The Socio- biological Aspects of the Self

A vital aspect of one's identity is the sexual self, encompassing the biological, physical,
emotional, and social domains. While it is initially rooted in the distinguishing physical attributes
found in men (penis) and women (vagina), bodily transformations and the development of
secondary sexual characteristic during adolescence also triggers the physiological responses.
leading to believes and behavior associated with sex. During this stage, sexual curiosity is often
at its peak, with adolescents engaging in sexual activity as influenced by biological and
socio-cultural factors. Further, the gender orientation of the adolescent may manifest at this
stage.. Thus, it is important for a person to be aware of his or her sexuality, thoughts, and
behavior, In order to make responsible choices concerning one's sexual self.

When physiological changes are triggered within the adolescent's reproductive system, he or
she is likely to experience sexual urges, becomes more sensitive to sexual stimuli, and feel
sexual arousal. Arousal maybe exhibited through penile erection in men and vaginal lubrications
or wetness in women. If sexual arousal is satisfied through sexual intercourse, orgasm would
be reached. The refractory period, or the period of rest after orgasm, is likely to be longer in
men. Thus, women can achieve multiple orgasm due to a shorter refractory period. These bodily
sensations are normal and typical in any sexual activity since they are triggered by hormones
produced within the body. These physiological sensations are part of the sexual response cycle,
which includes four phases: excitement, plateau. Orgasm, and resolution. Completing the cycles
leads to sexual satisfaction.

Humans are likely to engage in sexual activities to satisfy their sexual urges. During the
adolescence stage, it is common to watch and read pornographic materials, engage in kissing
and petting, and perform masturbation, or the act of stimulating one's genitals for sexual
pleasure. Medical professional have cited the health benefits of masturbation. including stress
relief, better sleep, improved self-esteem, and enhance body image. Further, masturbation is a
better alternative to sexual intercourse, which may result in pregnancy and acquiring sexually
transmitted diseases.

A person should be aware of his or her sexuality, and sexual attributes in order to make
responsible decisions. Adolescents need to realize the importance of having informed choices.
Engaging in sexual activities may result in consequences that adolescents may not be ready for:
pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease.

At birth, one's sexuality depends on his or her physical features and genitals. Most of the time,
one's sexuality and gender orientation correspond with each other. However, biological sex and
gender orientation are two different things. Biological sex is one's assignment upon birth and is
dependent on physical features. On the other hand, Gender is an identity that is learned
embraced by an individual. It goes beyond biological domains and is both a personal and social
Construct. As a social construct, gender comprises the socially created roles, personality traits,
attitudes, behaviors, and values attributed to men and women. It also includes the relative
power and influence of each, indicating that gender is relational and refers not simply to women
or men but to the relationship between them. Thus, gender is anchored on societal beliefs and
norms.

Gender roles refers to societal expectations of how men and women should act. Everyone has a
basic idea of gender roles; men are assumed to be strong and dominant and women perceived
to be submissive and demure. Aside from the problems with these assumption, gender and
biological sex are always the same. A person may have been born a man but assumes
"womanly" traits while a woman may behave like a "man".. This is an aspect of sexual
orientation, which manifests itself in relationships. A guy who is attracted to girls is considered
heterosexual while someone who is attracted to the same sex is called homosexual.

Sexual identity and gender orientation underlie one's concept of self. A person expresses his or
her sexuality through individuality; one's belief and behavioral lifestyle are based on his or her
own perception of sexuality. However, while gender orientation and sexual identity are deemed
to be social constructs, it is important to highlight one's self-expression and moreover, become
responsible in doing so. This responsibility also applies to expressing one's behavior in various
situations entails consequences. An individual needs to realize the effects of such actions and
how one can regulate his or her own behavior, including his or her sexual behavior.

SEXUAL IDENTITY AND GENDER ORIENTATION

A person who loves, in a very special way, someone who is the same gender. For example, a
gay man wants to be involved with and love another man. A gay person may choose to have a
special relationship with someone and share a home and have a family together.

-​ The word gay means two people of the same gender, a man and a man or a woman and
a woman. who love each other.

-​ It describes a boy who wants to have a boyfriend or a girl who wants to have a girlfriend.

-​ "Gay" can refer to either men or women but it is sometimes used just to refer to gay
men. Women who are gay called “lesbians”

Transgender people are people whose gender identity is different from the gender they were
thought to be at birth. "Trans" is often used as shorthand for transgender.

When we're born, a doctor usually says that we're male or female based on what our bodies
look like. Most people who were labeled male at birth tum out to actually identify as men, and
most people who were labeled female at birth grow up to be women. But some people's gender
identity their innate knowledge of who they are is different from what was initially expected when
they were born. Most of these people describe themselves as transgender.
Being transgender means different things to different people. Like a lot of other aspects of who
people are, like race or religion, there's no one way to be fransgender, and no one way for
transgender people to look or feel about themselves. The best way to understand what being
transgender is like is to falk with transgender people and listen to their stories.

A simple definition of bisexual is: people who experience sexual and emotional attractions and
feelings for people of different genders at some point during their lives.

WHO IS BISEXUAL?

Alternating bisexuals: may have a relationship with a man, and then after that relationship
ends, may choose a female partner for a subsequent relationship, and many go back to a male
partner in the future.

Circumstantial bisexuals: primarily heterosexual, but will choose same sex partners only if
they have no access to other-sex partners, such as when in jail, in the military, or in a
gender-segregated school.

Concurrent relationship bisexuals: have primary relationship with one gender only but have
other casual or secondary relationships with people of another gender at the same time.

Conditional bisexuals: either straight or gay/lesbian, but will switch to a relationship with
another gender for a specific purpose, such as young straight males who become gay
prostitutes to make money or lesbians who get married to men in order to gain acceptance from
family members or to have children.

Emotional bisexuals: have deeply intimate emotional relationships with both men and women.
but only have sex with one gender.

Integrated bisexuals: have more than one primary relationship at the same time, one with a
man and one with a woman.

Exploratory bisexuals: either straight or gay/lesbian, but have sex with another gender just to
satisfy curiosity or "see what it's like."

Hedonistic bisexuals: primarily straight or gay/lesbian but will sometimes have recreational sex
with a different gender purely for sexual satisfaction.

Recreational bisexuals: primarily heterosexual but engage in gay or lesbian sex only when
under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

Isolated bisexuals: 100% straight or gay/lesbian now but has had at one or more sexual
experience with another gender in the past.
Latent bisexuals: completely straight or gay lesbian in behavior, they have strong desire for
sex with another gender but have never acted on il.

Motivational bisexuals: straight women who have sex with other women to please their male
partner who requests it for his own titillation.

Transitional bisexuals: temporarily identify as bisexual while in the process of moving from
being straight to being gay or lesbian, or going from being gay or lesbian to being heterosexual.

While literally millions of people are bisexual, most keep their sexual orientation secret, so
bisexual people as a group are nearly invisible in society. Gay men and lesbian women have
long recognized the need to join together, create community, and to organize politically. Long
years of hard work have led to significant gains in political and human rights, as well as a visible
and thriving gay and lesbian community. Bisexual people have been much slower to come out of
the closet, create community, and ferm political and social networks to gain visibility and political
clout.

A lesbian is a homosexual woman. The word lesbian is also used for women in relation to their
sexual identity or sexual behavior, regardless of sexual orientation, or as an adjective to
characterize or associate nouns with female homosexuality or same-sex attraction.

The concept of "lesbian" to differentiate women with a shared sexual orientation evolved in the
20th century. Throughout history, women have not had the same freedom or independence as
men to pursue homosexual relationships, but neither have they met the same harsh punishment
as homosexual men in some societies. Instead, lesbian relationships have often been regarded
as harmless, unless a participant attempts to assert privileges traditionally enjoyed by men.