Child: Birth to Age 2 Sexual Development
spontanenous, reflexive sexual response
healthy touch
What they learn:
names for body parts and how ppl feel about it
rules/beliefs for gender
Kids are developing:
attachment to family/caregivers
basic social skills
Child: Age 2 to 5 Sexual Development
keen interest in their own body and others
What they learn:
how they joined fam
the diff between gender
their body belongs to them
types of touch
Kids are developing:
certainty about their gender
an understanding of private and public and how it relates to their body
Child: Age 5 to 8 Sexual Development
Physical exploration of bodies in common at this age
self-pleasuring can be intentional
peer bonding more intense
What they learn:
how babies are made
different types of families/couples
their bodies are changing as they age
Kids are developing:
understanding of attraction/romantic relationships
Puberty: Age 9 to 12 Sexual Development
masturbation is pleasure-entered but influences by by any messaging received from peers/fam/media
less grossed out by sexuality more interested
What they learn:
bodies change
their beliefs and values are own
how and why people are sexual
complex skills to understand and decode the meaning behind behaviours
Kids are developing:
skills needed to start/build/maintain/end relationships
sense of justice/understanding of their rights
Changes during puberty
Big feet (one of the first things)
Growth spurts
Skin changes (more sebum production = oily, acne)
Perspiration and odor
Body hair
Voice changes
Moodiness
Crushes
Sex based Puberty Changes
Testosterone:
broader shoulders
frequent erections
nocturnal emissions
Estrogen:
Wider hips
breast development
menstruation
Conflicts with body changes
body changes → different treatment
fluctuating hormones → moodiness
lack of sleep → irritability
increased interest in sex
cognitive immaturity → poor decision-making
• poor emotion regulation
Adolescent Sexual Development
often first romantic/sexual relationships
masturbation common (80% w/ penis, 58% with vulva)
What they learn:
how to adapt to their changing bodies
how to protect their sexual health
What they are developing:
sexual selves (needs, desires)
relationship skills
Sexual Debut Average Age and How many BC kids are active
17 years 2 months, 80% in romantic relationships during debut, 80% did not have debut
Adult Sexual Development
seek long term relationships
What they learn
how to sustain relationships beyond passionate start
What they develop
effective and sustainable communication methods
sexual health protection
Types of relationships
serial monogamy
polyamory (open relationship, dating multiple people, usually ethical)
casual dating
hookups
unethical nonmonogamy (cheating)
Sexual Fantasies
common
98% of men think of other ppl while 80% of women
most common is with multiple people and sadomasochism
Sexual Dysfunction
low desire is common
Pre-orgasmia mostly diasgones in cis women though men also have trouble reaching orgasm
Erectile difficulties more studies
Sexual Pain, stems from genital pain, vulvodynia (vulva pain), vaginismus (pain from muscles around vulva)
Sexual Dysfunction Treatment
Physiotherapy
midfullness practices
touch therapy
drug therapy
What are seniors up to
sex is important to them
most are sexually active
sometimes sex is better for seniors
physical well-being is tied to sex
Sex Challenges for Seniors
Cis women:
lower estrogen (sensitive bladders, libido change, thinning tissue, change in vaginal pH
Cis men:
erectile change, lower testosterone, prostate issue
All genders:
STI’s, dating again, limits imposed by others
Criteria for Sexual Consent for Seniors
Basic sexual knowledge
Ability to understand consequence and risk
Ability to understand appropriate and inappropriate locations and times for sexual activity
Ability to articulate choice, preferences, and resistance
Ability to recognize distress or resistance in a partner
What is R vs Ewanchuck
Law defining sexual consent and a girl went in for job interview and Steve mades passes and R said no until she stopped talking and then Steven took that as yes and assaulted her
Sexual Consent In Canada
Consent must be clear and sought, They passes there is no presumption in consent. The absence of a "no" does not mean "yes"
What is the current age of consent in Canada?
16, used to be 14 in order to help young girls in that were being recruited into sex work
Exceptions for age of consent
no one under 11 can consent to sexual activty
12 to 13 less than 2 years older
14 to 15 less than 5 years older
consent not possible, regardless of age
Cant consent to sex with people with institutional power over us, teacher, coach
cant consent to legal capacity to do sex work for money
Nudes pics and vids sharing for minors
What resources are available for folks who have experienced sexualized violence?
SVPRO
In BC a team of nurses will check if the victim is physically okay
A "rape kit" maybe used to gather evidence (evidence is kept up to a year)
Sex work: what aspects of sex work are currently prohibited by law
Illegal to:
pay for sexual services
talking about exchanging sexual services in public
profiting as a third party
hiring someone to provide sexual services
third party advertising
Problems with Porn
Misrepresentation of bodies
erections are forced to maintain for long periods
How pleasure is depicted
very heterosexual, P-V sex is best
Ejaculation happens where we normally cant see
Violence
lots of slapping and humiliation porn
Exploitation of performers
most exploited workers and is short
Benefits of Porn
Exploration of sexual expression: pleasure, fantasy, \n identity
Can support healthy masturbation
Can facilitate connection between partners, building connection, trust, exploration, etc.
Barriers preventing people with disabilities from expressing sexual selves
lack of sex ed as they are removed for sex class
negative attitudes to people with disabilities having sex
lack of access to healthcare
Benefits of participating in sexual activities for people with disabilities
Reduce their risk of sexual and reproductive health problems;
Increase their ability to maintain rewarding relationships;
Achieve overall health and well-being.
What practices reduce the risk of sexualized violence for people with disabilities
Refusal skills and consent skills
Age-appropriate affection and touching
Practical skills for care of body, and safer sex, \n for example
Offer opportunities to observe or rehearse \n skills and tailored for their needs
Why are the risks of assault higher for this group?
need assistance with personal care and hygiene
difficult to report due to communication difficulties
taught to comply with authority
targeted due to lower cognitive function
may not be believed
How do we define our gender?
bodies
our gender assigned at birth
Socializations
begins at birth
reinforced thru our lives
Internal sense of self
evident or hidden
How do we express our gender?
Can that gender change? If so, how?
Yes
social transitions
dress, names, pronouns
Gender affirming care
hormones
upper/lower surgery
other feminizing or masculinizing procedures
Gender identities.
Girl / Woman
Boy / Man
Nonbinary / gender nonconforming / gender fluid
dont conform to a gender
Trans (see also: woman and man)
not a gender, but is about gender,
Femme / Masc
wearing female/male attire or way to express themselves
Two Spirit
indigenous identity
male and female side
Gender expression and identity and law
no discrimination of people based on gender identity or expression
Queer Identities
gay
lesbian
Bisexual
tends to related to attraction to gender part
Pansexual
attractions to all genders
Queer
umbrella term for not straight
Transgender
not a gender identity but the have one, gender identity is different from one assigned, can be straight, asexual etc
Asexual
no spontaneous sexual desire
Demisexual
asexual but when with a person they like their sexual selves will bloom
Intersex
given a place in lgbtq as they are marginalized
is for etc and emerging identities
MSM is not sexual orientation but describes a behaviour not identity
Legal protection for Queer folks in Canada
no discrimination based on sexual orientation
Effective supports and best practices for queer youth
GSA
saves money in healthcare and created a better life
Foster inclusivity
Educates others on gender and sexuality issues
hallmarks of a sex positive presentation or resource allows for
asexuality
abstinence and celibacy
trauma
diverse sexual preferences and beliefs
addressing inequality and recognizing intersectionality
What does sex positivity foster?
dialogue
health
consent
diversity of identity and expression
pleasure
Develop a sex positive perspective or practice in our life/work?
use positive and nonjudgmental language
examine long-held personal values
model non-judgemental attitude
think what I sound like
dont make presumptions
keep current