Sex and Gender Definitions

• Presentation by Asst. Prof. Tülay KAVLAK covers sex, gender, impact on health, gender identity, healthy sexual intercourse and sexual health problems.

Defining Sex

• Sex denotes biological characteristics distinguishing males from females like anatomy, physical traits and genetics.
• Genital organs: penis, testicles, vagina, uterus, breasts are primary indicators.
• Predominant hormones: estrogen and testosterone.
• Biological functions: sperm/ovum production, ability to give birth and breastfeed.
• Sex is also used to refer to sexual activity including intercourse.

Understanding Gender

• Gender is not based on biological differences alone
• Gender relates to how society perceives, thinks about, and expects individuals to behave as men and women.
• Gender defines whether an individual is a man or woman, as determined by the individual or society.
• Gender roles are socially and culturally constructed and encompass behaviors, expectations, and responsibilities for men and women.
• Gender includes accepted thoughts and norms for men and women in society which include masculine and feminine traits, abilities, and expectations.
• Gender is learned from family, friends, community, religious institutions, schools, workplaces, advertising, and media.
• Gender influences the differing roles of women/men in society, their social status, and economic/political power.
• Some cultures discourage displays of sexuality among women, and women may avoid telling men what they find sexually stimulating.
• Some women do not refuse intercourse even when insufficiently stimulated
• Some cultures dictate women must preserve virginity until marriage, and some offer more sexual freedom for men.
• Men's infidelity may be tolerated as "having an affair," while women's infidelity can result in severe punishment.
• Studies show gender differences influence sexual behavior, for example, girls report boys are mostly not virgins.
• Initial sexual intercourse may occur earlier in boys than girls.
• Girls can feel more guilt, shame, regret, fear and anxiety than boys during first sexual encounters.

Defining Gender Identity

• Gender identity includes perception and acceptance of the individual's body and self toward sexuality showing orientations in feelings/behaviors.
• It involves the acceptance of the individual's sex and aligning behavior with perceived sexuality.

Gender Identity Development

• During spiritual development, a child establishes various identifications by modelling adult figures, especially parents.
• Children imitate and absorb parental behaviors to form their own characteristics.
• During adolescence, individuals integrate childhood identities, adopting values from peer groups to form their identity.
• The perception/acceptance of oneself as a man or woman, along with aligning sexual orientation and behaviors, is a key component in developing sexual identity.
• An individual without gender identity issues defines themselves straightforwardly as "I am a man" or "I am a woman".
• Family, peers, teachers, and culture influence the development of gender identity,

Sexual Orientation

• Sexual orientation indicates the gender to which one's sexual impulse and desire are directed.
• Sexual orientation is characterized by the gender to which a person is sexually and emotionally attracted.
• Heterosexual refers to the attraction to the opposite sex.
• Homosexual describes sexual and emotional interest in one's own gender.
• Bisexual indicates attraction to both sexes.
• Transgender individuals feel they should change their gender mentally and physically.
• Bodily gender and gender identity influence one's sexual orientation, where heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual men are male in their bodily gender and gender identity.
• It is unknown how sexual orientation is formed but is thought to have environmental and genetic factors.
• It is not known if people are born with a certain sexuality.
• People cannot decide or choose their sexual orientation
• Sexual experiments do not define sexual orientation or gender identity.
• A person might engage in sexual activity for reasons other than sexual orientation like survival, money, or power, or contrary to social rules.

Sexual Behaviors Defined

• Sexual behaviors include activities related to a person's sexuality like touching, kissing, and body stimulation.
• Activities regularly performed as an expression of sexuality are sexual experiences or sexual behaviors.
• Experiences and behaviors includes what people do with themselves or with others sexually.
• Sexuality starts in childhood and culminates during adolescence, but sexual characteristics are not easily changed after puberty.
• Adolescence encompasses interest in one's body and curiosity directed towards those around them.
• Adolescents replace fantasies with experiences like kissing, proceeding to sexual behavior and first intercourse.
• Sexual intimacy includes acts from having sex, kissing, touching, chatting and reading love stories to a shared sense of connection.

Healthy Sexual Relations

• Intimate sexual behaviors including oral, anal, and penile-vaginal sex are examples of sexual intercourse.
• A healthy sexual relationship requires shared values and qualities like compromise, honesty, non-exploitation.
• A healthy sexual relationship includes the enjoyment of each other.
• A healthy sexual relationship involves protection against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
• Sexually healthy adults know the value of their bodies and take behavior responsibility.
• They can communicate respectfully with both genders, expressing love and sincerity.
• A healthy sex life requires psychological, sociocultural and biological balance.
• Individuals have differing sexualities and should respect differing sexual values and beliefs.
• Sex should be consensual, voluntary, and based on mutual respect and trust.

Sexual Heath

• All children should be loved and protected, regardless of gender.
• All sexual decisions have consequences.
• People have the right to make decisions on their sexuality.
• It is in society's interest to ensure families educate children about sexuality and values.
• Young people should be enabled to explore sexuality and reach sexual maturity.
• Sexual experiences without thought involve risk, young adults should seek relevant sexual health information.
• Sexual behaviors require self-control and responsibility.
• Postponing sexual intercourse reduces/prevents possibilities of STIs, AIDS and unwanted pregnancies.
• Youths should evolve their values and beliefs about sexuality and learn/adopt behaviors which secure sexual health.

Factors Impacting Sexual Health

• There is impact on the human health as an effect biological and social relationships
• Men and women's health and disease patterns differs.
• Women typically live longer but still experience illness/stress.
• Sexual problems are considered common across all regions, cultures, and countries.
• Approximately 1 in 3 people might encounter sexual dysfunctions at some instance throughout their life.

Gender Health and Sex

• Women typically have higher morbidity due to extended life expectancy.
• Health deterioration affects both sexes.
• Older women form the majority, and face risks like osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, and immune disorders.
• Women are more susceptible to reproductive health issues and face higher burden than men.
• Women face higher risk of cervical/breast cancer, while men face greater risk of prostate/testicular cancer.
• Negativities arising from gender roles and societal assignment affects health.
• Extent of negativity in women is greater particularly in underdeveloped countries.
• Reproductive health problems are divided into: infancy/childhood, adolescent, adult, and menopause stages.
• Childhood negatives: gender selection, unwanted pregnancy, FGM, malnutrition, infections, negligence. This resulted in increased morbidity and mortality rates - particularly among girls aged 2-5 years.
• Adolescents: STI’s, societal pressure, sexual assault, abortions, anaemia/malnutrition, trafficing and violence are risks which female teenagers are more prone to.
• Adulthood encompasses STDs, maternal mortality, unwanted pregnancies, sexual harassment, and trafficking.
• Menopause involves uterine or organ displacement, cardiovascular ailments, malignancies.
• Societies often prohibit sex, lacking sex education and regarding it as taboo contributing.
• Societies often value virginity.
• Premature ejaculation is present in men and orgasm dysfunctions in women.
• Sexual problems are caused by misinformation or lack of education.
• False beliefs, existing ailments, and medicines also causes sexual problems.
• The lack of sexual education and misinformation causes a lack of sufficient use of formal sexual information.
• Sexual limitations leads to relationships and sexual problems.
• Restrictive norms and sexual taboos results in sexual dysfunctions
• Turkish groups show lack of education is the main aspect of sexual problems.
• Conservative beliefs, prejudices, sexual stress are third reason for problems.
• Incorrect assumptions about sexuality are distorted.
• Men with these incorrect assumption often use pornography.

Sex and Gender Impact on Beliefs

• These false beliefs are side that devalues women.
• Believing orgasm is a bad action is incorrect
• Desensitizing love, affection and sexual belief are harmful.

Diseases that Cause Sexual Problems

• Cardiovascular and circularity system diseases are contributing factors to sexual problems.
• Nutritional disorders is also a factor.
• Nervous system diseases is also a key aspect.
• There's also poisonings
• Surgeries may cause sexual problems.

Drugs that Causes Sexual Problems

• Drugs to remedy cardiovascular, tension, psychiatric, and allergy has negative effects to sexual health
• Alcohol is also a key factor.