Introduction to Sociology/Sexuality

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UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Human sexuality is how people experience the erotic and express themselves as sexual beings.^[1] Human sexuality has many aspects. Biologically, sexuality refers to the reproductive mechanism as well as the basic biological drive that exists in all species and can encompass sexual intercourse and sexual contact in all its forms. There are also emotional or physical aspect of sexuality, which refers to the bond that exists between individuals, which may be expressed through profound feelings or emotions, and which may be manifested in physical or medical concerns about the physiological or even psychological aspects of sexual behaviour. Sociologically it can cover the cultural, political, and legal aspects; and philosophically, it can span the moral, ethical, theological, spiritual or religious aspects.

Recent studies on human sexuality have highlighted that sexual aspects are of major importance in building up personal identity and to social evolution of individuals:

“Human sexuality is not simply imposed by instinct or stereotypical conducts, as it happens in animals, but it is influenced both by superior mental activity and by social, cultural, educational and normative characteristics of those places where the subjects grow up and their personality develops. Consequently, the analysis of sexual sphere must be based on the convergence of several lines of development such as affectivity, emotions and relations”.^[2]

In many historical eras, recovered art and artifacts help to portray human sexuality of the time period.^[1]

Contents 1 Factors Influencing Human Sexuality 2 Sexuality and the Life Course 2.1 Childhood 2.2 Adolescence 2.3 Adulthood 2.4 Elderly 3 Differences in Sexuality Between Men and Women 4 Cultural Variations in Sexuality 5 Sex Work 6 Sexual Orientation or Identity 7 Sex and Politics 8 Sex and Religion 9 References 10 External links

[edit] Factors Influencing Human Sexuality

Human sexuality can be influenced by hormonal changes in the development of the w:fetus|fetus during w:pregnancy|pregnancy. Some claim its manner of expression is largely due to genetic predisposition. Others say it is due to one's own personal experimentation in early life, and thus the establishment of preferences. A less divisive approach recognises that both factors may have a mutual role to play.

Human sexuality can also be understood as part of the social life of humans, governed by implied rules of behavior and the wikt:status quo. Thus, it is claimed, sexuality influences social w:norms and society in turn influences the manner in which sexuality can be expressed. Since the invention of the w:mass media, sexuality has further molded the environments in which we live; it comes to be distilled (often into w:stereotypes) and then repeatedly expressed in commercialized forms such as print, audio and film.

Human sexuality is distinguished from w:Gender identity|gender identity. Gender identity is a more expansive set of roles than sexual identity. Gender can usually be molded by the social environment to which one is exposed as a child, e.g. an authority figure giving a little boy a toy truck to play with, and a girl a doll. w:Human physiology|Human physiology and gender molding thus makes certain forms of sexual expression possible or even likely, but it does not predict that future sexual behavior will be regarded as 'gender appropriate'.

Human sexual choices are usually made using current cultural w:norms|norms. For example; some may choose to abstain from sex before marriage because their w:religion|religion forbids such actions. In some cultures it may be acceptable for a man to have many wives, while in others w:bigamy|bigamy or w:polygamy|polygamy is frowned upon.

Those who wish to express a dissident sexuality often form w:sub-culture|sub-cultures, within the main culture.

p. 65 "Polls show that many Americans-32 percent, according to a November 2004 CBS News/New York Times survey—support civil unions, which would provide gay couples with many of the economic and legal benefits of marriage. Add that to the 21 percent who support gay marriage, and it suggests that a slim majority of the population favor legal recognition for gay couples. That's an enormous victory for gay rights—after all, thirty years ago gay people were scarcely acknowledged in public. (The American Psychiatric Association classified homosexuality as a mental disorder until 1973.)"^[3]

p. 77 "Marks's observations echo the findings of the American Psychiatric Association, which said in a 1998 statement, "psychiatric literature strongly demonstrates that treatment attempts to change sexual orientation are ineffective. However, the potential risks are great, including depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior." ^[3]

[edit] Sexuality and the Life Course

[edit] Childhood

[edit] Adolescence

[edit] Adulthood

[edit] Elderly

[edit] Differences in Sexuality Between Men and Women

One notable difference between men and women when it comes to sexuality is men's greater interest in casual sex. Men are for more interested in casual sex than are women.^[4] Along with their greater interest in casual sex, men are less discriminating in their sexual partner than are women. Women are more likely to engage in casual when their potential male partner is extremely attractive, but substantially less so when their partner is even moderately attractive.

[edit] Cultural Variations in Sexuality

[edit] Sex Work

[edit] Sexual Orientation or Identity

Sexual orientation is a pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to men, women, bisexuality|both genders, Asexuality|neither gender, or Third gender|another gender. According to the American Psychological Association sexual orientation also refers to a person’s sense of "personal and social identity based on those attractions, behaviors expressing them, and membership in a community of others who share them."^[5] Sexual orientation is usually classified according to the sex or gender of the people who are found sexually attractive. Though people may use other labels, or none at all^[6], sexual orientation is usually discussed in terms of three categories: heterosexuality|heterosexual, homosexual orientation|homosexual, and bisexuality|bisexual. These orientations exist along a heterosexual-homosexual continuum|continuum that ranges from exclusive heterosexual to exclusive homosexual, including various forms of bisexuality in-between. The continuum between heterosexual and homosexual does not suit everyone, however, as some people identify as Asexuality|asexual.^[7] Sexologists see this linear scale as an oversimplification of a more nuanced notion of sexual identity.^[8]

Most definitions of sexual orientation include a psychological component, such as the direction of an individual's erotic desire, or a behavioral component, which focuses on the sex of the individual's sexual partner/s. Some definitions include both components. Some people prefer simply to follow an individual's self-definition or Identity (social science)|identity.

Some scholars of sexology, anthropology and history have argued that social categories such as heterosexual and homosexual are not universal. Different societies may consider other criteria to be more significant than sex, including the Age disparity in sexual relationships|respective age of the partners, whether partners assume an active or a passive sexual role, and their social status.

Sexual identity and sexual behavior are closely related to sexual orientation, but they are distinguished, with identity referring to an individual's conception of themselves, behavior referring to actual sexual acts performed by the individual, and orientation referring to "fantasies, attachments and longings."^[9] Individuals may or may not express their sexual orientation in their behaviors.^[10] People who have a homosexual sexual orientation that does not align with their sexual identity are sometimes referred to as closeted.

Sexual identity may also be used to describe a person's perception of his or her own sex, rather than sexual orientation. The term sexual preference has a similar meaning to sexual orientation, but is more commonly used outside of scientific circles by people who believe that sexual orientation is, in whole or part, a matter of choice.^{[citation needed]}

Sexual orientation is a concept that evolved in the industrialized West and there is a controversy as to the universality of its application in other societies/ cultures. ^[11][12][13] As Michel Foucault put it, "'Sexuality' is an invention of the modern state, the industrial revolution, and capitalism."^[14]

Sexual minorities (i.e., homosexuals, bisexuals, asexuals) are about twice as likely as heterosexuals to seek mental health help or substance abuse treatment.^[15] In one study,^[15], 48.5% of lesbian/gay/bisexual individuals reported receiving treatment in the past year as compared to 22.5% of heterosexuals. Part of the explanation is the fact that men are less likely to seek treatment for all health care issues, particularly mental health. However, the primary reason why it's believed sexual minorities are almost twice as likely to seek help is due to the greater levels of stress they face resulting from discrimination they experience as a result of their sexual orientation.

[edit] Sex and Politics

[edit] Sex and Religion

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Glossary of clinical sexology