GENERAL EDUCATION 1- UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

MODULE 5- THE SEXUAL SELF

Intended learning outcomes

At the end of this section, you are expected to:

1. Discuss and elaborate concepts associated with the sexual self, including sex and gender.
2. Identify factors that contribute to one’s sexual development.

This section tackles one of the crucial aspects of human development, the sexual self. It
highlights biological and environmental factors that shape sexual development. Tips on
regulating sexual behavior are also provided.

The Socio-biological Aspect of the Self

A vital aspect of one’s identity is the sexual self, encompassing the biological, physical emotional and social domains.
While it is initially rooted in the distinguishing physical attributes found in men and women, bodily transformations
and the development of secondary sexual characteristics during adolescence also trigger the physiological responses,
leading to beliefs and behavior associated with sex. Thus, it is important for a person to be aware of his or her
sexuality, thoughts, and behavior, in order to make responsible choices.

The Biology of Sex

At birth the sexual genital (penis for males and vagina for females) is a biological feature that distinguishes males
from females. Moreover, during puberty, observable changes in the human body also known as secondary sexual
characteristics begin. For males, the changes include the growth of facial and bodily hair, emergence of adam’s
apple, deepening of the voice and muscle development. in the Philippines, the practice of circumcision is considered
a rite of passage to adulthood among young men. For females, the onset of menstruation and noticeable changes in
hips, breasts, and skin underlie the sexual changes during this developmental stage.
The release of hormones (testosterone for males and estrogen for females) triggers physiological changes in the
reproductive system. Thus, at this stage, males and females start to become capable of procreation; male start
producing sperm while females begin producing eggs.
- He or she likely to experience sexual urges
- Sensitive to sexual stimuli
- Feel sexual arousal

Sexual Identity and Gender Orientation

At birth, one’s sexuality depends on one’s physical features and genitals. Biological sex is one’s assignment upon
birth and is dependent on physical features. On the other hand, gender is an identity that is learned and embraced
by the individual. It goes beyond biological domains and is both a personal and social construct.
Gender roles refer to the expectation of society of how men and women should act. Men are assumed to be strong
and dominant while women are perceived to be submissive and demure. However, gender and biological sex are not
always the same: born a man but assumes “womanly traits” while a woman may behave like a man. There arises the
issues on heterosexual and homosexual.

The Consequences of Social Choice

Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation is the reproductive act in which the male organ (penis) enters the
female’s reproductive tract (vagina). Adult couples who engage in sexual intercourse are usually overwhelmed by the
sensation the feel during the act. In addition, most teenagers who have sex with their partners often reason out the
act by claiming that they “love each other” and are “ready to be committed to each other”. Consequently, pregnancy
occur if both are fertile.
Aside from pregnancy, another consequence of impulsive and careless sexual intercourse is the risk of acquiring
sexually- transmitted disease (STD)- common STDs are syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and genital warts. The most
alarming sexually transmitted disease is the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It can be transmitted b contact between broken skin, wounds, or mucous membranes
and HIV- infected blood or blood-contaminated body fluids.

Responsible sexual behavior entails the following:

●Respect for one’s body. It means taking care of one’s bod 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
emotions.
●Being guided by one’s personal beliefs and core values. Everyone, especially the adolescents, should always be
grounded by one’s personal principles and self- worth.
●Being future- oriented. Instead of focusing on the present, a person should always weigh one’s present actions
with possible consequences in the future. Sexual pleasure might be overwhelming at the moment but always focus
on what it will entail in the future.
GENERAL EDUCATION 1- UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

MODULE 5- THE SEXUAL SELF

NamE:

EXERCISE 1
Instruction: if you think the statement is correct, write agree, otherwise, write disagree.

Disagree 1. We cannot control our sexual urges.

Agree 2. Our sexuality is purely biological.
Agree 3. Sexual orientations embody cognitive, affective, and behavior domains..
Agree 4. We are born with sexuality.
Disagree 5. Sex and gender are the same.

EXERCISE 2
Instruction: Answer the following questions.

1. Do beauty pageant objectify (treat as an object) women?

No,if anyone says it is so ,then that is pure generalization.Objectify women is not the only thing that it does,I
agree it can be so in some cases,but never in all!.Beauty contests are held to discover the outstandingly
physically attractive women.And is done depending on a wide range of factors which include
beauty,grace,personality,intelligence etc.It helps in women empowerment.If you are a women of beauty
then there is absolutely nothing wrong in being appreciated for it.Beauty can be an added advantage to
one’s personality,and if one wishes to showcase it.And it does portray woman as just an object of beauty till
an extent,but then any woman without wits can hardly win such a thing,so it requires somethings more than
just beauty.I think more than the beauty pageants its the item dances and similar shows and acts that
objectify women,and this certainly is a matter of concern.

2. Are you in favor of same sex marriage?

Im not favor in same sex-marriage. Because it's against the bible.And it's a sin in the eyes of God, because
the woman is only for the man and the man is only for the woman. Yes we can say that they love each other
but it is not appropriate because it is still a sin.Marriage is the visual aid of how our saviour relates to his
people. If we construe marriage as being between a man and a man, or a woman and a woman, then this
picture is radically distorted. When we alter the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples, we
radically alter the gospel message which marriage is meant to visualise. The Bible’s teaching on marriage
alone is enough to settle the issue of homosexuality. Even if the six passages directly mentioning
homosexuality were not in the Bible, we would still be clear that homosexual practise is ungodly. Christians
believe what we believe about homosexuality because we believe what we believe about marriage.