.
• Asexual:
• Explanation: Individuals who
may not experience sexual
attraction or have a limited
interest in sexual activity.
• Note: Sexual orientation is about
whom one is attracted to
romantically, emotionally, and
sexually.
Importance of Sexuality:
• Explanation: Sexuality is a
fundamental aspect of human
identity that goes beyond
reproduction. It influences how
individuals perceive themselves and
physically relate to others.
• Identity and Attraction: Sexual
orientation involves personal feelings
and identity. It may not always be
noticeable to others, and individuals
may or may not act on the attractions
they feel.
• Sexual Orientation: Sexual
orientation pertains to the gender(s)
you are sexually attracted to and
want relationships with.
• Sexual orientations include gay,
lesbian, straight, bisexual, and
asexual.
Gay: Attraction to the same
gender (commonly used for
men).
Lesbian: Attraction to the same
gender (specifically used for
women).
Straight (Heterosexual):
Attraction to the opposite gender.
Bisexual: Attraction to both
genders.
Asexual: Limited or absent
sexual attraction to others.
• Sexual orientation is about who you
feel attracted to romantically,
emotionally, and sexually. This
emphasizes that sexual orientation is
multidimensional, involving
romantic, emotional, and sexual
attractions. It goes beyond mere
physical attraction to encompass
deeper emotional and relational
aspects
• Sexuality defines how we see
ourselves and physically relate to
others.
• Sexual orientation involves feelings
and identity. It may not be noticeable
to others.
• People may or may not act on the
attractions they feel. Acknowledging
that one's sexual orientation doesn't
necessarily dictate behavior, as
individuals have the autonomy to
choose whether or not to act on their
attractions.
Alfred Kinsey and His Study on
Sexuality:
1. Background:
• Alfred Kinsey: American zoologist,
born June 23, 1894, in Hoboken,
New Jersey; died August 25, 1956, in
Bloomington, Indiana.
• Contributions: Conducted extensive
research on human sexual behavior
and founded the Kinsey Institute.
• Notable Works: Published "Sexual
Behavior in the Human Male" (1948)
and "Sexual Behavior in the Human
Female" (1953), based on 18,500
personal interviews.
2. Kinsey's Perspective:
• Sexual Orientation Continuum:
Kinsey believed that sexual
orientation is not strictly binary
(heterosexual or homosexual) but
exists on a continuum. People fall at
different points on this continuum,
with some closer to the extremes and
others in the middle or people can
fall anywhere, showing different
levels of attraction to different
genders. This idea recognizes that
sexuality is more diverse and doesn't
neatly fit into just two categories.
• "Continuum" generally refers to a
continuous sequence or range of
things. It is often used in various
fields to describe a spectrum or
progression without clear-cut
divisions between its components.
• Wide Variation in Behavior:
Kinsey's research, based on personal
interviews, revealed a wide variation
in human sexual behavior,
 challenging traditional notions of
sexual orientation.
3. Types of Sexual Orientation:
• Heterosexual:
• Definition: Attracted to a
different gender.
• Common Term: Straight.
• Homosexual:
• Definition: Attracted to the
same gender.
• Common Terms: Gay (for
men), lesbian (for women).
• Bisexual:
• Definition: Attracted to both
men and women.
• Identification: People who
identify as bisexual.
• Pansexual/Queer:
• Definition: Attractions span
across various gender
identities.
• Identification: People may
identify as pansexual or
queer.
• Asexual:
• Definition: Lack of sexual
attraction to anyone.
• Identification: People who
identify as asexual.
4. Kinsey's Impact:
• Shift in Perspective: Kinsey's work
challenged societal norms and
contributed to a more nuanced
understanding of sexual orientation.
• Recognition of Diversity: By
proposing a continuum, Kinsey
acknowledged the diversity of
human sexuality and emphasized that
individuals may not neatly fit into
exclusive categories.
SOCIAL: Sociologists from all major
theoretical perspectives engage in studying
the role of sexuality in contemporary social
life.
• Implication: This suggests a
comprehensive and diverse
approach to understanding
how sexuality operates within
different sociological
frameworks.
• Sexuality is an important and
defining social location.
2. Sexuality as a Defining Social
Location:
• Definition: Social location
refers to the position and
experiences of individuals or
groups within society.
• Statement: Scholars
recognize that sexuality is an
important and defining social
location.
• Implication: Sexuality is
considered a significant
factor that shapes and defines
individuals' places within the
social structure.
3. Impact of Constructed Sexuality:
 • Statement: The manner in
which sexuality is
constructed has a significant
effect on perceptions,
interactions, and outcomes.
• Explanation: The way society
shapes and defines sexuality
influences how individuals
perceive themselves and
others, how they interact, and
the outcomes of these
interactions.
Key Implications:
• Social Significance of Sexuality:
• Sociologists acknowledge
that sexuality is not just a
personal or individual matter
but holds broader social
significance.
• Continued Relevance:
• The statement suggests that
sexuality's role in society is
an ongoing and contemporary
area of study, implying that it
continues to be relevant in
understanding social
dynamics.
• Influence on Perceptions and
Interactions:
• The constructed nature of
sexuality is highlighted as
having a profound impact on
how individuals see
themselves, interact with
others, and the overall
outcomes of these social
interactions.
• Societal Norms and Values:
• The passage implies that
societal norms and values
related to sexuality play a
crucial role in shaping social
life, emphasizing the
importance of cultural and
social constructions.
• The social aspect focuses on three
components:
1. Gender roles
2. Gender stereotypes
3. Human relationships
1. Gender Roles:
• Definition: Expectations and
behaviors society associates with
being male or female.
• Role in Sexuality: Sociologists study
how societal expectations around
gender roles influence sexual
behavior, identity, and relationships.
This includes exploring traditional
roles and evolving norms related to
masculinity and femininity.
• Every society, ethnic group, and
culture has gender role expectations.
• Gender role expectations can be very
different from group to group.
• Gender role expectations can also
change in the same society over time.
• For example, pink used to be
considered a masculine color in the
U.S. while blue was considered
feminine.
2. Gender Stereotypes:
 • Definition: Preconceived ideas or
beliefs about the characteristics,
behaviors, and roles associated with
men and women.
• Widely accepted judgments or biases
about a person or group that are often
oversimplified and not always
accurate.
• can lead to unfair and unequal
treatment based on a person's gender.
• Sexism: The unequal treatment
resulting from gender stereotypes is
termed sexism.
• Role in Sexuality: Sociologists
examine how gender stereotypes
shape perceptions of sexuality. This
includes studying how these
stereotypes contribute to social
norms, expectations, and inequalities
in areas such as sexual expression
and relationships.
Four Basic Kinds of Gender Stereotypes:
Personality Traits:
• Example: Women are expected to be
accommodating and emotional,
while men are expected to be self-
confident and aggressive.
Domestic Behaviors:
• Example: Women are expected to
take care of children, cook, and
clean, while men are expected to
handle finances, work on cars, and
do home repairs.
Occupations:
• Example: Certain occupations are
stereotypically associated with a
specific gender (e.g., teachers and
nurses are assumed to be women,
while pilots, doctors, and engineers
are assumed to be men).
Physical Appearance:
• Example: Stereotypes related to body
image, where women are expected to
be thin and graceful, and men are
expected to be tall and muscular.
Additionally, expectations about
clothing and grooming are
mentioned.
•
Gender Sensitivity:
1. Definition:
• Gender Sensitivity: The process
through which individuals become
aware of how gender influences
interactions and relationships with
others.
2. Gender Sensitization:
• Process: Gender sensitization is
described as the process through
which gender sensitivity is enacted.
• Goal: The primary objective of
gender sensitization is to promote
equality for both men and women.
3. Promotion of Equality:
• Objective: Gender sensitization aims
to foster equality by encouraging
individuals to examine and challenge
stereotypical expectations associated
with their gender.
 • Empowerment: It enables men and
women to recognize and question
societal norms that may restrict their
roles and opportunities based on
gender.
4. Breaking Stereotypes:
• Role of Gender Sensitization: Gender
sensitization allows individuals to
question and break away from
stereotypes associated with their
gender.
• Relevance: It helps individuals
understand what is stereotypical for
their gender and challenges those
stereotypes for the sake of equality.
5. Awareness Building:
• Process of Gender Sensitivity:
Gender sensitivity involves raising
awareness among people about how
gender dynamics shape their
treatment of others.
• Critical Reflection: It encourages
individuals to critically reflect on
their attitudes, behaviors, and biases
related to gender.
6. Empowering Perspectives:
• Enabling Equality: Gender
sensitization empowers individuals
to view what is considered
stereotypical and reasonable for their
gender, fostering a more inclusive
and equitable perspective.
3. Human Relationships:
• Definition: Connections and
interactions between individuals.
• Role in Sexuality: Sociologists
explore the dynamics of human
relationships in the context of
sexuality. This involves investigating
how societal influences, cultural
norms, and individual preferences
impact the formation, maintenance,
and dissolution of relationships.
• innate need for human connection.
Triangular Theory of Love:
1. Components of Love:
• Intimacy: Involves feelings of
closeness, connectedness, and
bondness between individuals.
• Passion: Encompasses feelings and
desires leading to physical attraction,
romance, and sexual fulfillment.
• Decision/Commitment: Emphasizes
the feelings that lead a person to stay
with someone and work toward
shared goals.
2. Importance of Combinations:
• Survival of Relationships:
Relationships based on a single
element are less likely to survive
than those based on two or more
components.
• Combinations and Types: Different
stages and types of love are
explained by varying combinations
of intimacy, passion, and
commitment.
3. Evolution Over Time:
• Development of Adult Relationships:
The relative emphasis on each
component changes over time as an
adult romantic relationship evolves.
 • Shift in Balance: The balance among automatically lead to the growth of
the three aspects of love is likely to intimacy, passion, and commitment.
shift throughout the course of a
• Conscious Effort: Couples may need
relationship.
to consciously work on these
4. Consummate Love: components for their relationship to
thrive.
• Ideal Relationship: Consummate
love, characterized by a strong
presence of all three components, is
often considered an ideal
relationship.
5. Dynamics of Love:
• Shifts in Balance: The passage notes
that the balance among intimacy,
passion, and commitment is dynamic
and can change over time.
• Consummate Love: Described as an
ideal, consummate love is achieved
when all three components are strong
and well-balanced.
6. Relationship Pitfalls and Growth:
• Awareness for Couples:
Understanding the components of
love may help couples avoid pitfalls
in their relationship.
• Areas of Improvement: Couples can
work on specific areas that need
improvement in terms of intimacy,
passion, and commitment.
• Recognition of Endings: Recognizing
the dynamics of love can help
individuals understand when it might
be time for a relationship to come to
an end.
7. Time and Growth:
• Not Automatic: The passage
highlights that time alone does not