1. Chapter 1: What is human sexuality?

2. Prof. Alberto pimentel jr
Website: profapimenteljr.weebly.com
Facebook: facebook.com/professorapimenteljr
Instagram: Prof_Pimentel
Twitter: Prof_Apimentel

3. Video links
We are america:

4. The science of human sexuality
What does the word ”sex” mean?
Sex refers to our anatomic sex, male or female.
Sex refers to our anatomic structures, aka sex organs.
Sex refers to sexual activities involving our sex organs for the purpose of reproduction or pleasure.
Sex may also relate to our erotic feelings, experiences, or desires…
Sexual fantasies & thoughts
Sexual urges
Feelings of sexual attraction

5. The science of human sexuality
Most researchers reserve the word “sex” for reference to anatomic or biological categories.
Gender is used to describe social and cultural categories.
Human sexuality refers to the ways in which we experience and express ourselves as sexual beings.
Our awareness of ourselves as females or males is part of our sexuality…as is the capacity we have for erotic experiences and responses.

6. Sexuality & values
In making sexual decisions, we must consider our values.
Values: the qualities in life that are deemed important or unimportant, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable.
Our society is pluralistic…meaning…it embraces a wide range of sexual attitudes and values.
People’s sexual attitudes, experiences, and behaviors are shaped to a large extent by cultural traditions and beliefs.
They influence how, where, and with whom we become sexually involved.

7. Sexuality & values
According to Smith & Konik (2011), some of the variability in sexual behavior between males and females reflects power rather than choice.
Throughout history, women have often been considered the property of men.
Example: Marriage…women are often “given away” by their fathers to their husbands.

8. Value Systems for making sexual decisions
Value systems provide a framework for judging the moral acceptability of sexual options.
We often approach sexual decisions by determining whether the choices we face are compatible with our moral values.
Our value systems – our sexual standards – have many sources:
Parents, peers, religious training, ethnic subcultures, the larger culture, and our appraisal of all these influences.

9. Value Systems for making sexual decisions: Legalism
Formulates ethical behavior on the basis of a code of moral laws derived from an external source, such as religion.
”Moral Code”
In today’s world, many people view religious teachings as a general framework for decision making rather than as a set of absolute rules.

10. Value Systems for making sexual decisions: Situational ethics
Ethical decision making should be guided by love for others rather than by rigid moral rules, and sexual decision making should be based in the context of the situation that the person faces.
Example: Abortion
Roman Catholics are taught that abortion is the taking of human life.
Based on the situation, a woman may elect to have an abortion because of limited resources.

11. Value Systems for making sexual decisions: Ethical relativism
Assumes that diverse values are basic to human existence.
Reject the idea that there is a single correct moral view about subjects as diverse as wearing revealing clothing, masturbation, pre-marital sex, oral sex, anal sex, contraception, and abortion.
There is no objective way to justify one set of moral values over another.
Human morality is to derive one’s won principles and apply them according to one’s own conscience.
Cultural relativism: what is right or wrong must be understood in terms of the cultural beliefs that affect sexual decision making.

12. Value Systems for making sexual decisions: Hedonism
Guided by the pursuit of pleasure, not by whether a particular behavior is morally or situationally justified.
“if it feels good, do it”.
The hedonist believes that sexual desires, like hunger or thirst, do not invoke moral considerations.

13. Value Systems for making sexual decisions: Asceticism
Self-denial of material and sexual desires in order to devote themselves to spiritual pursuits.
Religious celibates: Roman catholic priests and buddhist monks.

14. Value Systems for making sexual decisions: utilitarianism
Introduced by john stuart mill
The view that moral conduct is based on that which will bring about “the greatest good for the greatest number”.
Behavior is ethical when it does the greatest good and causes the least harm.

15. Value Systems for making sexual decisions: rationalism
The use of reason to determine a course of action.
The rationalist believes that decisions should be based on intellect and reason rather than emotions or faith.
Assesses the facts in a sexual situation and then weighs the consequences of various courses of action to make a decision.

16. Perspectives on human sexuality

17. Ancient hebrews
Viewed sex (in marriage) as a satisfying experience intended to fulfill divine command to “be fruitful and multiply”…emphasis on the procreative function of sex.
Male-male or female-female sexual behavior were strongly condemned.
Jewish law legislated the minimum frequency of marital relations, which varied according to the man’s profession and the amount of time spent at home…
Example: frequency of sexual relations – every day for those who have no occupation, twice a week for laborers, and once every six months for sailors.

18. Ancient hebrews
According to the Book of Proverbs, a good wife rises before dawn to tend to her family’s needs, brings home food, instructs the servants, tends the vineyards, makes the clothes, keep the ledger, helps the needy, and works well into the night.
The wife was considered the property of her husband and could be divorced at any time.
A wife could be stoned to death for adultery but she might have to share her husband with secondary wives.
Men who engaged in sexual relations with another man’s wife were considered to have violated the property rights of those men and had to pay for “damages”.

19. The ancient greeks
Women in athens had no more rights than slaves.. viewed as the property of their husband.. no education.. Chaperoned when they ventured outdoors..
Sexual practices in the ancient world focused on three aspects of greek sexuality:
Male-male sexual behavior – viewed people as bisexual; male-male sex was deemed normal and tolerated so long as it did not threaten the institution of the family.
Pederasty – means love for boys. Men in ancient greece often had adolescent males as their lovers and pupils.
Prostitution – ranged from courtesans to concubines (slaves).
Prostitutes were identified by a wooden or painted penis on one’s door.