Chapter 7

David Komorowski

Summary: In chapter seven the book discusses sexuality and many aspects/perceptions that make it up. First talked about is sexual identity and orientation. Orientation can include homo, hetero, bi, and asexual. After this the chapter talks about transgendered people such as transsexuals, intersexuals, and transvestites. Yet this definition is broadened as the book states, “Transgendered people include gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and men and women who don’t identify themselves with any specific sexual orientation (or GLBT).” Later the chapter talks about sexual scripts. This is more or less the qualifications/expectations that men and women have for someone to be their partner—gender, race, and other factors. Later on the chapter talks about why we have sex which may include peer pressure, parental inputs, or society’s expectations. On another note we also take a look at the various aspects of sexual behavior amongst the single, married, adolescent, and even elderly. When talking about the married the book talks about something I didn’t think would be in here but it is which is the act of sexual infidelity and the reasons for it which include Marco and Micro levels which could be economic problems, greater opportunity for sexual infidelity, ego-enhance, social exchange, or they feel they can “get away with it”. Finally the chapter talks about various STDs and how to prevent them.

What I learned: In reading most of this chapter I have realized that although many studies have been done to obtain information on sexuality of people that everyone experiences sex and sexual encounters at different ages, for different reasons, and from different circumstances. I did learn a new term though which happens to be when the book describes sexual scripts. I have never heard the term used before although I was aware of its existence. I believe there are many factors that go into the reason why people have sex at any age. For example any adolescent could be stressed from factors such as school or their families and use sex as an escape just like any other thing that could be used such as drugs or even alcohol. On the other hand two people could meet and hit it off and have a spontaneous one night stand with little regrets. I believe this same train of thought should go for infidelity although I never see it as an answer to problems.

What could’ve been done better: I believe that kids can learn about sex from almost any media tools like TV, movies, internet, which I also believe has more of an impact on children than any sexual education program. I think that most of all, the influence to have sex amongst the adolescent is probably bragging rights and then peer pressure due to expectations of those who have had early sexual encounters but this could also be from the simple desire to experiment. I think much more can be learned from anonymous interviews of high-schoolers and getting the real perspective from adolescents instead of trying to teach them something that we can’t really prevent them from doing even if we wanted to. There is actually a very funny South Park episode in which they do a satire about sexual education and making fun of the fact that children are learning about sex younger and younger and in this episode they have them learning as young as the first grade. Although it is a silly concept I believe it has its points. Although Sex Ed. was and still is very successful in showing how STD and other bad things in pre-marital sex can be avoided, I believe that there is a formal barrier that comes between a teacher and students and talking about such an informal topic, let alone at the ages of as early as the teens. It’s hard to understand what kids think about sex when it is uncomfortable to talk about especially with a teacher.