Sex and Gender Definitions

• Presentation by Asst. Prof. Tülay KAVLAK discusses sex, gender, and their impact on health

Sex

• Refers to biological characteristics, both anatomical, physical, and genetic, differentiating males and females
• Includes genital organs (penis, testes, vagina, uterus, breasts) and predominant hormones like estrogen and testosterone
• Encompasses the ability to produce sperm or ovum
• Includes the ability to give birth and breastfeed
• Used to describe sexual activity that includes intercourse

Gender

• Not based on biological differences but on societal perceptions, expectations, and behaviors related to being men and women
• Individual and societal definition of man or woman
• Gender roles involves culturally defined attitudes, behaviors, expectations, and responsibilities
• Involves accepted thoughts and norms for different genders in society
• These thought consist of typical feminine and masculine traits
• Thoughts and expectations are learned from various source such as family, friends, community leaders, institutions, schools, workplaces, advertising, and media
• Influences the different roles, social status, and economic/political power of each gender in society
• Girls are often raised to suppress interest in sexuality
• Women may avoid communicating sexual desires
• Women may feel obligated to agree to intercourse even when not stimulated
• Active pursuit of pleasure may be discouraged from women
• Female virginity until marriage may be emphasized
• Sexual freedom for men may be more accepted
• Male infidelity may be normalized
• Female infidelity may be regarded as a serious offense

Gender and Sexual Behavior

• A study revealed considerable gender related differences in attitudes and behaviors
• Most boys report not being virgins
• First sexual intercourse occurs earlier for boys than for girls
• Girls often experience more negative emotions, such as guilt, shame, regret, fear, and anxiety, during initial sexual encounters

Gender Identity

• Understanding and acceptance of gendered body, sexuality and corresponding behaviors
• Accepting of the sex that an individual belongs to

Gender Identity Development

• Child develops various identifications that are important for self development
• Children take adult family members as role models and their corresponding characteristics
• Identity forms in adolescence as one integrates childhood identities and friend group values
• Formation is important for perception, expression and acceptance of a person as a woman or man
• Crucial to sexually identity developments
• Lack of problem in having a solid gender identity, is when an individual can confidently say "I am a man, I am a woman"
• Family, peers, teachers, and cultural factors factor in here

Sexual Orientation

• It is the gender to which one's sexual impulse are directed to i.e. expressing sexual desire
• Characteristic that determines the gender to which a person is attracted sexually and emotionally
• Forms of sexualities
• Heterosexual: Attraction to the opposite sex
• Homosexual: Attraction to the same sex
• Bisexual: Attraction to both sexes
• Transgender: Identifying with different gender; desiring gender transformation
• Bodily gender and gender ideentity still conform with that of the original sexuality despite differences

Sexual Orientation Formation

• How sexual orientation develops is largely unknown

• Accepted explanations leans towards environmental factors on a complex genetic basis

• Cannot be determined whether one is born as homosexual or heterosexual, it may be fluid

• People do not get to or cannot "choose" their orientation or sexuality

• Not decided on or wanted, they happen regardless. This also goes for homosexuality

• Sexual experimentation doesn't define nor reflect the individuals true desires

• For instance, experiencing another for reasons unrelated to sexual orientation does not reflect overall orientation

Sexual Behaviors

• Sexual behaviors are activities related to a person's sexuality (such as touching, kissing, and stimulation of the body in other ways).
• Sexual experiences or behaviors are activities/habits that constantly arise from expresssion of an individual
• In general they what people do sexually and with others
• Forms as the concept of sexuality, in childhood and then finalizes near adolescence
• Puberty makes characteristics of individuals easier to determine
• Adolescence shifts interest from the self to those around the person
• Fantaises/Curiosity now gets replaced by actual real life experiences as more boundaries are expanded

Sexual Intercourse

• Also called intimate sexual behaviors refers to behaviours such oral, anal, and penile-vaginal sex

Healthy Sexual Intercourse

• Depends on the foundations of shared values and characteristics
• Compromise
• Is honest
• Protection from diseases and pregnancy
• Not exploitative
• Wishes to enjoy each other

Sexually Healthy Adults

• Values self and body, is knowledgable with this value
• Able to practice responsibility given free of self
• Shows a certain respect with those from different genders with good communication skills
• Can express love and show sincerity consistently

Important considerations for sexual issues and problems

• Need to consider biological/physiological, psychological, and sociocultural viewpoints

• Individual expression and experience may vary from stereotypes

• Personal values and beliefs impact their sexuality development

• Sexual experience should be free of coercion

• Mutual trust and respect are vital

• All children should be loved and free from gendered expectations

• Decisions have overall effects and need to be considered

• Right to make their own decisions

• Families can share core basic values and beliefs with one another

• Important to engage and explore own's maturity/sexuality

• Experience does come with risk.

• Help the adolescent to teach so more control when doing activities together

Other facts to consider

• Postponing sexual intercourse can help reduce spread of some sexually transmitted infections
• Young people develop values along the way
• Importance can develop through learning how to adopt safer practices

Sex, Gender, and Helth

• Sociobiological and biological roles are vital to know since they cause determined human health and disease status
• The two genders can show the results of the factors above because of their marked differences
• Can find that statistically women live longer but conversely some researchers argue women encounter more illness in their time

Gender in Childhood

• Complicated when it arises with girls and what it does for their health
• Gender selection and potential abortion of unwanted girls
• Sometimes this might lead to something like Gential Mutiliation
• Increased chances of malnutrition and thus infectious disease
• A negligience to give them the care they need causes raised rates and deaths in the early years

Gender in Adolescence

• High risks exist here, because most girls can have high Societal pressure
• Abuse, trafficing and violence can all result from being forced to be victims of harassment if they are women
• Increased chances of malnutrition, not getting the nutrients one needs during that stage

Gender in Adulthood

• Most important stage of life because women are at risk when functions need to operate most effectively, the health can drop at moments:
• High risk is now on unwanted pregnancy because childbirth postpartum problems
• Can raise the risk STD, malnurtirion for women which can cause sexual abuse.

During or most likely after

• Menopause now comes at forefronts which usually never has focus and are neglected
• Reproductive health is more sensitive
• Risk is high now since cancer is likely to occur
• Chances of violence, heart related disease, and more drop for women

Sexual Problems

• Premature ejaculation, vaginismus and other diseases.
• Lack of sexual experience and education will be a major problem for both genders Some major problems are:
• Lack of Education
• False Beliefs
• Diseases/Illness
• Drugs

Here are some factors and items that give way to sexual problems for individuals:

• If there is a lack book resources for both parents and child to use it may harm their life
• No teaching of basic concepts may even harm the individual
• Some societies ban the usage of sex especially for formal things
• Education and Ignorance, society makes that one have less chances the two the less access it makes people sexually dysfunctiona