Health exam 1

what is sexuality

anything related to the way we experience and express ourselves as sexual beings

what makes up our sexuality

• sex, gender, sexual behaviour/activity

sex

anatomical female, male, or intersex

gender

behavioural, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with one sex

sexual behaviour/activity

what folks actually do when having “sex”

sexual configurations: what are the components?

sexual orientation, sexual identity, and sexual status

sexual orientation

what we are attracted to, interested in and aroused by

sexual identity

• labels, communities

• self defined, shaped by culture, social context and can be shaped by experience

sexual status

• behaviours, activities

• sexual behaviour, monogamous, non monogamous, single

how do these components work together?

sexual orientation, sexual identity, and sexual status are distinguishable aspects of our sexual configurations that can branch or coincide

gender roles

complex clusters of ways males and females are expected to behave within a given culture

human sexuality

the ways we experience and express ourselves as sexual beings

erotic

arousing sexual feelings or desires

values

the beliefs and qualities in life that are deemed important or unimportant, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable

social determinants of health

• these are all determinants in our lives that can influence our health and well being

• healthy behaviours, income and social status, gender, biology and genetics, culture, education and literacy, race and racism, employment and working conditions

what influences shape our sexuality?

• religion

• family

• media

• science

• culture

• law

• peers

religion

• in the past, religion provided most of the information people had about sexuality

• people of different religions hold different understandings of human sexuality

• within each religion there is variation on how sex is regarded and regulated

• messages of sexuality vary not only from religion to religion but within a religion

science/medicine

• occurs in historical and social contexts

• scientific study of sex began in the nineteenth century within victorian social norms

• twentieth century, massive surveys of human sexual behaviour occurred in the US, britain, and france

• the complexity of human sexuality- complexity that causes it to remain somewhat baffling to scientists- adds tot he wonder and richness of our own uniqueness as individual sexual beings

culture

• culture teaches us values, norms, and expectations about sex- often implicitly.

• these messages shape what feels “Normal”, “healthy”, or “acceptable”

ethnocentrism

is the tendency to see one’s own cultural values and norms as “right”, “Normal” or superior- and others as wrong, backward, or risky

indigenous sexualities pre colonialism

many indigenous communities celebrated a wide range of sexual expressions, such as homosexuality, premarital sex, non-monogamy, as well as a more fluid understandings of gender

indigenous sexualities impact of colonialism

european and christian ideologies deemed anything outside of heterosexual, monogamous marriage as “deviant”, and gender roles, very rigid

WHO definition of sexual health

a state of physical, mental, and social well being related to sexuality, not just the absence of disease. it requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and relationships, enabling safe, pleasurable, and consensual sexual experiences free from coercion, discrimination, and violence. achieving and maintaining sexual health depends on the full respect and exercise of sexual rights, which are human rights applied to sexuality

WHO definition of sexual health

• physical, emotional, mental and social

• not just the absence of disease, dysfunction or illness

• requires a positive approach

• pleasurable and safe sexual experiences

• free of coercion, discrimination and violence

• sexual rights must be respected, protected, and fulfilled

what are sexual and reproductive rights

• they are the rights that allow you to understand and take care of your body, make decisions about your health and relationships and say yes or no freely

what are your sexual and reproductive rights

• puberty: access to proper information and education about what happens to a person’s body during puberty. also have the right to access necessary products, such as soap or deodarants so they can take care of their bodies

• menstruation: access information and education about what happens to a female body during menstruation, also have the right to access necessary products such as pads or menstrual cups

• healthy relationships: have relationships that are safe, respectful and kind with trust, communication, and mutual respect

• privacy: keep thoughts about themself and their body, relationships, and feelings to themself and decide who they want to share them with

• free from violence: live without being hurt or treated unfairly because of who they are, especially because of their gender

• sexuality: feel comfortable with their own sexuality including who they are attracted to, how they identify their gender and how they choose to show it

• STI prevention: preven tthemself from infections that can happen through sexual activity

• protection: be protected from harmful social and gender norms and gender inequality

• access information

• marriage

• childbearing: decide if and when they want to have kids

• make my own decisions

• consent

3 dimensions of autonomy

• power to decide on health care: who usually makes decisions about health care for yourself?

• power to decide on contraception: who usually makes the decision on whether or not you should use contraception?

• power to say no to sex: can you say no to your partner if you do not want to have sexual intercourse?

conception

single cell zygote forms XX or XY chromosomes

fertilization

• sperm + egg join

• all embryos start with undifferentiated genitals

7-8 weeks

• testes may start to form

• variation: XY but no testosterone response —> develops along the female pathway

• secretes testosterone

10-11 weels

• ovaries may start to form

• genitals become more distinct

20 weeks

• genitals usually visible on ultrasound

Birth

infant anatomy reflects the path of gonadal and genital differentiation

female genitalia

• mons veneris: where pubic hair is

• labia majora: major lips

• labia minora: minor lips

• prepuce: hood of clitoris

• perineum: gooch, area between vaginal opening and anus

hymen myths

• the hymen is a seal that covers the vagina

• a broken hymen proves someone is no longer a virgin

• first penetrative sex is always painful and bloody

• the hymen is a marker of purity

What is female genital mutilation

• procedure that involves partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non medical reasions

• recognized internationally as a violation of human rights

• practiced in at least 30 countries, mostly in africa, the middle easy and parts of asia

• estimated 230 million + girls and women alive today who have undergone FGM/C (c for cutting)

ovary

• also called gonads, produces ova (egg), largest cell in the human body

• manufactures sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone

G spot

responsible for squirting

internal female reproductive organs

• vagina and uterus meet via cervix

• fallopian tubes (ova ducts)- pathway that egg leaves ovary and sperm reaches egg