Sex, Gender, and Impact on Health

• Sex, Gender, and Impact on Health study notes by Asst. Prof. Tülay KAVLA

Presentation Plan

• The presentation will cover sex, gender, gender identity, healthy sexual intercourse, and sexual health problems

Sex

• Sex is defined, biologically (anatomical, physical, and genetic), as that which makes people male or female
• Genital organs (penis, testicles, vagina, uterus, breasts) are a component of what defines sex
• Predominant hormones (estrogen, testosterone) are part of what defines sex
• Ability to produce sperm or ovum is biological and used to determine sex
• Ability to give birth and breastfeed is part of what makes someone biologically female
• "Sex" is sometimes used to describe sexual activity that includes intercourse

Gender

• Gender is not a biological concept but relates to how society views, perceives, thinks about, and expects one to behave as men and women
• Gender is how an individual or a society defines a man or woman
• Gender roles are socially and culturally defined attitudes, behaviors, expectations, and responsibilities
• Gender involves accepted thoughts and expectations – norms for women and men in society
• "Typically" feminine and masculine traits and abilities are included in norms
• Societal expectations surrounding how men and women should behave in various situations are part of what defines "gender"
• Thoughts and expectations are learned from family, friends, community leaders, religious and cultural institutions, schools, workplace, media
• Gender influences different roles of women and men in society, their social status, and economic and political power

Gender and Sexuality

• When girls are raised, they are taught not to be interested in sexuality
• Women tend to avoid telling men what they find sexually stimulating
• Some women do not refuse intercourse when not sufficiently stimulated
• Some women avoid taking a more active role that increases their own pleasure
• In some cultures, women must maintain virginity until marriage
• In some cultures, sexual freedom exists for men but not women
• In some cultures, men's infidelities are common, whereas women's infidelities are considered a great sin punishable by "honor killing"

Gender Differences in Sexuality

• A study found gender differences in sexual behavior and attitudes
• Boys are mostly not virgins, according to girls
• First sexual intercourse occurs earlier in boys than girls
• Girls experience more negative emotions, such as guilt, shame, regret, fear, and anxiety, during first intercourse

Gender Identity

• Gender identity constitutes the perception and acceptance of one's body and self in a certain sexuality, which shows appropriate orientations in feelings and behaviors
• Accepted sex that one belongs to and behavior corresponding to one's own body and self, in accordance with perception, feelings, and behaviors, are further defining factors for gender identity

Development of Gender Identity

• Children establish identifications during their spiritual development
• Children take adults as models
• Children imitate the behaviors of their parents, absorb them, and make them their own

Adolescence and Identity

• Identity forms by integrating childhood identities and adopting values of peer groups in youth
• Identity also stems integrating characteristics gained from those around one in childhood, and settling in the self

Further Development

• Gender identity acts as an important part of identity
• Biological, social, and psychological perception and acceptance of being a man or a woman plus aligning sexual behaviors and orientation with that perception are essential stages in developing sexual identity

Characteristics of Gender Identity

• People without a gender identity problem define themselves as "I am a man" or "I am a woman"
• Family members, peers, teachers, and culture influence gender identity

Sexual Orientation

• Sexual orientation involves the gender to which one's sexual impulse is directed, or what sexual desire is felt toward
• Sexual orientation means the gender that a person is sexually and emotionally attracted to
• Heterosexual means a sexual and emotional attraction to the opposite sex
• Homosexual is a sexual and emotional interest in one's own gender
• Bisexual means attraction to both sexes
• Transgender means a belief that one should change genders mentally and physically

More on Sexual Orientation

• Heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual men are male in their bodily gender and gender identity
• Heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual women possess female bodily gender and gender identity
• Men who are gay do not feel they are women, and gay women do not feel they are men

Formation Theories

• The process of sexual orientation forming is unknown
• Accepted explanations involve environmental factors acting on a complex genetic basis
• Whether people are born heterosexual or bisexual/homosexual is unknown
• People do not choose heterosexuality or other orientations

Facts About Sexual Orientation

• People are not heterosexual by choice
• Experiments do not indicate sexual orientation or gender identity
• Sexual experiences for reasons other than sexual orientation do not determine orientation

Sexual Behaviors

• Sexual behaviors are activities related to sexuality: touching, kissing, stimulation
• Activities constantly performed as an expression of sexuality are sexual experiences or sexual behaviors
• Sexual behaviors and experiences encompass what people do sexually with themselves and others

Adolescent Sexuality

• Sexuality starts in childhood and takes shape with adolescence
• Sexual characteristics do not change easily after puberty
• The adolescence process starts with interest in one's own body, then leads to sexual curiosity directed toward others
• Curiosity and fantasies get replaced by sexual experiences (kissing, caressing, etc.); then, one expands the boundaries and has their first intercourse

Sexual Intimacy

• Intimacy is not solely having sex
• Kissing, touching, chatting, hugging, caressing, reading love stories, being happy together, fantasizing, and even just staring mean sexual intimacy

Sexual Intercourse

• Intimate sexual behaviors like oral, anal, and penile vaginal sex are considered sexual intercourse

Healthy Sexual Intercourse

• Shared values form the basis of healthy sexual relationships
• Compromise is healthy
• Non-exploitation is healthy
• Honesty is healthy
• Wishing to enjoy each other, is healthy
• Protection from unwanted diseases/STDs

The Sexually Healthy Adult

• Values their own body
• Takes responsibility for their own behavior
• Communicates respectfully to genders
• Express love and sincerity consistent with values

Essentials for Mental Health

• Biological point of view
• Psychological point of view
• Sociocultural perspective
• A sexual problem/dysfunction has to be handled with a combination of all three perspectives

Expressing Sexuality

• People express and experience their sexuality differently
• Individuals must accept others' values/beliefs about sexuality
• A sexual life should be free from coercion and exploitation
• Sexual behavior has to be sincere, based on respect/trust

Children and Sexuality

• Loved/protected – no matter their gender
• All sexual decisions have effects and consequences
• People are allowed to make their own sexual decisions
• In the interest of society, families inform children about sexuality/share values

Young People

• Natural to explore sexuality
• Sexual experience without thinking involves consequences
• Get help if need support/info w/ health center
• Require responsibility/self-control

Other Factors to Consider

• Postponing intercourse prevents unwanted pregnancies, STDs/AIDS
• Develop values about sexuality
• Protect/maintain sexual health

Gender and Health

• Complex relationship b/t biology/social relation determines status health/disease
• Women have more life expentancy but in some places experience more illness and stress
• Men are more vulnerable for STDs

How Common Are Sexual/Gender Probems

• Research shows they're common around world
• 1 in 3 people has sexual dysfunction at any time in life

Sex, Gender and Health Factors

• Higher mortality due fact they live longer
• Deterioration is aging for both sexs
• Elderly in most countries make up mostly women (older) are at higher risk for disease

Gender Diseases

• Women are most likely to have problems
• Gender-specific disease
• Women are at risk for cervical/breast cancer and men at risk for prostate/testicular cance

Gender Roles

• Negative arise role of woman and affect health
• Neg varies from society, negativity "female" is greater in devlop country

Factors Affecting Health

• Gender differences have different impacts depending on reproductive health problems, like childhood, adolescence, adulthood and menopause

Childhood factors

• Gender selection
• Unwanted pregancy
• Violence
• Increase morbidity

Adolescence factors

• Increased Societal pressure, abuse and Unwanted pregnancies.

Adulthood factors

• STD and trafficing is common

Menoause factors

• Health problems and violence is common

Frequency Of Sexual Problems

• In societies sexuality is prohibited
• Lack of formal ex education
• Is a a taboo
• Pre-mature ejac is common in men and difficult is common in woman

Main causes of sexual problems

• Lack to educ
• False liffe
• Diseases
• Drug issues

Sexual Education/Ignorance

• Serious knowledge such is to lack of educate widespread
• There are high levels of problems and a high 62% percent lack of know
• Psychological causes and stress is the third most commone

False sexual life

• Many biases and exaggerater
• The beliefs show press and sexuality
• The values can belittle women

Diseases sexual problems

• Heart disease
• Kidney
• Hormones
• Blood pressures

Drug to avoid

• Diuretics
• Alcohol and Marijuana
• Cancer treatment