Sexuality & Sexual Selves Sexuality and sexual selves are very broad terms which are comprised of many elements entwined within biology, sexual identity, gender, sexual subjectivity as well as socio-cultural aspects. Sexuality in itself is a basic human right which constitutes daily life and can include a series of components which establishes such beliefs and conceptualisations. This phenomenon can be understood, experienced and expressed in widespread forms, cross-culturally. Notions of a sexual self can be fashioned by biology and personal experience, however it is important to consider that these experiences and understandings can derive from wider, socially defined notions of sexual behaviour and gender too. Drawing from cross-cultural …show more content…
As Plante (2007, p.33) notes, components of the sexual self includes certain levels of sexual experience, emotional memories, sexual pleasure in addition to the perception of one’s body parts as healthy and desirable. However, it is shown by Stein (2007, p .103) that once individuals are in the process of forming sexual identities, this sense of self is least already partly formed from the use available accounts, or repertoires of meaning, to make sense of this self. And these personal accounts or subjective images are considered to be historical constructions. There is emphasis on such accounts being drawn from ones’ own beliefs, perceptions, physical and biological capabilities, cognitive and emotional development, in addition to evolving desires and needs, and how these are effectively influenced by socio-cultural factors (Plante 2007). Therefore the notion of a sexual self can be defined as something which is fluid and complex which consists of various forms of self-relevant knowledge, beliefs and perceptions that one holds for themselves which Plante (2007, p.32) evaluates as being a product of concepts on a spectrum of private and public, personal and the political, the individual and the …show more content…
Escoffier (2007, p.77) states that sexual scripts of everyday life are elaborated by the person engaging in sex through an interplay of their intrapsychic and interactive/inter-personal scripts as well as through cultural scenarios predetermined by social ideologies. This is further expressed by Kimmel’s (2007) belief that this symbolic interaction to argue that the complex social, formation of sexuality through practices, behaviours, fantasies and identities develops at three levels or out of interaction among three meaning systems which are the intrapsychic scripts, inter-personal scripts, and socio-cultural scripts. To continue, it is understood that the intrapsychic scripts are those internalised cultural expectations that motivate fantasy, arousals, sexual desires, and behaviours, while inter-personal scripts are the meaning systems emergent in the process of social interaction, and lastly the socio-cultural scripts are those which establish the normative guidelines given by the culture which influence intrapsychic and interpersonal scripts (Kimmel, 2007; Plante, 2007; Seal and Ehrhardt, 2003). Effectively, these sexual scripts dictate decision making, communication, negotiation and behaviour involving human sexual encounters (Seal & Ehrhardt 2003, p.
...dual discovering their own sexuality, the degree of self-expression versus self-detention would vary greatly. As it seems, the general trend in the perception of sexuality becomes more accepting, those who do not believe in sexuality beyond procreation continue to exert influence, and to some degree, act as the superego, to the ever growing trend.
The reason I am writing this paper is to share the information I attained about human sexuality by learning about sexuality in a college setting and by exploring my sexuality through personal experiences. I do not consider myself to have experienced much exposure to sexual behavior but I do have a cultural bias to what I consider a heavy amount of exposure because the North American culture is considered more promiscuous and sexually active than other cultures.
The community plays a key role when it comes to erotic plasticity, and the person’s sexual identity. Women’s sexual identity is seen as be adventures. Exploring ones sexual attitude, desire, decisions, and behavior. There sexual acts do not defined them, and can go through life without their high sex drive decreasing. However it is different for men when it comes to exploring their sex drive. Male sexuality is evolutionary and biological factor playing key roles in their life course. When a man experience sex with another man it is assumed they will always be gay. The so called deviant act, unlike to women defines their sexually identity. (McElwain, Grimes, & Melissa L. McVicker, 2009, p.
Unlike sex, the history of sexuality is dependant upon society and limited by its language in order to be defined and understood.
In the article “An Anthropological Look at Human Sexuality” the authors, Patrick Gray and Linda Wolfe speak about how societies look at human sexuality. The core concept of anthology is the idea of culture, the systems of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors people acquire as a member of society. The authors give an in depth analysis on how human sexuality is looked at in all different situations.
According to Freud, sexual desire is the center of everything. Every action we take and every word we speak has an underlying, perhaps subconscious, sexual theme as its driving force. The first stage in Freud's Oedipus Complex is the oral stage. In the example given by Tom Davis, an English professor at Birmingham University, "the child is in a state of sexual bliss: at the mother's breast, receiving nourishment, in a sexual relationship not only with his mother, but, he thinks, the whole world." After the oral stage comes the anal stage: in this stage the child learns that he cannot always do what he wants when he wants to. Eventually the child reaches the genital stage, that is, he becomes aware of his own penis. About this time, he also realizes that girls don't have penises and irrationally concludes that they have been castrated by Daddy to prevent...
Milstein, Susan A. Taking Sides Clashing Views in Human Sexuality. Ed. William J. Taverner and Ryan W. McKee. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009. Print.
According to anthropologist, Victor Turner, societies offer individuals only mainstream options for behavior, identity, and beliefs. People choose to adopt societal customs, in order to fit in for the benefit that the society provides. (Davidson, 2006.) As men grow up, they are encouraged to adopt gender and conform identities that is consistent with their physical sex, but they may encounter unexpected problems as they take the stereotypical masculinity, entering adulthood. Men are encouraged to internalize those identities due to societal pressure (Beggan and Allison, 2001). Physical identity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender ideology are all components of sexual identity. The development of sexual identity
Freud's proposed theory indicates that the psychosexual stages are known as oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital stages, which profoundly make up a person’s personality. “These are called psychosexual stages because each stage represents the fixation of libido (roughly translated as sexual drives or instincts) on a different area of the body.” (Saul McLeod, 2008) Concerning the oral, anal, phallic, and genital stages it is believed that if there is an overindulgence or lack of indulgence, people’s psychological development is influenced. The conflicts presented in each psychosexual stage must first be satisfied before a character can move to the next stage, and too much stimulation in one stage or not enough stimulation can define one’s
From birth, one's sexuality is shaped by society. Cultures institute behaviors that are to be seen as the societal norms, which work to constantly reinforce societal expectations of how genders should act in relation to one another. Although some may argue that one's sexuality is an innate characteristic resulting from genetic makeup, there is a large amount of evidence pointing to its social construction instead. Through the power differences between males and females, established gender roles, and drastic economic shifts, society establishes sexuality and reinforces the behaviors that are expected of its citizens.
Freud’s theory of development was based on the assumption that development is influenced by sexual drives. Freud proposed his theory of psychosexual development in his paper “Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality” originally published in 1905 which was later translated to English in 1962. He theorized that from birth, humans have an instinctual sexual energy (i.e. libido) which is a significant component of personality development. Freud’s psychosexual development theory consists of five linear stages which spans across the entire lifespan. Each of these stages are characterized by a specific erogenous zone which is at the crux of the conflict of in the developmental stage (Freud, 1962). Freud (1962) believed that the erogenous zones involved in development are the mouth, the anus, and the genital region. The conflicts and behaviors in each of the psychosexual stages are closely associated with these erogenous areas. As Freud’s developmental theory is linear, a child is unable to progress to the next stage – i.e. unable to focus on the sexual energy associated with the primary erogenous zine of the next stage (Freud, 1962). The conflict central to the psychosexual stage must be resolved in order for an individual to move on to the following stage. According to Freud (1962), successful resolution of each of these stages involves expenditure of sexual energy. Freud (1962) theorized that the more energy used to overcome the conflict of a psychosexual stage leads to characteristics/ traits/ behaviors of that stage lasting through adulthood. He believed any lasting characteristics/ traits/ behaviors are what may underlie personality and psychopathology in adulthood (Freud, 1962)...
Throughout Western civilization, culturally hegemonic views on gender and sexuality have upheld a rigid and monolithic societal structure, resulting in the marginalization and dehumanization of millions of individuals who differ from the expected norm. Whether they are ridiculed as freaks, persecuted as blasphemers, or discriminated as sub-human, these individuals have been historically treated as invisible and pushed into vulnerable positions, resulting in cycles of poverty and oppression that remain prevalent even in modern times. Today, while many of these individuals are not publicly displayed as freaks or persecuted under Western law, women, queer, and intersexed persons within our society still nonetheless find themselves under constant
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...
One of the earliest proposed definitions of asexuality came from the famed Alfred Kinsey in 1948, who called it “a lack of sexual behavior associated with a lack of sexual response to erotic stimuli” (Houdenhove, “Asexuality” 1). Later re-definitions include “a lack of sexual behavior associated with a lack of sexual desire” in 1977, “a lack of sexual orientation” in 1980, “a lack of sexual behavior” in 1993, and “a lack of sexual desire or excitement” in 2007 (Houdenhove, “Asexuality” 1; Yule 1). It was not until 2016 that researchers recommending using the definition that asexuals had been using to define themselves (which had also undergone some modifications), describing asexuality as “a lack of sexual attraction” (Houdenhove, “Asexuality” 1). It is interesting to note that all of these definitions define asexuality as “a lack of ______”, as it implies that there is something that asexuals are missing and that they are not complete, but the currently used definition at least describes the phenomenon in a way that is satisfactory to almost all who discuss asexuality.
...st of a person's life and the individual develops a strong sexual interest in the opposite sex. (Psychology) This stage represents how an individual is most interested in one’s pleasure seeking thoughts such as relationships and or sexual thoughts. This can compromise how we humans think and how we react to many things. It all does seem like this information doesn’t make sense though it all seems to tie in to each other.