Sexual Orientation

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Section Review 6: Dimensions of Sexual Orientation
A.) Summary and Reaction
The sixth section is about two very important topics related to gender and sexuality. This section discusses the importance of sexual orientation, transgender/intersex sexuality, and respecting these differences in our society. Sexual orientation is a very personal preference and it is based on a sexual and/or emotional attraction to another person. This concept can be somewhat confusing for some people in our society. There is a difference between sexual orientation, biological sex, and gender identity. This section also emphasizes that gender is a socially constructed cultural norm and that sexual orientation is not a dichotomous variable. Also, that you may struggle …show more content…

I personally am very interested in substance abuse so this is what stuck out to me. This section explained that there are higher rates of drug use by gay men and lesbians, especially using illicit drugs and participating in high-risk sexual behaviors. I found this to be somewhat shocking and it could be a very interesting topic to do research on. Lastly, this section stated that only about 1% of clients in substance abuse programs identify as gay or lesbian. This was pretty shocking to see after all the other research was presented. It was also important to learn more about the other factors that are important to consider with both of these populations, such as stereotypes, discrimination, or having been exposed to …show more content…

Society looks at gender in terms of black and white meaning you are male or female. For example, if you are a born as a female as a little girl you must wear pink and play with Barbie dolls. Some individuals label themselves as gender non-conformists (e.g. the extreme version of gender variance) and do not follow what society expects their gender to do. They are freer and fluid in their gender expression and variation. This gender bread example is also a great way of teaching anyone the differences of sexual orientation, biological sex, and gender

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