Sexuality

Learning Objectives Identify the stages of human sexual development Examine the emotional changes associated with adolescence and puberty Explore gender roles and stereotypes and factors that affect them Explore cultural influences that shape gender and sexuality Explore how sex and sexuality are presented, misrepresented, in media.

What is Sexuality? Sexuality refers to a number of related ideas Physical development of sexual characteristics Gender roles and relations between sexes Intimacy, love, and affection Sexual attraction Sexual contact Sexual decision making Everything that defines us as boys and girls, men and women.

Stages of Human Sexual Development Sexuality is part of our lives. As we progress through the stages of human development, we learn more about ourselves as sexual being and we express feelings of love, affection, and pleasure in different ways There is no exact time when the changes will occur, but there is a six stages of sexual development

Stage 1: Birth-2 years Learn about love through nurturing physical contact with caregivers. Learn gender identities by mimicking others Begin to notice differences between bodies of girls/boys, and children/adults Have erections or lubricate vaginally

Stage 2: Childhood (3-8 years) Become increasingly curious about sexuality and their body. Role playing games Define ideas of what is means to be male of female Basic sexual identity and sexual orientation at this stage of development.

Stage 2: Childhood (3-8 years) Experience pleasure form exploring touching one’s body (masturbation) Begin to use language to express needs/ feelings Enjoy talking about body parts and functions Begin to be affected by stories heard in media regarding sexual issues such as abuse

Stage 3- Pre Adolescence (9-12 years) Begin puberty Bodies produce more hormones- begin to experience sexual feelings and fantasies Masturbate to orgasm not just exploration Become modest and want privacy Value same sex friendships Sexual exploration with peers Struggle with mixed emotions- “am I normal?”

Stage 3- Pre Adolescence (9-12 years) Core values established by family Develop crushes- on friends, older teens, teachers, and/or rock stars Have romantic feelings for people of same, opposite, or both sexes Face decisions about sex and drugs

Stage 4- Adolescence (13-18 years) Complete the changes of puberty Experience increased sexual feelings or fantasies Desire physical closeness with partner Time where one is faced with many physical, social, and emotional changes as they transition from childhood to adulthood

Stage 5- Early Adulthood (19-45 years) Experience increase in their desire for physical intimacy and sexual relationships Report increased sexual satisfaction in relations ships Less concerned with conforming to peers Seek out friends of both sexes Feel less pressure to act in gender specific ways

Stage 6: Later Adulthood ( 46+ years) Experience physical and hormonal changes linked to menopause and or andropause Continue to explore sexual intimacy and sexual activity with partner(s) Decrease of sexual intimacy after age 65.

Physical Changes During Adolescence Puberty begins with the body’s release of sex hormones (estrogens and testosterone) causing number of physical changes Increase of oil production which causes pimples Hair growth Hips and shoulders widen Breast and genital development Larynx growth

Emotional Changes Intense emotions such as happiness, anger, frustration, sadness, and sexual feelings. Increase of independence Interested in romantic love and intimacy Increase interest in appearance

Social Changes Support system (peers, parent/guardians, teachers) play a huge role in one’s life Many of the friendships you create now will last the rest of your life Socially connected to family as you explore your individual identities Eventually each of us will develop our own sense of self as we move through adolescence into adulthood.