Unfolding of the Sexual Self

GENDER, LOVE, SEXUALITY AND ROMANCE

The sexual self
• refers to the totality of oneself as a sexual being, including positive and
negative concepts and feelings.
• Is initially rooted in the distinguishing physical attributes found in men
(penis) and women (vagina), bodily transformations and the
development of secondary sexual characteristics during adolescence
triggering the physiological responses leading to beliefs and behavior
associated with sex.
• but encompasses the biological, physical, emotional, and social
domains
Sexuality
• Is a historical construction which brings together a host of different
biological and mental possibilities, and cultural forms — gender identity,
bodily differences, reproductive capacities, needs, desires, fantasies, erotic
practices, institutions and values — which need not be linked together,
and in other societies have not been. - Weeks, J (2003: 7) Sexuality: Second
Edition, Routledge
• Biological and physical aspects of aspects of sexuality largely concern the
human reproductive functions, including the human sexual response cycle.
• Someone’s sexual orientation can influence that person’s sexual interest and
attraction for another person.
• Physical and emotional aspects of sexuality include bonds between individuals
that are expressed through profound feelings or physical manifestations of love,
trust, and care.
• Social aspects deal with the effects of human society on one’s sexuality, while
spirituality concerns an individual’s spiritual connection with others.
• Sexuality also affects and is affected by cultural, political, legal, philosophical,
moral, ethical and religious aspects of life.
• Ethical- Sex should be a choice and in a healthy, committed relationship like marriage, sex
can be very positive and enrich the intimacy and commitment of the relationship.

• Interest in sexual activity typically increases when an individual reaches

puberty.
Sexual Development
• It is a lifelong process that starts at the moment of conception (Tsiaras,
2016)
• Part of human development

3 reasons why an Individual’s Sex is important in Lifelong Development:

develop Parent’s
Learning
attitude and attitudes and
experience
behavior significant
s patterns others
Biological component
• All humans are sexual beings, with the biological sexual
development starting inside the womb
• Sex is primarily determined through sexual characteristics –
primary and secondary
• From the 23 chromosomes present during conception, one pair
will determine whether one is male or female xx – female; xy
–male
• Chromosomes blueprint

• Hormones helps in the development and regulation of sexual

characteristics
• Estrogen, testosterone, androgen, progesterone, FSH, LH,
oxytocin
• Gonads produce sex hormones – testes and ovaries
HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
Sex- not only for reproduction; helps strengthen relationships, encourages a
man to stick around to care for his child, and affects not only health but
well-being (Tsiaras, 2016)
Human Sexual Response
• Initiated by the brain

• Communicated through the

androgens, estrogens,
progesterone
• Sexual motivation- refers to the
libido, is a person’s overall sexual
drive or desire for sexual activity
Biological sex vs. Gender

GENDER
• SOCIALLY AND CULTURALLY
CONSTRUCTED
• MASCULINE, FEMININE ROLES
• EXPECTATIONS, NORMS
In terms of biological sex or sex at birth, how
many categories do we have?
• Did you say two?
Intersex is a general term used for a variety of
conditions in which a person is born with a
reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn't seem to
fit the typical definitions of female or male. For
example, a person might be born appearing to be
female on the outside, but having mostly
male-typical anatomy on the inside.
For additional info, please visit
https://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/young-people
-on-how-they-found-out-they-are-intersex
• But, what about the intersex?
Gender: gender identity and gender expression
Sexual orientation
• SEXUAL ORIENTATION: WHO YOU
ARE PHYSICALLY, SPIRITUALLY AND
EMOTIONALLY ATTRACTED TO
Lust, Love, and Romance
Desire/lust
• Desire is based on an evolutionary need; We have a very strong, sometimes
unconscious desire to perpetuate our species
• The expression of sexual desire is most likely rooted in childhood.
• children observe their parents and absorb lessons about parental sexuality and desire.

• When we enter puberty, we start to feel the evolutionary desire towards

reproduction.
• As we grow older, it changes as it is shaped by social cues from our peers and by
mass media portrayals.
• It may take one of any number of forms; though desire may be simple, sexuality
is multifarious and varied.
• Sexuality is the expression of desire, and the aspect of desire we can access,
manipulate, and enjoy.
 The scent of attraction
• Jaiya and Heed believe that we are attracted to one another on a
subc
• onscious level, as the result of biomechanical cues, including
posture and the pheromones they give off — their sexual "scent"
— that cause us to choose the mates we do.
• pheromones "talk to the sex centers of the brain and can trigger
a release of specific sex hormones," testosterone and estrogen
• the "cranial nerve zero" or "terminal nerve" runs from the nasal
cavity to the brain region septal nucleus, which controls the
release of estrogen and testosterone, which then stimulates
dopamine, serotonin, norepenephine and oxytocin
• The combination of neurochemicals triggers dizzying feelings of
excitement, euphoria, and passion
• cranial nerve zero may be responsible for translating the signals
of sex pheromones and initiating reproductive behavior
Lust, love and the brain

• two brain structures in particular, the insula and the striatum, are responsible for
tracking the progression from sexual desire to love.
• The insula is a portion of the cerebral cortex folded deep within an area between the
temporal lobe and the frontal lobe, while the striatum is located nearby, inside the
forebrain.
• as feelings of sexual desire develop into love, they are processed in a different place in
the striatum.
• this area of the striatum is also the part of the brain that is associated with drug
addiction.
• Pfaus explains. “Love is actually a habit that is formed from sexual desire as desire is
rewarded.
• It works the same way in the brain as when people become addicted to drugs.”
Chemistry of Love, Lust and Attachment
LUST ATTRACTION ATTACHMENT

- Driven by sex -this is the phase when -A bond helping the

hormones testosterone a person actually starts couple to take their
and estrogen to feel love relationship to
- Main advanced levels
neurotransmitters: - 2 major hormones
adrenaline, dopamine, Oxytocin and
serotonin vasopressin
Gender differences in sexuality and romance
• Do gender differences include differences in motives expressed for
having sex?
• girls- feelings of being in love, belonging, being attractive, achieving greater intimacy;
boys – curiosity, expressing maturity, social status

• Libido: Is the sex drive different for boys and girls?

• Differences between males and females in their beliefs about sexuality, modes of
relating sexually and perceived motives for sex have been at times attributed to
differences in strength of sex drive, or libido. Differences do exist, but it is not clear
whether such are related to biological sex differences or to socialization processes.

• Romance: social constructions of romance influence how young people

feel about falling in and out of love, and how they act on those feelings.
Do young men and women differ in the ways in which
they deal with issues of intimacy and commitment?
• Young men frequently interpret their initial sexual experiences as
learning and experimentation, and as contributing to their sense of
self-definition, rather than as a way to become emotionally close to
another.
• Young women, on the other hand, often assume that commitment will
accompany physical intimacy, and that sex and love automatically go
together.
• These divergent perceptions are likely to give rise to frustration,
confusion and hurt as teenagers explore their sexual feelings.
• girls at adolescence may be better equipped to handle intimate
relationships as a result of their experiences with same-sex friends
Types of love : Ancient Greeks had many different
words for love. Think about these kinds of love – which
do you have and with whom? Are some of these more
important to you than others? Why?
Making responsible decision
• It is important that everyone makes responsible decisions with regard to sexuality and
sexual behavior.
• Responsible sexual behavior entails the following:

• Respect for one’s body. It means taking care of one’s body and avoiding activities that
undermine one’s worth and respect.
• Maturity in thoughts and deeds. It refers to being objective, rational, and calm,
instead of being swept by one’s emotion.
• Being guided by one’s personal beliefs and core values. Everyone, especially an
adolescent, should always be grounded by his/her personal principles and self-worth.
• Being future-oriented. Instead of focusing on the present, a person should always
weigh his or her present actions with possible consequences in the future.
• “Sex is the power to create life, and it is natural that there are specific
guidelines on the use of this privilege. The way we view and use this sublime
power will largely determine our happiness in mortality and our destiny in
eternity.” - David A. Bednar

That’s all. Thank you!

Karen Flood-Capapas