UNPACKING THE SELF

The Physical Self/ The Sexual Self

Activity: Is beauty a product of heredity or environment?

A. THE PHYSICAL SELF

This includes the mode of dressing, manner of walking, posture, body build, health,
complexion and facial expression.
Biological traits and characteristics.

Defining Beauty:
Innate quality, a way of being, a manner of acting.

Inner beauty- personality; inner qualities of the person.

External beauty- physical characteristics of the person; what physically attracts others
towards you.

Report: “The Evolution of the Concept of Beauty”.

The Impact of Culture on Body Image and Self-Esteem.
Standards of beauty and appearance are the product of a diverse mix of cultural and
historical influences. Norms of beauty and appearance are tied to ideals of appearance and hard work.
Some people have the good fortune to possess features that adhere to standardized ideals of beauty.

The Role of Culture in our Understanding of “Body Image” and “Self-Esteem”.

It is widely recognized by social scientists that culture influences us in forming our body
image. Drawing from contemporary culture, our bodies are not only biological but also cultural, we shape
and manipulate our bodies. We decide how to dress and style our bodies, we manipulate how we weigh
through diet and exercise and our bodies to extreme levels (surgically manipulating our bodies).

“Most cultures have attempted to change their body in an attempt to meet

their cultural standards of beauty, as well as their religion and/or social
obligation. In addition, people modify and adorn their bodies as part of the
complex process of creating and recreating their personal and social
identities. Body adornment refers to the practice of physically enhancing
the body by styling and decoration their hair, painting and embellishing
their fingernails, wearing of make-up, painting the body, wearing jewelry
and the use of clothing. Body adornments are by definition temporary. Body
modification, on the other hand, refers to the physical alteration of the body
through the use of surgery, tattooing, piercing, scarification, branding,
genital mutilation, implants, and other practices. Body modifications can be
permanent or temporary, although most are permanent and alter the body
forever.” (Margo de Mello, 2014)

De Mello explains that the culture of physical improvement trains us not only to believe
that all bodily processes are under our control, and what to feel if our body structure does not comply with
cultural ideal.

Pop culture or popular culture from a common understanding is a culture widely accepted
and patronized by the public. Pop culture influences how teens define themselves, to the point of imitating
the way they dress, style their body, the way they talk and express themselves.

Self-definition refers to the way a person sees himself. Self-definition can be tied into
self-esteem and confidence.

Self-Esteem, sometimes referred to as self-worth or self-respect. Too little self-esteem can

leave people feeling defeated or depressed. Too much self-esteem can lead to a narcissistic personality, and
can be irritating to others to the point of damaging personal relationships.
Self-Esteem is how much you appreciate and like yourself. It is a variety of beliefs about
yourself, such as appraisal of your own appearance, beliefs, emotions, and behavior.
A healthy self-esteem can help you achieve because you navigate life with positive, assertive
attitude and believe you can accomplish your goals.

“Beautiful is always changing”

VENUS OF WILLENDORF A figure of a woman on the large side.

A big body equal its ability to bear children. A big healthy body was all that
Mattered. You are your own survival.

ANCIENT GREECE Fuller figure was still in.

Men’s beauty was more celebrated. For women, figure was still in the fuller side. The
Greeks were more on the face, symmetry of the facial features was beautiful. Plato
 Formulated the Golden Ratio, but Pythagoras used that ratio on facial beauty.

The GOLDEN RATIO

It is roughly 1.62 or 1.618 and it is called the Golden Ratio of Beauty. The Golden ration other
known as “Phi” or the fibonacci number , is the mathematical symmetry algorithm that underlies our
perception of attractiveness.

One of the greatest polymaths of his time, Leonardo da Vinci, drew a perfect man, nowadays known
as the Vitruvian man. A standing nude male with a frowning face, two pairs of arms, and legs are drawn
in a perfect circle and a square. It was viewed as an homage to the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius.
However, Leonardo’s observations were based more on scientific evidence and his studies of human
anatomy. His unique approach combined mathematics and art to demonstrate his understanding of
proportion and an attempt to relate man to nature

THE RENAISSANCE PERIOD

In this time, the renaissance, women are to be seen and not heard. The ideal woman is quiet and
respectful. She has no problem being controlled by a man. She enjoys the attention she gets from men for
being a dainty female beauty standards included blonde hair, rosy lips, a pale, hairless skin, white teeth
and small breasts. The full array of these beauty requirements often went beyond the reach of ordinary
women.

Queen Elizabeth’s I, ushered the era of make-up. She used face paint and have red lips. This became a
symbol of class at that time. The paler you were, the higher the status. Lethal make-up mainly is composed
of lead. White lead cannot be absorbed easily through skin, it is only toxic if eaten or inhaled. However, if
the makeup formulations changed the form of the lead, or softened the outer layer of the skin, some
lead could diffuse through. This would make those makeup formulations more poisonous.
The renaissance man shifted from a perfect youth to a mature man. This shift meant that the ideal man
was not recognized as a mere symbol, but as an individual who had power in his hands.

THE VICTORIAN ERA 1837

The ideal Victorian woman was pure, chaste, refined, and modest. This ideal was supported by
etiquette and manners. The etiquette extended to the pretension of never acknowledging the use of
undergarments (in fact, they were sometimes generically referred to as "unmentionables").

Clear faces, bright eyes and tinted lips were desirable, but everything had to look natural. It was believed
that cheeks painted with blush had to look flushed, and lips had to look bitten rather than painted.
“Between 1780 and 1850, there is an increasing aestheticization of tuberculosis that becomes entwined
with feminine beauty,” says Carolyn Day, an assistant professor of history at Furman University in South
Carolina. thinness and pale skin that result from weight loss and the lack of appetite caused by the disease.

THE TURN OF THE CENTURY: THE GIBSON GIRL

 Pale, larger bust still a standard of beauty invented by a man’s drawing.

1920’s: Fabulous flappers for women/ Hollywood Icon for men.

Women won the right to vote. They would not wear the piled
Up hair and corsets anymore. The curvy and fertile look was
out. For the men, a lean body was in.

THE COUNTER CULTURE: 1950’s- 60’s/ Exec bod for men

The 1950s were all about creating a softer, more feminine

look. Back in those days, women wore softly curled hair,
gorgeous lipstick, defined eyebrows, and rosy cheeks.
And the ideal body type was a soft voluptuousness was
prized above all else.

1970’s

Skinny was in for women. Rock stars and bohemian

for young men.

1980’s: Supermodel era for women/ Muscles, boy-next-door, and glam rock for men

Beauty consisted around the fitness and nutrition craze in the 80s, encouraging athletically toned bodies,
bodysuits, and tracksuit bottoms. Supermodel and bodybuilding became a sensation, along with leg
warmers and big hair
1990’s

The 1990's look suggested that women should be

extremely thin with bones protruding out from the
skin. Collar bones, ankles bones and other
protrusions were glamourized. This ideal included
height, in that women who were very tall were
considered more beautiful.

Thin is in. The thinnest ideal in history.

Eating disorders that resulted from this era: Anorexia and bulimia.

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by emaciation, a relentless pursuit of thinness and

unwillingness to maintain a normal or healthy weight, a distortion of body image and
intense fear of gaining weight, a lack of menstruation among girls and women, and
extremely disturbed eating behavior.

B. THE SEXUAL SELF

WHAT IS YOUR SEXUAL SELF? It is a part of yourself where you learn
understand about sexual development, people’s sexual activity, beliefs, misconceptions and unlimited
access from the internet on sex can influence your own sexual behavior and responses. Your sexual self
speaks of your sexual health, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and values around
sexuality.

Puberty marks the start of sexual development in an individual. Physical changes start and
as an individual continues to adolescence, these changes are highlights as sex hormones, undergoing
physical changes (developing of the secondary sex characteristics), and producing feelings that are sexual
in nature. In our society, talking and understanding sexual activity/ development is usually a taboo
subject. Resulting to confused adolescents: how to handle their sexual feelings, who to ask, what is
considered normal and inappropriate sexual responses.

THE HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

The Gonads are otherwise known as the reproductive glands.

FEMALE MALE
GONADS Ovaries Testis
REPRODUCTIVE CELLS Egg cells Sperm cells
HORMONES Estrogen and Progesterone Androgen and Testosterone
ACTIVATION OF THE Menarche (marks the onset of the Nocturnal Emission
REPRODUCTIVE menstrual cycle)
GLAND
END OF THE Menopause -none-
REPRODUCTIVE
GLAND FUNCTION

The secondary sex characteristics are the physical changes that happens, before the start
of menarche (for female) and nocturnal emission (for male).

An individuals’ sexual responses are controlled by their hormones. More specifically for
males, where androgen and testosterone secreted through their testes influences the development of both
male characteristics and sexual motivation. This may be the reason why men are said to think about sex
more than women.

Life begins upon the moment of fertilization. 23 chromosomes coming from the mother and
23 chromosomes coming from the father, therefore the new normal individual have 46 chromosomes or 23
pairs of chromosomes. The 1st pair of chromosome up to the 22nd pair are called autosomes (which is
responsible for the physical and mental characteristics). While the 23rd pair is called sex chromosomes, it
determines the sex of the new individual. If the 23 rd pair is XX then the individual is female, and if the 23rd
pair is Xy, then the new individual is male.

Any intervention with the normal pattern of sex hormone production in the embryo results
in strange abnormalities. For instance, a genetic male develops the female accessory structures and
external genitalia if the embryonic testes fail to produce testosterone. While a genetic female is exposed to
testosterone (in the case of a mother with androgen producing tumor of her adrenal gland), the embryo has
ovaries but may develop male accessory ducts and glands as well as a male reproductive organ and an
empty scrotum.
According to Anne Fausto-Sterling, there are at least five biological sexes:
1. Hermaphrodite – individuals born with one testis and one ovary and a mixture of male and female
genitalia.
2. Male Pseudo Hermaphrodite – individuals who have two testes and a mixture of male and female
genitalia.
3. Female Pseudo Hermaphrodite – individuals who have two ovaries and a mixture of male and
female genitalia, but no testes.
4. Female- individuals born with two ovaries and female genitalia.
5. Male- individuals born with two testes and male genitalia.

HOW DO PEOPLE KNOW IF THEY ARE LESBIAN, GAY, OR BISEXUAL?

According to current scientific and professional understanding, the core attractions that
form the basis for adult sexual orientation typically emerge between middle childhood and early
adolescence. These patterns of emotional, romantic, and sexual attraction may arise without any prior
sexual experience. People can be celibate and still know their sexual orientation. Prejudice and
discrimination make it difficult for many people to come to terms with their sexual orientation identities, so
claiming a lesbian, gay or bisexual identity may be a slow process.

SEXUAL INTERCOURSE:
Sexual intercourse is one of the most common behavior among humans. Sexual
intercourse is a behavior that may produce sexual pleasure that often culminates in orgasm in female and
in males. It may result in pregnancy and/or STD’s. Coitus is the insertion of the male reproductive
structure into the female reproductive organ.

HUMAN SEXUAL BEHAVIOR:

Is defined as any activity---solitary, between two persons, or in a group--- that induces
sexual arousal.
Two major factors that determine human sexual behavior:
1. As a means of enduring reproduction.
2. The degree of restraint or other types of influence exerted on the individual by society in the
expression of his/her sexuality.

Types of Human Sexual Behavior:

1. Solitary Behavior (involving only one individual).
Self-gratification means self-stimulation that leads to sexual arousal and generally, sexual
climax. The frequency greatly varies among individuals and it usually decreases as soon
as they develop sociosexual relationships.
2. Sociosexual behavior (is generally divided into heterosexual behavior and homosexual behavior).
There are varying degree of sexual responses and responsiveness. Physical contact
involving necking and petting are considered as an ingredient of learning how to interact
with another person sexually.

SEXUAL DISORDERS OR SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS

Refers to a problem occurring during any phase of sexual response cycle that prevents the
individual or couple from experiencing satisfaction from the sexual activity.
The normal sexual response cycle traditionally includes (1) excitement (desire/ arousal),
(2) plateau, (3) orgasm and (4) resolution.
1. A. Desire Phase- Sexual urges occurs in response to sexual cues or fantasies.
B.Arousal Stage- A subjective sense of sexual pleasure and physiological signs of sexual arousal:
in males, penile tumescence (increased flow of blood into
the penis); in females, vasocongestion (blood pools in the pelvic area)
leading to vaginal lubrication and breast tumescence (erect nipples)
2. Plateau Phase- Brief period occurs before orgasm
3. Orgasm Phase- In males: feeling of inevitability of ejaculation, followed by
ejaculation; in females: contraction of the walls of the lower third of the
vagina.
4. Resolution- Decrease in arousal after orgasm (particularly in men).

TYPES OF SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS

1. Desire disorders
These disorders affect sexual desire and interest in sex, are also known as libido disorders or low libido.
Low estrogen and testosterone levels can cause decreased libido, as can hormonal changes, medical
conditions (like diabetes and heart disease), relationship problems, sexual inhibitions, fatigue, fear,
depression, and anxiety, among other things.
 2. Arousal disorders
These disorders make it difficult or impossible to become physically aroused during sexual activity, can
occur in both men and women. The most common type in men is erectile dysfunction. When a person has
arousal disorder, he or she may be interested in sexual activity, but be unable to get any physical
satisfaction from it.

3. Orgasm disorders
These involve the absence of orgasm or delayed orgasm, are a common problem with women, but they
can also occur in men. Pain during sexual activity, stress, fatigue, hormonal changes and reduced libido
can all lead to delayed or absent orgasm.

4. Pain disorders
These involve pain during intercourse, can affect both men and women. In women, pain may be caused
by vaginal dryness, vaginismus (a condition that affects the vaginal muscles), urinary tract infections (UTIs),
hormonal changes during menopause, and other conditions. In men, pain may be caused by Peyronie's
disease (physical damage to the penis), infections like UTIs, prostatitis and yeast infections, genital herpes
and skin conditions.

“ REPORT: Causes, Symptoms and Cure for STD’s”

(report: Pregnancy and Contraception)

NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL METHODS OF CONTRACEPTION

Natural Method
A. Abstinence- refraining from sexual intercourse
B. Calendar Method also called as the Rhythm Method.
Withholding from coitus during the days that the woman is fertile.
C. Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
Indicates the woman’s temperature at rest, before the day of ovulation and during ovulation. A
woman must record her temperature every morning before any activity. A slight decrease in the
basal body temperature followed by a gradual increase in the basal body temperature can be a sign
that a woman has ovulated.
D. Cervical Mucus Method
The change in the cervical mucus during ovulation is the basis for this method. The woman is said
to be fertile if the cervical mucus is watery. Therefore, she must avoid coitus during those days to
prevent conception.
E. Symptothermal Method
This is a combination of the BBT and cervical mucus method.
F. Coitus Interruptus
One of the oldest methods. A couple still goes on with coitus, but the man withdraws the moment
he ejaculates to emit the spermatozoa outside the female reproductive organ. A disadvantage of this
method is the pre-ejaculation fluids that contain a few spermatozoa that may cause fertilization.

Artificial Method
A. Oral Contraceptives
Also known as the pill. It contains synthetic estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen suppresses the
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) to prevent ovulation. Moreover,
progesterone decreases the permeability of the cervical mucus to limit the sperm’s access to the
ova.
B. Morning After Pill (Emergency Contraception)
An oral contraception after an unprotected sex. Take the 1 st dose (two pills) within 72 hours after
unprotected sex and two more after 12 hours from the 1 st dose. The pills are more effective the
 sooner they are taken. The pill cannot cause abortion if a woman is already pregnant. Emergency
contraceptive pills prevents pregnancy by stopping or delaying the release of the egg from the ovary.
It may also alter the lining of the uterus to prevent egg implantation or reduce the ability of the
sperm to bind with the egg.
C. Transdermal Patch
The patch contains both estrogen and progesterone. The woman should apply one patch every
week for three weeks on the following areas: upper outer arm, upper torso, abdomen, or buttocks.
At the fourth week, no patch is applied because the menstrual flow would then occur.
D. Vaginal Ring
The vaginal ring releases a combination of estrogen and progesterone and it surrounds the cervix.
This silicon ring is inserted into the female reproductive organ and remains there for three weeks,
and then removed on the fourth week flow would occur. The woman becomes fertile as soon as the
ring is removed.
E. Subdermal Implants
Are two rod-like implants inserted under the skin of the female during her menses or on the seventh
day of her menstruation to make sure that she will not get pregnant. The implants are made with
etonogestrel, desogestrel, and progestin and can be helpful for three to five years.
F. Hormonal injections
A hormonal injection contains medroxyprogesterone and is usually given once every three months
intramuscularly. The injection causes changes in the endometrium and cervical mucus and can
help prevent ovulation.
G. Intrauterinne Device (IUD)
It is a small, T-shaped object containing progesterone that is inserted into the uterus via the female
reproductive organ. It prevents fertilization by creating a local sterile inflammatory condition to
prevent implantation of the zygote. The IUD is fitted by the physician and inserted after the
woman’s menstrual flow. The device can be effective for five to seven years.
H. Chemical Barriers
Chemical barriers such as spermicides, vaginal gels and creams, and glycerin films are used to
cause the death of sperms before they can enter the cervix and to lower the pH level of the female
reproductive organ so it will not become conducive for the sperm. On the other hand, these chemical
barriers cannot prevent sexually transmitted infections.
I. Diaphragm
A circular, rubber disk that fits the cervix and should be placed before coitus. Diaphragm works by
inhibiting the entrance of the sperm into the female reproductive organ and it works better when
used together with a spermicide. The diaphragm should be fitted only by a physician, and should
remain in place for six hours after coitus.
J. Cervical cap
It is made of soft rubber and fitted on the rim of the cervix. It is shaped like a thimble with thin
rim, and could stay in place for not more than 48hours.
K. Male Condom
Is a latex or synthetic rubber sheath that is placed on the erect male reproductive organ before
penetration into the female reproductive organ to trap the sperm during ejaculation. It can prevent
sexually transmitted infections.
L. Female Condoms
Are made up of latex rubber sheaths that are pre-lubricated with spermicide. They are usually
bound by two rings. The outer ring is first inserted against the opening of the female reproductive
organ and the inner ring covers the cervix. It is used to prevent fertilization of the egg by the sperm
cells.
M. Surgical Methods
Male- Vasectomy
A small incision is made on each side of the scrotum. The vas deferens is then tied,
cauterized, cut or plugged to block the passage of the sperm.

Female- Tubal ligation

Is performed after menstruation and before ovulation. The procedure is done through a
small incision under the woman’s umbilicus that targets the fallopian tube for cutting, cauterizing,
or blocking to inhibit the passage of both sperm and ova.