Sexuality, Sexual Behaviour and Sexual Health Flashcards
Define sexuality
Umbrella term that relates to the private dimension in which people live out their sexual, intimate and/or emotional desires.
Complex and fluid; includes our beliefs, acts, behaviours, desires, relationships and identities.
What is sexuality influenced by?
Historical, social, cultural and political aspects of society and involves relationships with ourselves, those around us, and the society in which we live.
How does the nature vs nurture debate apply to sexuality?
Naturalist approach: sex is biologically determined with minimal influence from societal structures. Traits are fixed and there is no variation.
Nurture approach: sexuality is constructed and influenced by societal structures. Sexuality is seen as giving us potential for choice, change and diversity.
Describe the naturalist (essentialist) perspective of sexuality
Issues relating to sexuality are determined by biology and natural processes, i.e. sexuality is concerned with reproduction.
Uses anatomical differences between males and females to claim there is a biological basis to sexuality.
Heterosexuality = normal expression and identity of sexuality. Assumed to have no cause as it is ‘natural’.
Describe the ‘nurture’ (socially constructed) perspective of sexuality
Sexuality viewed as complex: varied reasons for people engaging in sexual behaviour.
Sexuality is ‘made’: people are experts in their own lives and therefore ‘make’ their identities, including their sexual selves.
Acknowledges biological differences between males and females but recognises that a person’s sexuality is also influenced by societal structures.
Define sexual orientation/identity
What are the most common ‘categories’ and what are these terms used for?
Used to describe the focus of a person’s sexual attractions and desires.
Most common ‘categories’ (used to categorise those into the fixed assumptions about their sexual orientation):
- Heterosexual
- Gay
- Lesbian
- Bisexual
- Transgender
Why is ‘homosexual’ not used often as a term?
Stems from a medical background- implies that same sex attraction is a medical problem and something to be cured.
Has negative connotations.
Define heterosexual
Where people are exclusively, or almost exclusively sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex/gender identity.
Define lesbian
A woman who is primarily sexually attracted to other women
Define Gay
Most often used in relation to men whose primary sexual attraction is to other men
Define bisexual
A person who is sexually and/or emotionally attracted to both the men and women.
Define transgender
Includes those who do not consider themselves to fit into the traditional female/male sex/gender constructs.
Define ‘homophobia’
Why is this now an inappropriate term?
Refers to the intolerance, hatred or fear that people may have of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals.
Outdated term as it assumes that the ‘phobia’ is only part of the individual concerned; ignores the fact that anti-gay prejudice is perpetrated consciously through society’s cultural and structural institutions.
Define ‘internalised homophobia’
The self-loathing that a lesbians, gay men and bisexuals may develop as a response to homophobia.
Define heterosexism/heteronormativity
Refers to a set of assumptions and practices which promote heterosexuality as the norm and only acceptable and viable way to live.
Refers to the fact that heterosexuality is superior and the standard against which other sexual orientations are judged, policed and rendered inferior.
