Components of Sexuality What is Sexuality Sexuality is

Components of Sexuality

What is Sexuality? ¡ Sexuality is made up of many components, such as culture, ethnicity, gender, and personality traits. ¡ 4 Major components - biological sex - gender identity - gender expression - sexual orientation

What is biological sex? ¡ ¡ The “sexual parts” you are born with! Includes hormone levels, chromosomes, secondary sex characteristics, external genitalia, and internal reproductive structures

What is gender identity? ¡ ¡ The gender people believe themselves to be in their hearts and minds How they feel in terms of male and female and how they choose to show that to others

What is gender expression? ¡ ¡ Everything we do that communicates our sex/gender to others Expressed in clothing, hair styles, mannerisms, way of speaking, roles we take in interactions, social sex roles, etc.

What is sexual orientation? ¡ ¡ An enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to men, women, or both sexes Types of sexual orientation: l l l heterosexual/straight: attraction to people of the opposite gender homosexual/gay/lesbian: attraction to people of the same gender bisexual: attraction to people of either gender

Is Sexual Orientation a Choice? Beliefs of Medical Associations: ¡ “Sexual orientation involves a complex mixture of biology, psychology, and environmental factors” ¡ Genes and hormonal factors may play a role ¡ Sexual orientation is not simply chosen Other beliefs: Individuals can choose who they are attracted to

What is it like for gay teens? ¡ Expected to be straight/heterosexual ¡ Feel different from peers when friends start talking about romantic feelings, dating, sex ¡ May feel like they have to pretend to be heterosexual in order to fit in ¡ Fears of prejudice, rejection, etc. ¡ Many experience acceptance and comfort

What is transgender? ¡ ¡ ¡ When biological sex and gender identity do not match Caused by a hormone imbalance in the womb Brain is given the wrong gender imprint

Knowledge Check ¡ Identify which component of sexuality is being defined in each of the next slides.

What term is being described? ¡ Everything we do that communicates our sex/gender to others Gender Expression

What term is being described? ¡ The sex organs that we are born with Biological Sex

What term is being described? ¡ How we feel in our hearts and minds about whether we are male or female Gender Identity

What term is being described? ¡ A enduring romantic and physical attraction toward a particular gender Sexual Orientation

What term is being described? ¡ When biological sex and gender identity do not match Transgender

Accepting Differences Part 2

Introducing New Students to HMS ¡ Think about: l Interests that these people have in common with you l Someone you would be friends with l Someone you would be interested in dating

Rob r e y a l p m a Te a s Ha r e t sis Likes sc hool most of t h e time Lots of friends Good sense of humor

Zoe Has a ho rse d n e i r f d o o G Great singer o t s t Wan r o t c o D a e b Performs in plays

Zack Good s tudent Very tall c e c i s e v o L m a re r e c n a d Great Has 4 brothers

Carmen Loves an imals t e V a e b o t s Want t x e t s to e v o L r e c c o s s y a l P Speaks 3 langua ges

Rob Born with male body parts: • Biological sex? • Male Sees himself as a man and expresses himself through clothing, etc. as a man: • Gender identity/expression? • Male Attracted to males: • Sexual orientation? • Homosexual/gay

Zoe Born with male body parts: • Biological sex? • Male Sees herself as a woman and expresses herself through clothing, etc. as a woman: • Gender identity/expression? • Female Term that describes mismatch between biological sex and gender identity? • Transgender Attracted to males: • Sexual orientation? • Heterosexual

Zach Born with male body parts: • Biological sex? • Male Sees himself as a man and expresses himself through clothing, etc. as a man: • Gender identity/expression? • Male Attracted to females: • Sexual orientation? • Straight/heterosexual

Carmen Born with female body parts: • Biological sex? • Female Sees herself as a woman and expresses herself through clothing, etc. as a woman: • Gender identity/expression? • Female Attracted to females: • Sexual orientation? • Lesbian/gay/homosexual

Critical Thinking Questions ¡ What concerns might Rob and Carmen have as students in this school? ¡ How might Zoe feel coming to school each day? ¡ What can you do to make these students feel more comfortable at school?

Think Before You Speak That’s so gay!

In Closing ¡ Look beyond the labels that society puts on people. ¡ Take time to discover commonalties and celebrate differences. ¡ No one is just athletic, just intelligent, just funny, just Latino or just Jewish. Likewise, no one is just lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.