Gender role socialization and adolescent sexuality Biological, social, and cognitive influences on gender Sexual identity and orientation Adolescent sexuality Sex education

What is gender? The sociocultural dimension of being female or male.

What is gender role? A set of social expectations that prescribes how males and females should think, act, and feel.

Influences on gender Biological Sociocultural Cognitive

Biological influences on gender Pubertal changes –influence adolescents’ conceptions of selves e.g., “ideal self” regarding body image. Variations in hormone levels –androgen in females –testosterone in males

Social influences on gender Parents –roles, expectations Peers –modeling new behaviors Schools and teachers –classroom organization; student opportunities Mass media –mixed, confusing messages

Cognitive influences on gender Kohlberg’s cognitive developmental theory –gender constancy –gender consistency Bem’s gender schema theory –gender typing Bandura’s social learning theory –modeling, imitation, reinforcement

Adolescent sexuality and sex education

Constructing a sexual identity Sexual self-esteem Sexual self-efficacy Sexual self-image

Sexual orientation Heterosexual Homosexual Bisexual

Making sexual decisions Must move toward adulthood and away from childhood. Most sexual decisions made without adult guidance and support.

Contraceptive use and pregnancies 1 million teen pregnancies each year in U.S. Only 1 in 4 sexually-active youth say they always use some form of contraception. Reasons for lack of contraceptive use: –lack of information –inability to accept one’s sexuality –cognitive and emotional immaturity.

Sexually-transmitted diseases Chlamydia gonorrhea and syphillus genital warts and herpes genital lice AIDS

Sex education 90% of American adults favor sex education in public schools 90% of large school districts offer sex education programs Effectiveness of such programs varies, but tends to be effective in reducing sexual activity and increasing contraceptive use.