Sexuality Development There are several key factors that are a part of sexuality development as children begin to mature. Broderick and Blewitt (2015) stated that, “the term sexuality development has replaced sexual development over the past decade reflecting the fluidity and interconnectedness of physical and psychological development over the course of coming to understand one’s sexuality,” (p. 355). This is semantical difference, and the rationale behind the change, is important because it takes into consideration numerous factors that affects one sexuality development. Important factors involved in this process include biological factors, social factors, and cultural factors.
Biological and Age Factors When discussing sexuality development,
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Arnett (as cited in Broderick and Blewitt, 2015) lists girls beginning puberty as early as the age of 8, whereas boys can begin as early as 9 ½. Girls will begin this process earlier than boys typically, so they are predisposed to sexuality development at an earlier age due to biological factors. Research has also shown that while girls who develop at a younger age can face negative emotional consequences, this is not the case with boys; they actually face negative emotional consequences through late development (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015).
Socialization Factors The social impact of sexuality development is also something to take into consideration. These changes are often visible, and coupled with behaviors, can have an impact on adolescence in relation to their peers. Dr. Earl Grey (Laureate Education, 2013) shared an example:
One client came to me because she was having difficulty with her female peers, not being able to fit in, not feeling accepted in the group. As I gathered more information from her, what was evident is that her peers had developed more rapidly than she had. So she was more in the younger tween phase, and the other girls, the way she described were moving much faster into adolescence (p.
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260). While there may be a myriad of reasons an individual may not want to discuss their sexuality, a cultural reason could be religious views. There is a documented culture of suppressing sexuality within various religions. Examples of this could be suppressing sexual fantasies (especially if they are same-sex in nature), denouncing premarital sex or children born out of wedlock, or even the absence of men in social settings within certain
Sexuality and Gender in Children’s Daily Worlds article by Thorne and Luria focuses on the relationships between sexuality and gender in the experience of 9 to 11 year old children. The purpose of the authors’ analysis is to illuminate age-based variations and transitions in the organization of sexuality and gender. Throughout this paper we discover how gender and sexuality has become a social and cultural construction that is expressed through young children. At a young age we tend to define and separate ourselves by gender, boys vs. girl. These divisions are enforced around us daily. For example, teachers often tend to separate team by gender whether it’s in the classroom or the playground.
References to Kurt Freund’s studies to “assess sexual arousal in men and women” and Alfred Kinsey’s “sexual orientation” scale are made to further explain how sexuality and asexuality are not solid concepts with strict definitions of their own but rather more multifarious. For
The physical development at the adolescence falls under the theory of Nature rather than nurture, because this physical growth is a part of programmed development. “Probably the most obvious changes that signal the transition to adolescence occurs in the domain of physical development.” (Bukatko, 2008). Quick adolescent development characteristically takes place in girls, among ages ten and fourteen, but in boys these changes happen a little later, between ages twelve and sixteen. Since the developmental spurt, in boys, begins two years later than girls, the girls will be head and shoulders above their male peers, and this may be why girls at that age look to young adult men for companionship, because they are more height appropriate (Bukatko, 2008).
One stage of adolescent development that my teen went through was puberty. Puberty is different for girls and boys and is manifested differently as they go through many physical and cognitive changes. As I was raising my teen daughter I noticed that the changes in her body during puberty played a role in the way she viewed herself. By age 11 she became more interested in her appearance as a result of some compliments from some boys in her school. She started to wear makeup to school every day and became more interested in buying new clothes and shoes. As pu...
“…drop out of school, have sex at early ages and experience early childbearing. [They are also more prone to] have more difficulty in, and less support for, handling the stresses and tasks of adolescence, and may be more depressed or may have a greater tolerance or need for risk-taking. Adolescent sexual activity may also be linked to a general propensity to engage in potentially risky act...
... into adulthood can stir up emotions and affect psychological development. Jacob and Gianna can begin to feel insecure and negatively about their bodies. It’s best to think positive about one’s body image rather than securing low self-esteem and feeling inadequate. The emotional and physical aspects of development will help children transition into their adult life. Taking on puberty with a positive and open attitude is best. This period of time is when children can discover their sexual interests, wants, and likes. This time in life teens will learn how to control their sexual tendencies and energies. In conclusion, like I previously stated it’s important for children and teens to be open with their guardians if they have any questions, feel good about themselves because nobody is perfect, and realize that it’s a natural occurrence in life and they’re not alone.
Adolescence is the time-frame when children transition into adulthood, usually beginning between age 11 or 12 concluding in the late teens or early twenties. Adolescence offers the fortuity for psycho-social, physical, cognitive and physical growth, with a stipulation of risk to healthy development by making poor choices and risky behavior such as unsafe sexual activity, substance abuse and inferior peer relationships. The impact of adolescence physically; puberty marks the termination of childhood as we know it, these changes can have a profound affect psychologically. Hormonal changes present during puberty can trigger mood swings, erratic and fluctuating behaviors. Generally, puberty takes four years to complete,
The construction of human sexuality has been and remains an enigma in today’s society. The prominent and well fought debate can be compacted into one simple title: Nature vs. Nurture. There is no clear answer to how our human sexuality is formed.
Sexuality is a fundamental part of our self-discovery, involving much more than just being genetically or anatomically male and female and it is not defined solely by one 's sexual acts (Ministry of Education 1989, p.79 cited in Gourlay, P 1995). The notion that sexuality is fixed and innate disregards the social aspects that impact ones’ sexualities. Gagnon and Simon (1973) further commented that sexuality is a feature of social
Adolescence is the longest period of development that is characterized by rapid physical growth, reproductive maturity and psychosocial advancement (Fantasia, 2008). This developmental phase brings sexual intercourse in to consideration for the adolescent. Adolescent sex is the popular thing to do. In the 1980s and 1990s, adolescents were being taught that sex was a taboo and when married. Since puberty is occurring at a younger age, marriage is delayed until later in life. A growing number of sexually transmitted diseases occur more frequently in adolescents (Fantasia, 2008). In society today, sex among adolescents is on the rise due to lack of education, lack of parental influence, and peer pressure.
According to a report containing what is now appropriate for elementary schools to teach regarding sex education, “by the time they leave elementary school, children should be able to define sexual orientation” (Harrington, 2012). Some may say to teach sex education to early elementary student is a little too early which is a valid point. But sometimes I think parents forget today is completely different from yesterday. What went on while our parents were in grade school is completely different from what’s going on now and I would like for the youth to be prepared rather than caught in a stic...
This stage of the psychosexual development allowed the child's sexual desires and conflict to repress. The child's ego was relatively free from the interference by the id impulsive but at the same time still need to be managed for they were still growing. They tended to control these desires through extracurricular and socially acceptable activities such as school, sports, arts, and technological distractions; and there was to be no penalty for fixation at this stage.
Parents and caregivers have an important role in influencing their adolescent about sexuality. They are the first to teach their children about sexual things such as the proper names for genitals, where babies come from, and their attitudes about behaviors like masturbation can influence if sexuality is something natural or something of which to be ashamed (Crooks & Baur, 2014). Parents are not the only influences children and adolescents have regarding sexuality. Other influences include: siblings, schools, and the media also influence them.
Gender and sexuality can be comprehended through social science. Social science is “the study of human society and of individual relationships in and to society” (free dictionary, 2009). The study of social science deals with different aspects of society such as politics, economics, and the social aspects of society. Gender identity is closely interlinked with social science as it is based on an identity of an individual in the society. Sexuality is “the condition of being characterized and distinguished by sex” (free dictionary, 2009). There are different gender identities such as male, female, gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual that exists all around the world. There is inequality in gender identities and dominance of a male regardless of which sexuality they fall under. The males are superior over the females and gays superior over the lesbians, however it different depending on the place and circumstances. This paper will look at the gender roles and stereotypes, social policy, and homosexuality from a modern and a traditional society perspective. The three different areas will be compared by the two different societies to understand how much changes has occurred and whether or not anything has really changed. In general a traditional society is more conservative where as a modern society is fundamentally liberal. This is to say that a traditional society lists certain roles depending on the gender and there are stereotypes that are connected with the genders. One must obey the one that is dominant and make decisions. On the other hand, a modern society is lenient, It accepts the individual’s identity and sexuality. There is no inequality and everyone in the society is to be seen as individuals not a part of a family unit...
In today’s society things are being expressed and experienced at younger ages, than ever before in our time. Children and teenagers are discovering their sexuality at very early ages. Sexuality is the discovering of who you are and what makes you different from everybody else.