Chapter 7 starts out explaining how our sexual identity is defined as our awareness of ourselves as male or female and the ways in which we express our sexual values, attitudes, feelings, and beliefs. We learn that sexuality is a multidimensional concept that incorporates psychological, biological, and sociological components such as sexual desire, sexual response, and gender roles. This chapter discusses the terms homosexuals, heterosexuals, bisexuals, and asexual. We also learn that no one knows why we are heterosexual, gay, or bisexual. We like to think that our sexual behavior is spontaneous, but most of us have internalized sexual scripts. This chapter defines sexual scripts as the formal or informal norms of legitimate or unacceptable sexual activity, the eligibility of sexual partners, and the boundaries of sexual behavior. The chapter also explains the different reasons for having sex for the first time. The explanations range from interpersonal decisions to structural factors. We learn that a number of college students have information gaps about sex. Young adults ages 18-24 have serious misconceptions about sex. The text also talks about regardless of the cultural context, people become sexual over time as they are exposed to different sources of information about sex and sexuality. Some information comes from parents, peers and siblings, religion, media and popular culture, and from sex education. We learn about the different sexual behaviors. Flirting is usually one of the first steps to capture another person’s attention. It is also said that in the United States, public kissing is acceptable in public spaces such as stores and restaurants. The text then goes into talking about autoeroticism. It talks about how sexual activity encompasses many behaviors other than sexual intercourse, such as fantasies, masturbation, petting, and oral sex. We learn that most married couples are happy with their sex lives, however couples report that being tired and stressed out affects their sexual behavior. We learn about gay, lesbian, and bisexual sex. It is said that the percentage of gays and bisexuals in the U.S. population is small, but their sexual activities have triggered a wide range of public reactions. Lastly the concept of sexually transmitted diseases was discussed. More people are informed about STIs, HIV, and AIDS, but many still engage in high-risk behaviors. Trusted adults, parents, teachers must become more informed themselves and then talk frankly with youth about how casual sex can lead to serious health consequences.
I found the section entitled “What is Sexual Infidelity” to be quite interesting. I found it interesting to read about the different types of infidelity. I think when most people hear the word infidelity they think of an affair with another person. However, there are other types of infidelity such as emotional infidelity, and online infidelity. It was interesting to read that 42 percent of men and 64 percent of women consider a virtual tryst (cybersex) to be cheating. It is said that these people involved may never meet, but some cyber affairs may eventually break up a marriage. I learned something new in this section that I really did not have a lot of pervious knowledge of.
The question that I have is do you think we need to discuss the topic of sex at an earlier age in school than we do now? Why or why not?
Maria Nicholas
I have thought about your question before and I feel like we do. These days kids are trying so hard to grow up really fast and part of growing up is having sex. So I feel that although kids will find it awkward to talk about, sex needs to be discussed at an earlier age in school. Parents might be against it but from my experience, most parents don't realize how their kids behave when they're not around and how the kids try to act more grown up. Even if they feel uncomfortable or giggle about certain things, some information is going to stick with them into adolescence and later life.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with what you said here. There seems to be a trend of having sex at earlier and earlier ages as compared to a generation ago for example. Regardless of if it is discussed or not, sex will occur in schools at young ages for some, and it is important, in my opinion, for those kids who do decide to make that decision to have some form of knowledge on the subject before they make that decision.
ReplyDeleteKarl Wahlen