Human Sexuality Exam 1

According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2006), what is the definition of Sexuality?

A central aspect of being human throughout life that encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy, and reproduction. It is expressed through thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviors, practices, roles, and relationships, and is influenced by biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, legal, historical, religious, and spiritual factors.

Why does studying human sexuality differ from subjects like biology, accounting, or history?

Because human sexuality is surrounded by societal taboos, fears, prejudices, hypocrisy, and mixed/ambivalent feelings (linking pleasure and intimacy with shame, guilt, and discomfort). Learning requires unlearning societal myths, factual errors, biases, and prejudices.

What is the significance of the "+" in the LGBTQ+ acronym?

The plus sign represents inclusiveness of all identities beyond lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer, including intersex, asexual, pansexual, and Two-Spirit.

Agender vs. Androgyny

• Agender: Those who do not identify with any gender.

• Androgyny: A term historically used to describe a combination of masculine and feminine traits, or a flexible/nontraditional gender expression.

Assigned Female at Birth (AFAB) / Assigned Male at Birth (AMAB)

Terms used to categorize individuals as female or male at birth, typically based on external genital anatomy (though sometimes internal gonads, chromosomes, or hormones).

Cisgender vs. Transgender

• Cisgender: Someone whose gender identity corresponds with the sex assigned to them at birth.

• Transgender: An umbrella term for those whose gender expression or identity is not congruent with the sex assigned at birth.

Differences in Sex Development (DSD) / Intersex

A group of rare conditions involving genes, hormones, and reproductive organs where a person is born with reproductive/sexual anatomy that doesn't fit typical male or female binaries (formerly termed disorders of sexual development).

Gender Dysphoria vs. Gender Incongruence

• Gender Incongruence: A term describing when one's gender differs from the sex assigned at birth.

• Gender Dysphoria: A medical diagnosis for the psychological and physical distress resulting from that misalignment (formerly gender identity disorder).

Gender Binary vs. Gender Diverse

• Gender Binary: The concept that gender is strictly dichotomous (either male or female).

• Gender Diverse: A term describing a spectrum of gender identities/expressions that do not conform to binary gender norms (replaces gender nonconforming).

Gender Roles vs. Gender Identity

• Gender Identity: An individual's internal, deeply felt sense of gender.

• Gender Roles: Attitudes, behaviors, rights, and responsibilities that a particular culture associates with an assumed or assigned sex.

Heteroflexible vs. Heteronormativity

• Heteroflexible: Individuals who identify as heterosexual/mostly heterosexual but exhibit flexibility toward same-sex behavior or attraction.

• Heteronormativity: The cultural belief that heterosexuality is the default, normal, and superior expression of sexuality.

Sexual Orientation vs. Sexual Preference

• Sexual Orientation: A multidimensional construct composed of sexual identity, attraction, and behavior.

• Sexual Preference: An outdated term that incorrectly implies sexual attraction is merely a voluntary choice.

What is the difference between Sexualization and Sexuality?

Sexualization is a form of sexism that reduces a person's worth and value solely to their sexual appeal or body parts for others' gratification, whereas sexuality encompasses a holistic range of human experiences, emotions, and identities.

What are the media usage trends for U.S. adults and youth?

• U.S. adults (18+) spend over 12–13 hours per day consuming media (with mobile devices leading digital media, followed by TV).

• Up to 95% of youth (ages 13–17) use social media, with one-third reporting they use it "almost constantly."

What impact do gendered magazines (e.g., fashion/beauty magazines) have on readers?

Heavy consumption of women's magazines (e.g., Cosmopolitan, Seventeen) is associated with internalizing thin ideals, body dissatisfaction, negative psychological health, restricted eating, and bulimic behaviors. Men's magazines (e.g., Playboy, Maxim) often present men as sexual aggressors.

How does mainstream television portray the "Heterosexual Script"?

It often depicts men as prioritizing sex over emotional commitment and ties a woman's value and virtue directly to her sexuality, while underrepresenting female characters and overrepresenting stereotypical aggressive male behaviors.

What are the major concerns regarding video games, music, and streaming platforms?

• Music/Videos: Often objectify women, portraying them as submissive sexual objects while glorifying male sexual dominance.

• Video Games: High rates of overt female sexualization (though improving) and violence. Research links heavy exposure to aggressive thoughts, physiological desensitization, and reduced empathy.

• Online Exploitation (Sextortion): Online gaming chats and social platforms can be exploited by predators to trick youth into sharing explicit imagery for blackmail or humiliation.

What is Media Literacy, and why is it essential?

Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and critically judge mass media content. It enables consumers (especially youth) to identify unrealistic standards, stereotypes, objectification, and misinformation surrounding human sexuality.

Cultivation theory

therea are consisten messages in teh media that cultivate our beliefs about the world

Sex in the Media

• even “experts” arent always experts, the medias purpose is to entertain not educate (money) so sex talk is about extremes and exaggeration

the media ____ and _______ information which is supported by

oversimplifies and distorts information (1/3 of studies fail when retested)

tips for looking at presented research

1. be skeptical

2. search for bias (ex. BYU porn study)

3. look for moralizing (ex. porn is harmful and BYU study)

4. do your own research

egocentric fallacy

mistakenly assume everyone has the same values and experiences as you and if they are different then your experiences are right and the best ex. sex means diff things to diff people for love or just for fun

ethnocentric fallacy

your group is innately better than other gourps ex. self-selected vs. arranged marriage or right position to have sex missionary is holy

related to article we read about women being less interested in sex due to lower quality but other assumptions about fear of sexual violence, and women usually doing missionary.

population

all group members we hope to describe ex. college students

sample

members of population in study ex. 200 creighton students and hope its representative

random sample

each person in population has an equal chance of being in study ex. sorority girls and non sorority girls

representative sample

sample must be similar on all important traits to general population but need to know what matters