Sex, Gender & Sexuality Definitions

Lesson 1 - Key Definitions

• Sex is defined as the biological aspect, maleness/femaleness, or physical attributes
• Gender is defined as the social interpretation of sex, masculinity, femininity
• Sexuality is defined as the totality of our own experience of sex and gender
• Sex Chromosomes are chromosomal markers distinguishing females (XX) from males (XY)
• Hermaphroditism is a biological phenomenon where an organism has both male and female reproductive organs
• Heteronormativity determines behavior normality based on conformity to expectations relative to biological sex
• Gender Identity is how we perceive ourselves: man, woman, or neither
• Transgender: when a person's biological sex doesn't align with their gender identity
• Sexual Orientation relates to emotional and sexual attractions to a person
• RA 9710 is the Magna Carta for Women
• RA 7192 is the Women in Development and Nation Building Act
• RA 6725 strengthens the prohibition on discrimination against women with respect to terms and conditions of employment
• RA 10354 is the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Healthcare Act
• RA 7877 is the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act
• RA 11313 is the Safe Spaces Act

Lesson 2 - Social constructs and rights

• Patriarchy is a system of control/oppression of women, upholding male supremacy in law, home, work, and society
• Patrilineal societies often follow patriarchal structures, where only men inherit property/family names
• Other important topics include women's suffrage, equality in politics and society, reproductive rights, domestic violence, and sexual harassment/violence
• Additional rights include the right to divorce, decisions on pregnancy, equitable wages, and equal employment opportunities

Lesson 3 - Gender Studies and Research

• Gender Studies explores how reproductive roles are interpreted and negotiated in society through gender
• Social Research investigates social realities
• Research Approach: orientation toward understanding social realities, which can be qualitative, quantitative, or both
• Ethics in Research ensures participant well-being and sound outcomes without undue harm
• Research Process offers a systematic approach to identifying problems, hypothesizing, gathering data, and making conclusions

Research Approaches

• Qualitative Approach focuses on meanings and interpretations of personal experiences
• Phenomenology involves intensive interviews to understand individuals' lived experiences
• Hermeneutics interprets the meaning of texts (literary/artistic) and their reflection of human realities
• Ethnography/Ethnomethodology involves immersing in a community to observe experiences, beliefs, attitudes, and practices
• Quantitative Approach focuses on characterizing a population or sample to make generalizations
• Survey involves collecting information from a sample
• Experiment are actual set-ups to observe the behavior of subjects by comparing to control groups
• Informed Consent ensures participants are aware of the study's purpose and processes
• Confidentiality/Anonymity means researchers should not reveal participant information/identity
• Data from surveys/interviews must be securely stored
• Non-Maleficence/Beneficence means human research should avoid harm and aim to be beneficial
• Distributive Justice ensures that studies do not disadvantage marginalized groups and that benefits are for all

Lesson 4 - Reproduction and Anatomy

• Reproduction is the process of producing offspring
• Genitals are external sex organs
• Primary Sex Characteristics are present at birth
• Secondary Sex Characteristics emerge during puberty

Female Anatomy

• Vulva refers to all external genital structures, including the mons veneris which are pads of fatty tissue between the pubic bone and skin
• Labia Majora refers to the outer lips surrounding all other structures
• Prepuce refers to the clitoral hood, or foreskin above/covering clitoris
• Clitoris refers to the glans (head), shaft, and crura (root) that are sensitive to stimulation
• Labia Minora are inner lips surrounding the vestibule where sweat/oil glands, blood vessels, and nerve endings are located
• Vestibule is the area surrounding the urethral opening and vagina characterized by sensitivity with blood vessels and nerve endings
• Urethral Opening is the end of the tube connecting to the bladder used for urination
• Vaginal Opening is also called the introitus
• Perineum is the area of skin separating the genitalia from the anus, shorter in females

Female Reproductive System

• Vagina refers to a collapsible canal extending from the vaginal opening to cervix/uterus, becomes engorged with blood during arousal while releasing lubricant
• Cervix is the small end of the uterus that leads to the vagina with an opening to the interior of the uterus
• Uterus is also known as the womb, the organ within the pelvic zone where a fetus is carried
• Fallopian Tubes carry egg cells from the ovaries to the uterus for fertilization
• Ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone
  • Estrogen influences female sex characteristics and initiates menstrual cycles
  • Progesterone regulates menstrual cycle and promotes uterine lining development for zygote implantation
• Female Puberty onset is marked by menstrual cycle with the first episode between ages 11-15 referred to as "menarche"
• Menstruation begins approximately 14 days after ovulation (plus or minus 1-2 days), lasts 2-6 days, and follows a cycle of 24-42 days on average
  • Hypothalamus governs the overall cycle by monitoring hormone levels

Menstrual Cycle Phases

• Menstrual Phase occurs when the ovum is not fertilized which causes decreased estrogen/progesterone levels and bleeding
• Proliferative Phase occurs when the hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland to release FSH, which stimulates the ovaries to produce estrogen to mature the ova
• Secretory Phase occurs when the pituitary gland releases LH, which causes the ovary to release mature eggs

Male Anatomy

• Prepuce is the head of the penis, removed in male circumcision
• Penis consists of glans (head), shaft, and root; glans are sensitive to stimulation
  • The urethra runs the length of the penis, surrounded by spongy body and cavernous bodies that become engorged with blood during arousal causing erection
• Corona is the rim of glans where it arises from the shaft
• Frenulum is the thin strip of skin connecting the glans and shaft on the underside of the penis
• Scrotum is the sac enclosing the two compartments housing the testes
• Urethral Opening is the end of the tube connected to the bladder used for urination and through which internal structures deliver semen

Male Reproductive System

• Vas Deference travels from testicles toward the urethra carrying sperm
• Seminal Vesicles are two glands that produce alkaline fluid rich in fructose sugar
• Ejaculatory Ducts connect vas deference to the urethra
• Prostate Gland produces alkaline secretions, roughly 30% of semen volume
• Urethra is the tube within the penis that carries sperm and semen
• Testosterone is the major male hormone produced by testes/adrenal glands, aiding growth/development during puberty and secondary sexual characteristics

Lesson 5 - Ovulation and Fertilization

• Ovulation: mature ovum releases from the ovary and travels to the fallopian tube for possible fertilization
• Fertilization: the union of sperm and ovum

Pregnancy

• Pregnancy is the process when an offspring develops within the mother's womb
• Ovulation involves the onset of the menstrual cycle which is roughly is 28 days, but can be as short as 21 days or as long as 40
• Ovulation typically occurs 10-16 days before the start of the next period
• Pregnancy officially starts when a fertilized egg implants in the lining of the uterus, roughly is 2-3 weeks after sexual intercourse
• Conception begins with egg fertilization by sperm and ends with implantation
• During sexual intercourse, the penis fits into the vagina, ejaculation releases sperm which swims through the cervix, into the womb, and fallopian tubes where sperm penetrates the egg to become an embryo
• The embryo attaches to the inner lining of the uterus called the endothelium
• Fetus develops that develops within 5-7 days from a ball of cells in the uterus, officially starting pregnancy
• Normal pregnancies last between 37-42 weeks, or 9 months
• Pregnancy is discussed in trimesters, but after 8 weeks the embryo is referred to a fetus

Lesson 6 - Health

• Health is a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity
• Hygiene includes behaviors to improve cleanliness and health, like hand washing, face washing, and bathing with soap and water
• Sexual Health includes physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being in relation to sexuality; not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction, or infirmity
• Reproductive Health includes a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being; not merely the absence of disease or infirmity for the reproductive system and its functions at all stages of life
• Hormones that create acne in puberty also affect include oily hair, sweat, and body odor
• Dental Hygiene includes proper brushing/flossing, along with dental checkups, to prevent tooth decay and gum disease
• A self breast exam is best after the last day of menstruation when breasts are not tender or swollen

Lesson 7 - Risks and Substances

• Risk measures the probability that a hazard may negatively affect an individual
• Risk-Taking is when behavior is done regardless of potential loss
• Marijuana, a plant used worldwide, increases one's heart rate and dilates blood vessels
• Mairungi is a stimulant leaf from East Africa, causing sleeplessness, anxiety, aggression, and hallucinations
• Alcohol is a drug used worldwide and causes slurred speech and aggression
• Cigarettes cause lung cancer, emphysema, cardiovascular diseases due to carbon monoxide found in smoke
• Cocaine increases body temperature, heart rate, and breathing rate while making one feel confident and alert
• Heroin is obtained from morphine found in opium poppy plant with a feeling of well-being, relief from pain, dependence, nausea, loss of balance, loss of concentration, and appetite
• Amphetamines stimulates activity of heart and brain while causing increase heartbeat, breathing rate, blood pressure, body temperature, sweating, reduces appetite, and causes insomnia
• Ecstasy is a stimulant often found in tablet form that creates feelings of happiness, warmth, and love
• Inhalants/Solvents can be inhaled (ex. glue, gasoline, lighter fluid), making one feel numb and drowsy for a short period

Lesson 8 - Psychological and Social Factors

• Psychosocial relates to psychological and social factors and their interaction
• Psychosocial Issues are needs/concerns relating to psychosocial dimensions
• Reproductive Role is the social responsibilities ascribed to individuals such as child-bearing/rearing and domestic tasks
• Productive Role is the social roles ascribed to individuals participating in economic activities, public affairs, and work
• Psychological Domains:
  • Affect relates to people's emotions and feelings
  • Behavior is one's actions that are observable or unobservable
  • Cognition relates to a person's thought processes (memory, perception, information processing, etc)
• Awareness is conscious understanding
• Intimacy/Relationship is the bidirectional process where two people connect on a deeper level, sharing bubbles, and interacting frequently to form a bond manifesting through communication
• Well-Being is a state of satisfaction, meaning, and purpose
• Objective Well-Being is observed/outward and can be measured through the presence or absence of environmental factors
• Subjective Well-Being is a personal experience of satisfaction, meaning, and purpose

Lesson 9 - Love

• Love is a complex phenomenon characterized by an affective/cognitive inclination and a set of cohesive social behaviors
• Intimacy is a psychosocial component of love regarding mutual knowing and personal closeness
• Passion is an emotive/physical that drives one towards sexual/romantic attraction
• Commitment is the decision to maintain and engage in a loving relationship
• Relationship is the social bond manifested through interaction and communication

Love Theories

• Psychodynamic Theory of Love (Sigmund Freud) explains that desires/motives are fueled by life instincts (eros) and death instincts (thanatos)
• The attachment we have with a primary caregiver influences partner choices within partnerships
• Love is the manifestation of our placement of libido unto a person, easing pain or achieving pleasure
• Color Wheel of Love (John Alan Lee): Primary love types are eros (sexual/romantic), philia (friendly), and storge (parental/filial)
  • Secondary love types are pragma (practical), agape (universal), and philautic (self-love)
• Triangular Model of Love (Robert Sternberg) consists of intimacy, passion, and decision/commitment
  • There are eight kinds of love: nonlove, liking, infatuated, romantic, companionate, fatuous, empty, and consummate love

Lesson 10

• Romantic Love (Hatfield and Rapson) is characterized by intense passion and longing for union with one's partner
• Compassionate Love is characterized by intense intimacy and closeness

Intimate Relationships

• ABCDE of Intimate Relationship by George Levinger involves Acquaintance, Build-Up, Consolidation and Continuation, Decline or Deterioration, and Ending
• The sensorium is the conglomerate of all our individual sense organs
• Olfaction is the sense of smell
• Tactile is something associated with touch

Lesson 11 - Sensations and Behavior

• Pheromone is a substance believed to influence social behaviors
• Major Histocompatibility Complex is a set of protein molecules associated with the immune system
• Three primary emotional responses: fight, flight, or freeze
• Sexual Behavior is actions done with sexual intention and context
• Erotic is related sexual stimulation is associated erogenous zones
• Sexual Response Cycle is a sequence of events from arousal to orgasm to resolution
• Sexual Dysfunction is a concern or problem during any phase of the sexual response cycle (ex. painful intercourse)
• Copulatory Behavior is when the penis enters the vagina

Lesson 12 - Atypical attractions and discrimination

• Paraphilia is arousal from nonliving objects/non-consenting persons identified as a disorder by the APA
• Stereotypes are over-generalized beliefs typically categorized as explicit or implicit
• Prejudice is an unjustified negative attitude towards an individual based on membership within a social group
• Discrimination includes actions/behaviors towards an individual or a group of people

Discrimination examples:

• Genocide is action of recognizing someone as different and inhumane
• Apartheid is racial discrimination, viewing one race as less than others
• Gender Discrimination is when women earn less than men
• LGBTQ+ Discrimination is when LGBTQ+ people are treated less than straight people
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights shares, "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights."

Lesson 13 - Labels and Attraction

• Labels can be used to discriminate/oppress or empower people
• Same-sex attraction has been labeled as a sin and illness but also recognized, and homosexuality was removed by the APA as a psychiatric disorder in 1973

Terms on Attraction

• Lesbian refers to women emotionally and sexually attracted to women
• Gay refers to men emotionally and sexually attracted to men
• Bisexual relates to individuals attracted to both men and women
• Transgender refers to when one's gender identity differs from their physical sex
• Queer celebrates all gender identities, or those not wanting restriction as gay, lesbian, or bi
• Intersex defines people with chromosomes and sex genitals that don't fit typical male/female bodies
• Asexual defines a lack of sexual attraction
• Plus "+" refers to all sexualities not fitting into the LGBTQI spectrum
• Androgynous refers to people's whose gender expression may or may not be distinctly male or female
• Gender is an internal sense of identifying as masculine, feminine, or neither
• Gender Identity how you feel as a man, woman, or neither
• Gender Expression how you express your sense of being a gender, via clothing, mannerisms, etc
• Sexual Orientation is the emotional & sexual attraction to a person
• Sex Assigned At Birth is the sex a person receives at birth
• Cisgender means gender identity matches the sex assigned at birth
• Non-binary refers to when people do not identify as a boy or a girl; use they, them and theirs pronouns

Lesson 14 - Masculinity

• Masculinities are social, cultural, and historical constructions of men and are related to factors such as class, ethnicity, sexuality, age, and disability
• Hegemonic Masculinity: a culturally dominant form of masculinity
• Protest Masculinity: culturally dominant in marginalized settings
• Caring Masculinity: when men adopt traditionally feminine characteristics

Masculinity Themes

• Multiple Masculinity: no single pattern of masculinity is found everywhere
• Hierarchy and Hegemony: positions of cultural authority; manhood is equated with being strong, capable, reliable, and in control
• Collective Masculinity: structures defining patterns of conduct as masculine or feminine

Masculinities and Well-Being include

• Men releasing stress through drinking/destructive behaviors due to depression/suicidal behavior
• Physical strength appears as a universal component of dominant masculinity
• Family Formation: men are on average not greatly increasing involvement in household and unpaid work
• Being involved in children’s lives brings psychological and health benefits
• Men drink more alcohol than women
• Peer group ritual and being recreational are activities for men

Caring for Masculinity

• Men can adopt traditionally feminine characteristics without rejecting their masculinity
• Excluding domination and embracing qualities of emotion/care are critical for mens gender equality