SEXUAL IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT H 236 Adolescent Development The

SEXUAL IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT H 236: Adolescent Development

The Goals… • Understanding the complexity and sensitivity of sexual minority identity development • Creating a sensitive environment for the exploration of identity, especially for sexual “minority” groups

Terminology • Sexual Identity • General integrated belief about oneself • Sexual Orientation • attractions, predisposition, sexual fantasies, thoughts, affections • Sexual Orientation Label • what one calls themselves or their behavior, attraction, ideologies • A lexicon provided by society, negotiated within subpopulation, with political meaning, attributions, ties to a broader culture)

Some Implicit Assumptions • One must experiment sexually to determine one’s sexual identity…(but not for heterosexuals…) • Most sexual minorities are attracted to same sex exclusively • Sexual questioning is a one-time experience • There is periodic re-questioning • 70% of women changed their identity label at least one after initially coming out • There is a single endpoint of sexual identity, an outcome

Potential pathways • Identity Confusion • Begin to recognize thoughts/feelings as potentially homosexual • Identity Comparisons • Compare own feelings with others, begin to evaluate the possibilities, costs • Identity Tolerance • Begin to accept identity but still exploring how it affects other aspects of self • Identity Acceptance • Clearer and positive image of self, selective disclosure • Identity Pride • Preference for likeminded people (in-group/outgroup distinctions) • Identity Synthesis • Moves to background & integrated with the rest of self (lens)

Patterns for discussion • Personal vs. master narratives • Master narrative of overcoming victimization and suffering/descent and success • Master narrative of political expression through identity • Coming out means “selecting into” and affiliating with a marginalized social group. • Personal narrative of individual relationships and individual identity (do I have to represent? ? ) • Role of sexual behavioral for sexual identity development • Emotional attraction versus physical attraction • The alignment of emotional closeness, physicality, sexual attraction • Implicit counter and contradictory messages • delaying onset of sexual behavior for heterosexuals • the implicit core function sexual experimentation is assumed to play for sexual minority and questioning youth

Patterns for discussion • The complexities of hormones • reprise the loss of close friendships among boys in relation to evaluating what it means to have “same sex desires. ” • Discerning whether feelings are plutonic or part of a pathway to same sex romantic or physical desires? • Vasopressin • reprise the role of emotional closeness for reducing stress for girls • precedes physical attraction and is associated with stress reduction for girls. • Girls both tend to and are socialized to have intimate relationships with other girls • Oxytocin, and the effect is amplified in the context estrogen • Where are youth able to safely talk about these feelings?

Helping youth sorting out these competing and complex feelings…. • What are the important commonalities in sexual identity development for ALL youth? • What are the most important but unique aspects of identity development for sexual minority youth? • What is most challenging about identity development for youth who may identify as sexual minorities?

Top responses for creating safe environment for identity development A relationship curriculum that talks about love, commitment, healthy relationships, etc. This is encompassing of all identities and sets a firm foundation for all identity development. Provide professional development for teachers so they can lead small group discussions with students concerning sexual identity development. Creating a safe place for staff to share their sexual identity so that students have models of adults sharing their identity. Training staff to be allies for students. Supporting students groups such as LGTBQA. Creating LGBTQ-straight alliances at schools, and people in leadership positions modelling support of these groups Comprehensive sex ed that not only talks about safe sex but talks about having a positive relationship with your sexuality (being at peace with the nature of your sex life or lack thereof) and also that it is natural and personal. No one's path is the same, so we should be accepting of other paths as long as they aren't harmful.

How can school provide a healthy context? • The need for affinity…. • The need for allies….

Its not just for identity development for sexual minority youth…. • Being an Identity Agent means supporting affinities and being an ally • Promoting Black Student Associations AND Black Lives Matter AND wearing hoodies in solidarity • Promoting the Arabic Club AND participating in World Hijab Day • Women’s rights groups AND gender studies • Fighting for opportunities and against injustice wherever we see it • Because one takes one an identity doesn’t mean they automatically understand whether and how to fight for the cause

Upcoming ways to be Allies Askwith TODAY: 5: 30 -7: 30 GLSEN • Friday, April 15 th