HANDOUT 1.2.

Definition of Terms: SEX AND SEXUALITY

Sex: Refers to one’s reproductive system as male or female. It has to do with biology, anatomy, and
physiology. It is a crucial element in everyone’s sexuality.

Gender: Gender refers to socially constructed differences between men and women. These are
commonly shared expectations about how men and women should behave in various situations.

Sexuality: Sexuality is an expression of who we are as human beings. Sexuality includes all the
feelings, thoughts, and behaviours of being male or female, being attractive, and being in love, as well
as being in relationships that include intimacy and physical sexual activity.

Sexuality begins before birth and lasts throughout the course of the life span. A person’s sexuality is
shaped by his or her values, attitudes, behaviours, physical appearance, beliefs, emotions,
personality, likes and dislikes, spiritual selves, and all the ways in which he or she has been
socialized. Consequently, the ways in which individuals express their sexuality are influenced by
ethical, spiritual, cultural, and moral factors. Sexuality is much more than sexual feelings or sexual
intercourse. It is an important part of who a person is and what she or he will become.

Sexual Health: In broad terms, sexual health is a personal sense of sexual well being as well as the
absence of disease, infections or illness associated with sexual behaviour. Sexual health requires a
positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of
having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. Sexual
health can be described as the positive integration of physical, emotional, intellectual and social
aspects of sexuality. (World Health Organization, 2002).

Reproductive health: Is the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being of an individual
in all matters relating to the reproductive system and its processes and functions but not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity. It also includes sexual health ands suggests that people with
adequate reproductive health have a satisfying and safe sexual life, can have children, and can make
a choice as to whether they would like to have children and if so, when and how to have them. (ICPD
Program of Action, para 7.2).

Gender Roles are the rules set down by society that tell us what is appropriate behaviour for persons
of our sex.

Gender Identity a person's inner sense of being male or female, usually developed during early
childhood as a result of parental rearing practices and societal influences and strengthened during
puberty by hormonal changes.

Sexism is the conscious or unconscious assumption that the members of one sex are on the whole
inherently superior to the members of the other in certain attributes by virtue of their sex.

Sexual Orientation refers to a preference for sharing sexual expression with members of the
opposite sex, members of one’s own sex, or members of both sexes. The sources of sexual learning
are all the factors that contribute to our psychosocial development--family values, religious beliefs,
parental teachings, societal norms and many others.

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Sexual Patterns and Behaviours

Major Sexual Patterns

Heterosexual - Male & female sexual relationships. Individuals who prefer partners of the opposite
sex.
Homosexual - Males (gay) or females (lesbian) who prefer partners of the same sex.
Bi-sexual - Individuals who enjoy partners of both sexes. A male or female can be bisexual.
A-sexual - Individuals who have no sex drive. Although psychologically male or female, neither sex
stimulates them sexually.
Celibate - Individuals who choose to refrain from sexual activity for personal reasons, such as
religion.

Sexual Behaviours

Kissing, touching, hugging, petting, fondling, and penile-vaginal intercourse are often the most
commonly thought of sexual behaviours. Oral sex, including cunnilingus (mouth to vulva, vagina, and
clitoris) and fellatio (mouth to penis) are acceptable in some cultures.

Masturbation: Manual manipulation of genitals for sexual gratification. It can be a good way for
teenagers to release sexual tension without risking pregnancy or disease. Teens who masturbate are
normal, and so are those who do not.

Incest: Sexual intercourse between blood-related family members, such as a father and daughter,
sister and brother or mother and son.

Sodomy: Anal or other copulation-like act, especially between males.

Voyeurism: Sexual excitement from observing others undressing, making love, kissing, petting or
masturbating. Sometimes voyeurs are called “Peeping Toms”.

Exhibitionism: Sexual pleasure from exposing one’s genitals.

Satyriasis: Excessive desire for sexual intercourse in men.

Nymphomania: Excessive desire for sexual intercourse in women.

Gerontosexual: Sexual pleasure from elderly by a young person.

Frotteurosexual: Sexual pleasure from rubbing one’s genitals against another person.

Paedophilia: Sexual pleasure by having sexual intercourse with children .

Statutory rape: Sexual intercourse by an adult with a person under the age of 16, with or without the
young person’s consent.

Paedarasty: Sexual pleasure from young boys.

Zoophilia/Beastiality: Sexual pleasure from animals.

Necrophilia: Sexual pleasure from corpses.

Urophilia: Sexual pleasure from urine.

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Coprophilia: Sexual pleasure from filth such as feaces, dirt, or soiled underwear.

Sadism: Sexual pleasure from inflicting pain to another person.

Transsexual: Individual of one biological sex (usually a man) who believes he is a woman trapped in
a male body. Sometimes these individuals will seek a sex-change operation.

Transvestite: is any person who wears the clothing of the opposite sex so to appear to be a member
of that sex. It includes males and females and may or may not be related to sex drive, to gender
perception, or to any of a number of things.

Drag Queen: A male homosexual who dresses flamboyantly trying to imitate a woman.

IMPORTANT! Some of these behaviours are acceptable in some cultures while others
are considered as deviant in some cultures. For example Masturbation is acceptable in
some cultures and is encouraged as a means to prevent pregnancy.

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Myths and Facts

 A girl cannot conceive until she starts menstruating.

 If the penis ejaculates outside the vagina the woman will not get pregnant.

 If a woman jumps up and down after unprotected sexual intercourse she will not get
pregnant.

 If a pregnant woman slept where a dead person was washed she will miscarry.

 Having sexual intercourse before marriage will kill one’s parents.

 The longer a man’s finger the longer his penis.

 If a woman douches right after sex she will not get pregnant.

 A girl cannot use tampons until she has had sex.

 During a woman’s period she should stay in bed, avoid exercise and refrain from sex.

 Having sex cures period pains.

 Having a baby cures period pains.

 Girls are always smarter than boys.

 Boys can always run faster than girls can.

 Men make better teachers than women.

 Women make better nurses than men.

 Intelligence is more important for boys than girls.

 All women want to be mothers some day.

 All parents know naturally how to raise children.