Sex and Gender Definitions

• Tülay KAVLAK presents on sex, gender, and their impact on health.

Sex

• Defined by biological characteristics like anatomy, physiology, and genetics
• Includes genital organs such as penis, testicles, vagina, uterus, and breasts
• Relates to predominant hormones like estrogen and testosterone
• Considers the ability to produce sperm or ovum
• The ability to give birth and breastfeed
• Refers to sexual activity including intercourse

Gender

• A societal concept, not based on biological differences
• Relates to how society sees, perceives, thinks about, and expects individuals to behave
• Defined by how an individual or society views a man or woman
• Involves socially and culturally defined attitudes, behaviors, expectations, and responsibilities
• Accepted thoughts and norms for women and men in society
• Includes feminine and masculine traits, abilities, and behavioral expectations
• Learned from family, friends, community leaders, institutions, schools, workplaces, advertising, and media
• Influences different roles, social status, and economic/political power

Gender vs Sexuality

• Girls are taught not to be interested in sexuality
• Women avoid telling men what they find sexually stimulating
• Women do not refuse intercourse when not sufficiently stimulated
• Women avoid taking active attitudes to increase pleasure
• Virginity until marriage is expected for women
• Sexual freedom is implied for men
• Men's infidelities are labeled as having an affair
• Women's infidelities are seen as "The Greatest Sin," potentially leading to "Honor Killing"

Gender Differences in Sexual Behavior

• A study shows gender differences in sexual behavior and attitudes
• Girls report that boys are mostly not virgins
• The age of first sexual intercourse is earlier for boys than girls
• Girls experience more negative emotions, such as guilt, shame, regret, fear, and anxiety, during first intercourse

Gender Identity

• The perception and acceptance of one's body and self within a certain sexuality
• Showing appropriate orientations in feelings and behaviors
• Acceptance of one's sex, and behaving according to feelings and behaviors of sexuality
• Children establish identifications during spiritual development
• Children take adult people as a model
• Imitate habits they see, absorb it and make it their own Characteristics
• Identity forms by integrating childhood identities and adopting friend group values in youth
• Formed by integrating characteristics from the people around them in childhood
• Gender identity is a crucial component of identity in a biological, social, and psychological context
• An individual without a gender identity problem defines themselves clearly
• Develops from family, peers, teachers, and cultural factors

Sexual Orientation

• Defined as the gender to which a person's sexual impulse and desire are directed
• A characteristic defined by the gender to which a person is sexually and emotionally attracted
• Heterosexual - attracted to opposite sex
• Homosexual - attracted to same sex
• Bisexual - attracted to both sexes
• Transgender - believes they should change gender mentally and physically
• Bodily gender and identity should be recognized
• Men who are heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual are all still seen as male.
• Women that are heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual are still seen as women.
• Gay men do not feel like women, and gay women don't feel like men
• How it's Formed is unknown
• Environmental factors on a complex genetic basis, but this is not certain
• It is unknown if you are born being heterosexual, bisexual, or homosexual
• One does not get to choose their orientation
• Sexual experimentation does not indicate sexual orientation or gender identity

Sexual Behaviors

• Activities related to a person's sexuality
• Touching, kissing, and stimulation of the body
• Activities or habits performed expressing some sexuality
• What people do sexually with themselves and others
• Puberty allows for some of these characteristics to be fulfilled
• Sexuality starts in childhood and is in its final shape by adolecence
• During adolescence there often is interest from one's own body which leads to some sexual interest in those around them
• Curiosity and imagination begins to transform into sexual intimacy such as kissing, touching and those lead to the boundary of sexual behavior to the first sexual intercourse

Sexual Intimacy

• More than just having sex
• Kissing, touching, chatting, hugging, caressing
• Reading or telling stories, laughing and fantasizing together

Sexual Intercourse

• Intimate behaviors, including oral, anal, and penile-vaginal sex
• It is important to care about health with sexually transmitted disease and is vital to get consent

Healthy Sexual Intercourse

• A healthy relationship is built on shared values with five characteristics Compromise, Non-exploitative, Honest, Wishing to enjoy each other and Prevention against unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

Sexually Healthy Adults

• Valuing own body, taking responsibility,
• Able to communicate with both gender with respect
• Able to express your sincerity with your values

Sexual Problems

• Includes psychological, biological and sociocultural components
• People express experiences with their own sexuality in different ways
• It is essential to accept people in different ways
• Sexual behavior should be coerced and trust and respect

The 3 main health problems according to gender.

• Protection, knowledge, society. _ALL children should be loved and accepted by their gender _Sexual decisions have affects _Children should be taught

Advice

• It is important for adolescents to explore their bodies, which can cause thoughts without thinking that come with risk
• Support can come from health centers
• Sexual activity required self control
• Postpone intercourse is important to prevent teenage births + AIDS
• Developing values is vital as you reach adulthood
• Learn and be safe is also required

General problems according to gender

• Health can determine relationships
• The quality of people's lives are affected by their experiences
• Women usually live longer but have illnesses
• Gender roles
• Is connected to reproductive areas whether men and women

Reproductive Health problems

• Childhood such as Gender selection, Unwanted pregnancy, lack of nutrients, high rates which affects younger individuals
• Adolescence Period such as societal pressure, STIs, Drugs, Sex trafficing which affects children, teens and young adults
• Adulthood such as intentional abortions, STDs, lack of nutrients which happens with adults
• Menopause is when issues are neglected

Frequency and causes of sexual issues.

• Tabbo perception, lack of knowledge can lead to some big issues
• women can have vaginal sensitivity or not have sexual desire
• men can struggle with sexual desire and or ejaculation

Most sexual problems are:

• Lack of education
• False beliefs
• Sickness
• Drugs and alcohol

Lacking Sexual Education

• It can cause people or couples to have struggles and issues in their relationships.
• loaded with rigid taboos and prohibitions
• Causes a conservative attitude for people which can result into some sexual problems.
• High importance in education
• the source is lack of education in Turkish society by 62% of those surveyed

Beliefs regarding Sex

• The wrong belief that it must be done at anytime and anyplace that distances men from those they love, warmth ect