...“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” (Rathus et al., 2005, p. 5-6). Prior to this course, I legalism to form my values on sexual experiences. I was raised to believe that sex before marriage was wrong. I grew to use the situational ethics approach when I became an adult and I still use that value system after the course. Legalism refers to the approach that formulates a value system based on moral law (Rathus et al., 2005, p. 5-6). Situational ethics refers to basing decision-making on the situation at hand. Critical thinking plays a role in my sexual decision making. To be more specific, I used the principles of critical thinking when I lost my virginity at the age of 18. Prior to turning 18, I was taught that it was wrong to have sex before marriage. Even though I was taught that, I did not actually believe it. I was skeptical of what I was taught, so I examined other individuals’ experiences and also examined the assumptions that I would be wrong if I had sex before marriage. I listened to stories of people who waited and listened to stories of people who did not wait until marriage. Then I was cautious in drawing any kind of conclusions that it was wrong or right. I considered the alternative of not having sex before marriage and it did not appeal to me because I wanted to experience sex. After all, everyone else was doing...
Words: 1722 - Pages: 7
...Development of Sexual Identity Development of Sexual Identity This paper will discus the following things about sexual identity: development factors, such as biological sex, gender identity and roles, sexual orientation, and the relationship between these factors. One would have never assumed that sexuality would be a topic of great conversation and questions. Over time we have became a society made up from a melting pot not only of different ethnic groups but of sexual orientation. Sexual Identity Development Factors There are several factors that influence a person’s sexual identity. The first factor that affects sexual orientation is biological sex. Biological sex is determined by a person’s chromosomal make up along with hormones. Females are typically born with XX chromosomes and males are born with XY chromosomes. Although in some situations there can be a mutation of the Y chromosome, the SRY gene which is the sex determining portion of the Y chromosome can be missing in XY girls’ Y and is present in the XX boys’ X (Offner, 2010). Chromosomes alone cannot determine gender identity hormones also help in determining gender identity. The SRY gene codes on the Y chromosome cause the indifferent gonads to become testicle which then secrete testosterone which then causes the Wolffian duct system to develop which is the male structures (Offner, 2010). So as you can see together with the SRY gene and specific level of testosterone within an embryo...
Words: 1465 - Pages: 6
...are homosexual which means that they only like people of the same sex, and some are bisexual which means that they are interested in both sexes, choosing what sex you like to date is called sexual orientation. There is also something called sexual identity which is what sex you choose to be some men want to be women and some women want to be men. There are two movies that make great examples of this which is the crying game and boys don’t cry. I was born a female and that is what I choose to be, though I can be a bit tomboyish. I also am bisexual but I am choosing to marry my fiancé who is the man of my dreams and my soul mate. Research has shown that there is a possibility sexual orientation can be based on genetics. Many anti-homosexuals would love for that to be true so they could try to eradicate homosexuality, but there is no evidence to back up that statement. Also homosexuals have the same hormones and brain function as heterosexuals, so it seems for the most part sexual identity and orientation are a lifestyle choice and has nothing to do internally with the body the only guess is that it is the adrenal cortical steroid. Sometimes though genetic defects can occur, these can confuse someone or make them feel like they are living a lie. Though weather through choice or defect identity or orientation. It is not up to anyone but that person to decide how they want to live or who they want to live as government should have no say in...
Words: 290 - Pages: 2
...Running Head: GENDER IDENTITY AND SEXUALITY Gender Identity and Sexuality Table of Contents Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………..3 Gender Identity and Sexuality……………………………………………………….. References………………………………………………………………………………….. Abstract Sexuality and gender identify are two separate terms but they relate to each other very much. Sexuality is anything that relates to sex. It includes birth control, abortion, our bodies, our gender and gender identity. Understanding how teens think about their sexuality helps us understand what they are going though as young adults. Gender Identity has changed in the last ten year. What is gender identity? It is the way we look at ourselves or how other people look at us. Some teens may be confused of what their sexual orientation is. And what is a counselor’s role to helping them out. Some teen may be unsure of their gender identity, if they are supposed to feel a certain way to the opposite sex or the same sex. Is TV and media persuading them that they have to be a certain way? In this paper I will tie to the two together. First a person has to be aware of their sexuality. Sex and Gender will also be explained. Even though they are the same they can be defined very different. Culture also plays a major part in sexuality, cultures such as Asians, Blacks, Whites and Latinos. Each culture handles sexuality different. Research includes exploring that many avenues of each culture. Introduction Human being are divers...
Words: 663 - Pages: 3
...Sexual Orientation & Identity Manuel (Matthew) Custodio The Brain, The Body and The Mind: All Together Now (Psy/240) 10/21/11 Instructor: Tana Warren Sexual Orientation & Identity There are many different perspectives relating to a person sexual orientation and identity, which will be examine. When examining sexual orientation there are three different types, which are heterosexual (attraction to the opposite sex), homosexual (attraction to same sex) and bisexual (attraction to both sexes) (Pinel, 2009). One perspective is orientation is link with genetics; finding that twin brothers with similar DNA were 52% of monozygotic twin brothers and 22% of the dizygotic twin brothers were homosexual (Pinel, 2009). Women had similar results with 48% for monozygotic twins and 16% for dizygotic twins female were homosexual (Pinel, 2009). However, no gene has been found to confirm or deny the claim that sexual orientation is genetic (Pinel, 2009). Another perspective is that perinatal hormones has an effect on sexual orientation in humans (Pinel, 2009). The support for this comes from the quasiexperimental study of Ehrhardt and in this study they interviewed adult women that was exposed to estrogen during pregnancy (Pinel, 2009). These women children that were exposed to the estrogen were more likely to be attracted to women (Pinel, 2009). Last, perspective is that sexual orientation is a matter of choice is consider to be a false assumption; people discover...
Words: 310 - Pages: 2
...Alyssa Boyer SOC 144S 5/1/2012 When pondering about way that I would describe myself, I would usually come up with physical attributes and personality traits to portray who I am. While thinking deeper into my true identity, I see more broad aspects as well as social constructions that have made me who I am today. Due to social construction and the culture that I have been brought up in, I would describe myself physically and share the things that I do in my life. I was raised in a place where everyone around me was similar and if they were of a different color, gender or sexual preference I shouldn’t and wouldn’t look at the differences in them. When taking a step back and looking at the differences between other’s identities and my own, I see that I am a Caucasian female. I am an upper-middle class American but I come from French and German decent. I come from different decent, however myself and my family will always identify with American because ourselves and our grandparents were all born here in the United States. I am heterosexual and I have identified as a female athlete most of my child and adolescent life. I was raised going to Catholic Church so I identify as somewhat religious and attend a highly respected university so I am identifiable as student as well. These words that I use to describe myself show the differences between my upbringing and other cultures. I grew up in a pretty well-off family and in a nice area of a small town. As I grew up, the only...
Words: 1980 - Pages: 8
...Sexual identities that are clearly defined in terms of object choice and/or who people are attracted to, play both an enabling and constraining role in society because there are clear benefits and consequences. With the emergence of new gender identities and sexual fluidities, the traditional thought of sexual and gender binaries are becoming increasingly challenged, remodeled and broken. The effects of growing assimilationist politics, is signaling a change in gay inclusive politics and culture, in which the continued existence of the LGBT movement comes into question. For years our society has constructed identities, especially sexual identities, based solely on object choice and who someone is attracted to. This creates a very interesting...
Words: 1676 - Pages: 7
...Engendering the Subaltern Subject: The Sexual Identity of Gay Asian Men We live in a world wherein we are controlled by our society. Society dictates what can and cannot be done, what is right and wrong, what is to be accepted and what is to be shunned. In our world today, we feel the need to conform to the norm, to feel as though we somehow belong, that we are a part of something bigger – that we belong to a community. In our world today, we are also encouraged to set ourselves apart from everyone else, to be our unique; our own person, but being different is something that is not generally accepted, the very notion that society brings forth, that we need to be our own person, society also contradicts because you can only be so different – it is as if there is a certain level of difference that can be tolerated, and anything beyond that comfort zone is deemed to be wrong. Today, it has become evident that more people have gathered the courage to defy society’s comfort zones and rise above them. Now, we see an increasing number of homosexuals that are becoming more open about their sexuality, but the question there is, are they coming out of the closet explicitly? Or is it simply an implied action? In the Philippines, we have local scenes that vividly showcase homosexual pride. We see this through the pubs that welcome gay acts to perform every now and then, the parlors whose staff consists primarily of gay stylists, even through the media we see how homosexuality is showcased...
Words: 4578 - Pages: 19
...Let's begin with introducing the two. Sexual orientation is a term used to refer to the sex of those to whom someone is sexually and romantically attracted. Sexual orientation is not a choice. It consists of labels such as gay, lesbian, and bisexual. On the other hand gender identity is how one sees themselves in terms of male, female, a blend of both, or neither. Someone's gender identity can be different from what they were born as. So in short words, sexual orientation is "who you want to have sex with," and gender identity is "who you are." When it comes to the needs that surround the two, there are similarities. For instance, whom you are attracted to usually has a lot to do with whom you are. Sexual relations do not only pertain to who...
Words: 270 - Pages: 2
...Stoltenberg's notion that male sexual identity is entirely a political and ethical construction. Men should refuse the current model of masculine sexual identity, and learn one built on a different set of ethics that is not based on female objectification and dominance. Stoltenberg argues that we are not born belonging to one or the other of two sexes, but instead we are multisexed. Each persons genitalia is developed from exactly the same piece of tissue. “If you look at all the variables in nature that are said to determine human “sex,” you can’t possibly find one that will unequivocally split the species into two.” Gender is a socially constructed idea and while biological sex is a part of gender, it is not finite. In other words, being born with a penis or vagina does not biologically determine who you’ll be later on in life. People born with vaginas are taught to be girls and people born with penises are taught to be boys. This socially reproduced idea of categorizing two...
Words: 539 - Pages: 3
...Is asexuality a lack of sexual orientation and analogous to other sexual orientations and identities? One of the most inescapable social assumptions is that all humans possess sexual desire (Cole, 1993; 192). A related assumption is that sexuality is not only something one does, but an identity or something one is (Weeks, 1986; Foucault, 1978, cited in Scherrer, 2008; 621). Most inquiries into asexuality have approached it as either behaviour (lack of sexual acts) or a lack of desire for sexual acts. However, Scherrer argues that the complexity and variability of asexuality also encompasses those who are interested in romantic attachment but with limited or no physical contact, along with others who are simply not interested in sex (Scherrer, 2008: 634), a discourse appears frequently in which self-identified asexuals participate. It is in this context where identity labels such as demisexual, hyposexual, romantic or aromantic asexual, hyporomantic, straight-A, gay-A, bi-A, grey-A, etc. take on meanings, as asexuals attempt to position themselves not only according to the genders of people to whom they experience romantic attraction, but also according to the degrees to which (and the ways in which) they do so (DeLuzio Chasin, 2011; 713). It is already clear from the language of asexuality that it positions itself as an alternative to sexual, instead of as an alternative to straight or queer, with significant variations in both ‘romantic orientation’ and the degree to...
Words: 4208 - Pages: 17
...Body Fat and Eating Disorders Kay Canaan SCI/241 4/21/13 Joseph Robare Body Fat and Eating Disorders Introduction: “Childhood obesity is best tackled at home through improved parental involvement, increased physical exercise, better diet and restraint from eating” (Bob Filner, 2006, pg. 1). This paper will explore the cause of unhealthy body composition, the factors that influence obesity, as well as the different types of eating disorders. Body Composition: Body composition is necessary for many reasons. For one body composition protects the organs in the body, two it protects the body from temperature changes and for three it gives us energy. However with all things considered you can have too much body composition. Body composition crosses the line of healthy to unhealthy when it reaches the rate of 30 pounds overweight. Unhealthy body composition refers to body fat in comparison to lean muscle mass. It is the unhealthy body composition that leads us toward obesity, and a whole host of medical problems such as heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure, to name a few. To ensure your body composition is within normal range you need to measure your BMI (Body Mass Index). To measure BMI a formula of weigh/height^2*703 is used. Factors that influence obesity: Following this idea further it is important to know what causes unhealthy body composition. This can be such things as high fat diet, a diet high in sugar, lack of exercise, and simply overeating...
Words: 908 - Pages: 4
...Sexual and Gender Identity, Personality, and Eating Disorders Outline 1. Sexual and Gender Identity a. Categorized as just that, sexual and gender identity disorders b. Some classifications include gender identity disorder, sexual dysfunctions, and paraphilia’s c. Biological contributions include physical disease, medical illness, prescribed medications, use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs d. Emotional patterns of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships, emotional instability, identity disturbance, chronic feeling of emptiness, and often show symptoms of agitated effort to avoid real or imaginary abandonment e. Cognitively causes paranoid thoughts, to the extreme of having repetitive suicidal thoughts f. Behaviorally; individuals have/ show serious and rigid personality traits that causes anguish to the individual and/ or cause problems at work, school, and/ or social relationships (impulsiveness, intense anger, and stress) 2. Personality Disorders a. Categorized by how an individual relates to the world b. Some classifications include antisocial personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder c. Biologically; genetics are responsible for personality (a connection between genetics and personality traits) d. Emotional components reflect on a disruptive childhood e. Cognitively, childhood experiences shape thought patterns in which it later becomes the individuals personality f. Behavioral wise, individuals act out their beliefs although the...
Words: 275 - Pages: 2
...In “The House on Mango Street”, Esperanza reveals personal experiences through which the reader is able to determine what kind of person she is and how she views herself. Esperanza is a young courageous, strong willed, Mexican- American girl that lives on Mango Street. Esperanza describes her sexual identity through her coming of age and how poverty affects her place in the world. She begins to feel the limitations imposed by her environment. She possesses the courage and initiative to reach beyond her neighborhood to achieve better things. Esperanza is similar but different from the other major female characters throughout the novella. The vignettes show different aspects of Esperanza’s life as it evolves and changes throughout “The House on Mango Street.” In the novella, Sally is a young girl who Esperanza befriends when she moved to Mango Street. Esperanza and Sally are the same age but Sally is more sexually bold. Sally opens up a new world to Esperanza who finds newfound sexual awareness in her friendship with the sexually adventurous Sally. From the novella it quotes “She does not like to get her stockings dirty, and she plays a more grown-up game by talking to the boys.” Esperanza’s awareness of her...
Words: 667 - Pages: 3
...similarities and differences compared to the American Counselling Association Code of Ethics (ACA). This paper will compare the two code of ethics using the systemic perspective model which comprises of eight specific areas, mindset, emotional, physical/biological, philosophy, culture, political/economic, social and environment. Systemic perspective model is based on a framework whereby different components of a perspective can be understood in parallel with each other rather than in isolation. Specifically, this paper will illustrate these comparisons between the perspectives based on same sex issues. Systemic Perspective Model Mindset When dealing with clients who face a crisis in sexual identity, the counsellor must maintain an open mindset and not form prejudices that might hinder the counsellor-client relationship. Mindset is a fixed disposition that predetermines an individual’s response to a situation. As a counsellor, one must be receptive to all views regardless of societal influences, especially on a contentious issue such as homosexuality. It is evident that both SAC and ACA code of ethics recognized diversity as their key point, hence, the counsellor are likely to prioritise the clients' views and emotional needs and not form pre-conceived notions of alternative lifestyles. Counsellors must realise the importance and thus maintain ethical professionalism, personal, and social relationships with their client (See F.3...
Words: 1742 - Pages: 7
