Notes on Sexuality During Childhood and Adolescence

Chapter 12: Sexuality During Childhood and Adolescence

Childhood Sexuality

  • Normal Development: Sexual behavior is a natural aspect of child development.
  • Common Behaviors by Age:
    • 2-3 years: Masturbation begins.
    • 4-7 years: Sex play starts.
    • 5-7 years: Children begin to enact marriage scripts.
    • 8-9 years: Increased homosociality (friendships with the same sex).
    • 10-11 years: Interest in bodily changes and sexuality develops.

Physical Changes in Adolescence

  • Puberty Onset:
    • Typically begins between 8-14 years; girls often start 2 years earlier than boys.
    • Triggered by the release of gonadotropins, leading to maturation of the reproductive organs.

Secondary Sex Characteristics during Puberty

  • Common Changes (Both Sexes):
    • Development of pubic hair and growth spurts.
    • Enlargement of genitals and onset of axillary oil secretion.
  • Girls:
    • Develop breast buds, voice changes, vaginal secretions, and experience menarche (average age 12-13).
  • Boys:
    • Growth of facial hair, deepening of voice, and first ejaculation occurs around age 13.

The Sexual Double Standard

  • Gender-role Differentiation: Increases during adolescence impacting attitudes towards sexuality.
    • Girls: Tend to focus on sexuality in terms of relationships, facing the challenge of wanting to appear attractive without being viewed as promiscuous.
    • Boys: Often see sexuality as a conquest, with peer pressure encouraging aggressive and independent behaviors.

Reasons for Sexual Intercourse During Adolescence

  • Factors Influencing Sexual Behavior:
    • Increased sex hormones and curiosity about sex.
    • Affection for partners and a push towards adult-like behaviors.
    • Influence of peer pressure and societal expectations.

Predisposing Factors for Early/Late Coitus in Adolescents

Early Coitus:

  • Influences may include:
    • Poverty and family conflict.
    • Lack of parental education and supervision.
    • Parental substance abuse.

Late Coitus:

  • Factors promoting late sexual activity include:
    • Strong religious beliefs and good academic performance.
    • Higher socioeconomic status and quality communication within parent-child relationships.

Same-Sex Experiences in Adolescence

  • Experiential same-sex contact is common among peers.
  • Some individuals start identifying as LGBTQ+ during their teenage years, facing societal reactions including harassment and bullying.

U.S. Teen Pregnancy Rates

  • The U.S. has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy among developed countries.
  • Impact of Teen Pregnancy:
    • Affects the physical health of both the teen mother and the child.
    • Influences socioeconomic status and educational opportunities.
    • Affects the quality of parenting.
  • Statistical Insight:
    • About 1 in 4 teens become pregnant by age 20.

International Comparison of Teen Birth Rates (2008-2009)

  • The U.S. has higher teen birth rates compared to several Western nations, with rates in per 1,000 girls aged 15-19:
    • U.S.: 43
    • Romania: 39
    • United Kingdom: 39
    • Bulgaria: 14
    • Other countries (France, Norway, Italy, etc.) have lower rates, from 6 to 10.

Educational and Societal Challenges for Teen Mothers

  • Just 38% of teen girls who give birth before 18 complete their high school diploma.
  • True or False Facts:
    • Teen mothers are twice as likely to die in childbirth.
    • Children born to teen mothers have double the risk of dying before age one.
    • Teen mothers are twice as likely to drop out of high school.
    • A significant portion of welfare payments go towards families with teen mothers.
    • 20% of teen mothers get pregnant again within two years.
    • Most teen pregnancies are unplanned.

Birth Control Usage Among Teens

  • Teens are less likely than adults to use birth control effectively due to factors such as:
    • Insufficient knowledge about contraception.
    • Beliefs regarding planning implying promiscuity.
    • Fear or embarrassment associated with healthcare visits.
    • Inconsistent partner relationships, making communication difficult.

Approaches to Sex Education

  • Answering Children’s Questions About Sex:
    • Begin discussions early and maintain ongoing dialogue.
    • If parents feel uncomfortable, they can utilize age-appropriate print or media resources for education.
    • Provide direct and honest answers, tailored to the child’s comprehension level.
    • Educate about physiological changes before they occur.
    • Youth generally prefer parents as their primary source of sexual information.