THE

SEXUAL
SELF
 “Could you use a balloon as a
condom?”
-anonymous

Figure from https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-use-a-condom-4020370

How fast can you guess the words?

1. BOO S
2. NDOM
3. F K
4. P N S
5. PU S
6. S X
Figure from https://starecat.com/how-fast-can-you-guess-these-words-books-random-fork-
pants-pulse-six-dirty-mind-word-play

Sexuality is commonly defined as “the ways people

experience and express themselves as sexual being.” (King,
2014. P .373). But the World Health Organization (WHO)
provides a working definition of the term sexuality that
encompasses or specific much more.
Sexuality is a central aspect of being human throughout
life encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual
orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction.
Sexuality experienced and expressed thoughts, fantasies,
desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviors, practices, roles
and relationship. While sexuality can include all of these
dimensions, not all of them are always experienced or
expressed (WHO, 2006A as cited in Defining Sexual Health,
2018, para 16)
Sexuality is heavenly affected by education,
occupation, income, economics, law, politics, media,
society , cultu
Figure: https://discoversociety.org/2016/12/06/focus-critical-perspectives-in-gender-and-
sexuality

SEX EDUCATION
igure: https://discoversociety.org/2016/12/06/focus-critical-perspectives-in-gender-and-sexuality

Sex Education is not promoting sexual intercourse

but to promote sexual health and safety from sexual violence.
“Withholding information about sex and sexuality will not
keep children safe; it will only keep them ignorant” (Hauser,
2013, para 2 )

- person's
characterization as - social characteristics that
may be (or not be) aligned
female or male at with a person's sex and
birth adopted by an individual as
their gender identity
- based on the
appearance of external
genitalia or other
biological
characteristics including
chromosome
Base from para. 4

Figure The Genderbread Person (Killerman, 2016)

PUBERTY

One to three-year process of hormonal and physical

changes that causes young person to reach sexual maturity,
girls usually entering it about a year [ or two] earlier than
boy” (Pickhardt, 2010, para 3)
Puberty is not a one size fits all experience. It could
manifest in varying rates and specific ages. Every
individual “develops and reacts in different ways” due to
factors like stress, weight, “nutrition, hormonal activity, and
inherent characteristics” (Cole, 2009, p4)
Figure: Puberty Spurts (Adolescence , n.d.)

On average, the pubertal growth spurt for the girls starts at 9,

peaks at 11 in half; for boys, it starts at 11 in half peaks at 13 in
half”(king.2014. p.359)
Secondary sex characteristics are traits that differ between the
two sexes but are not part of the reproductive system; they include
breasts in females and facial hair in males (King, 2014. P .359)
“the emotional region of the brain develops maturity ahead of
the part controlling the rational thought” (Cole 2009, p.8)
Emotion tend to take over which makes the transition to
adulthood and sexual maturity more challenging. Since most
teenagers are not oriented on the drastic transformations and
temporary emotional takeover, sentiments and anxieties are not
communicated and handled well – which may be misconstrued by
adults/ relatives as mere drama, attention seeking rebelling manuevers
( Palean et. Al. page 95)
Mishandled stress, sadness shame, low self -esteem , unmet
expectations, from school, work, family, and peers, may lead to
depression. Depression, not immediately addressed, leads to graver
problems like mental instability even suicide. Moreover young men
are more likely to be arrested than anyone else in society. Statistics
show that for most boys, criminal behavior begins around the age”
(Cole, 2009, p .10)
 Worth Knowing: Close to 800,000
people die due to suicide every year
EROGENOUS ZONES
Erogenous or sexually stimulating zones of both sexes
appear to be interesting or embarrassing when discussed in
class.
When the erogenous zones are touched, there is an
expected sensation. However, the quality of sensation depends
on who and how the zones are being touched. (Evans, 2015)

10 HOT SPOTS ON HIS AND HER BODY

 Figure 3. Do you know the pleasure points? (Haller, 2013)
Male circumcision besides from being a tradition, if done
correctly has, “hygiene and medical benefits such as lowering the risk
of pro state cancer and helping prevent sexually transmitted diseases”
(Ty, 2012, para 4.), 2012, para 6.)
Moreover, “wives and girlfriends of circumcised men had lower
rates of HPV – which in rare cases may lead to cervical and other
cancers” (Chui and Lapena para 6)

Figure https://theconversation.com/why-the-law-against-female-genital-
mutilation-should-be-scrapped-79851
Figure https://www.bjfm.co.uk/female-genital-mutilation-
background-and-approach-management

Sexual violence is any sexual act, attempt to obtain a

sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or acts to traffic
person's sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of
their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but
not limited to home and work (p.149)

UNDERSTANDING HUMAN
SEXUAL RESPONSE

“Falling in love is stronger than the sex drive” ( Fisher 2005, p.60)
Sex is also sometimes referred to as "love making" giving a
premium to act based on and done out of love. Science, as always, is
trying to explain what we call love. Despite many efforts, he admits
that he is unable to identify the exact reason why we fall in love with
a specific person.
According to Fisher “we are drawn to certain people not only
for cultural reasons, such as socioeconmics, intelligences and values
but also for biological reason” (Zamosky, 2009 para 2).
Thee three stages of love as far as our brain chemicals are
concerned: lust, attraction and attachment (Greenberg, 2016)
 Lust – sex hormones present in both males and females motivate
individuals to find a mate – being the main hormones responsible for
sex drive indeed experiments have shown that altering levels of these
hormones has implication upon sexual desire
Attraction is an infatuation stages is driven mainly by dopamine and
norepinephrine coupled with a decrease in serotonin levels. This
cocktail of chemicals causes increased alertness and arousal of the
body when
somebody is attracted to antoehr, including a feel – good reward
pathway associated with the person – increasing the desire to spend
more time with them.
Attachment involves the hormones of oxytine (known as the
love hormones or cuddle chemical and vasopressin. Concentrations of
these in the body increase the following orgasm in both men and
women. The release of these hormones is believed to be important
factor in ling term attraction and love.

Attraction Attachment
Lust
Models of the sexual pattern (King 2014)

1. EXCITEMENT- arousal, penis erection, vagina lubrication

2. PLATEAU- continuation and heightening of the arousal
3. ORGASM- peak or intense pleasure.
4. Resolution body returns to normal state
 From Master and Johnson 1996
From Kaplan (1979)
1. Desire
2. Excitement
3. Orgasm
4. Sexual orientation refers to our sexual preferences
towards males, females or both. (Cole, 2009; King ,
2014)

TYPES OF SEXUAL
Orientation

HOMOSEXUAL BISEXUAL HETEROSEXUAL

(straight)
(gay/lesbian) sexually
sexually attracted to sexually
attracted to people of attracted to
members of both sexes members of
same sex opposite sex
PANSEXUAL/ identity
OMNISEXUAL
can be sexually
attracted to any
sex or gender
 ASEX
UAL
not
sexually
attracted to
any sex or
gender
 The T in LGBT which stands for transgender or gender non –
conforming, pertains to gender identity. “Some who do not identify as
either male or female prefer the term “genderqueer” (Lesbian, gay ,
2018, para 2) Below are some types of gender identity ( Dimensions
of Gender 2017)

TYPES OF GENDER IDENTITES

TRANSGENDER/
CISGENDER/CIS AGENDER
TRANS
gender identity people who do
consistent is with gender identity not identify
the sex they does not match with any gender
were assigned at the sex they
birth were assigned at
birth

NON-BINARY
people who do not
identify strictly as a
boy or a girl- they
could identify as both,
or neither, or as Figure Type of Gender Identities
another gender entirely
 The transgender is different from the transsexual A transsexual
is one who moves from one sex to another through a number of
surgical procedures.
Though we may have experienced “ having feelings towards or
fantasies about people of the same sex, it doesn`t mean you are gay or
bisexual it can be part of emerging sexual awareness ( Cole, 2009 . p
12) Sexual orientation, sexual behavior and gender identity are
independent concepts. It could all be fluid or change. We may have
the freedom to choose who we engage in sex with and how many, but
if we are not careful and discerning, we cannot and will never be able
to choose or limit the number of unpleasant, irreversible, long-term
consequences that it can bring to our lives, to people who matter to us,
and even to the society that we are part of.

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS

Involvement in sexual contact, either vaginal, oral or anal

may give temporary intense pleasure and the possibility of
transmitting more than 30 different bacteria, viruses and
parasites ('Sexually transmitted' 2016, para. 2) that may result
in a lifetime of sexually transmitted infections. In our country
the number of HIV and AIDS cases increase every year. In
August 2017, the Philippines was said to have the highest
HIV growth rate in the Asia – Pacific ( Reuters2017)
Figure STI Facts (Sexual Transmitted 2016)
FAMILY Planning
Family planning aims to provide accessible information on
sexual and reproductive health for people to choose from, depending
on their needs and preferences (Family Planning 2018) Contraception
focuses on how to prevent pregnancy in line with family planning. For
– in- depth information and safe decisions on sexual health, it is
always best to consult with a medical expert. Misuse or abuse of use
of artificial contraception may lead to serious high risks.
 References:
Chui, P.D. and Lapena, C. G.(September 22, 2012). Tulo pr not tuli: Pinoy views on
Circumcision, Lifestyle. GMA News Online. Retrieved on February 19,2018 from
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/healthhandwellness/2735136/tuli-or-not-
tuli-pinoyviews-on-circumcision/story/

Cole, A. C. (2009). Real Life issues: Sex and Relationships. UK: Trotman and Company
Limited.

Evans, S. (July 29, 2015). The lesser known erogenous zones and how to find them.
Independent. Retrived on February 20, 2018 from http:// www.indenpendent.co.uk/life-
style/love-sex/the-lesser-known-eregenous-zones-and-how-to-find-them-
10419267.html.

Family planning/ Contraception. (Feb 2018). World Health Organization. Retrieved on

February 12, 2018 from hhtp://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs351/en/

Hauser, D. ( may 8, 2018). Sex Education for Kindergarten and Beyond. The New York
Times. Retrieved on February 12, 2018 from http://
ww.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/05at – what – age should – sex – education –
begin/ sex – education – for – kindergarten – and – beyond.

King L. A. (2014) The Science of Pyschology: An appreciative view. 3rd edition, USA
McGraw – Hill.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual,transgender. (2018). Psychology Topics. American Psychological

Association. Retrived on February 22, 2018 from http:// www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/index
.aspx

MCKEE, r. w. AND Taverner, W. J. (2013). Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Human

Sexuality. 13th edition. US: McGraw – Hill

Paleen Erland et. Al(2018): Introspection Understanding the Self Books Atbp. Publishing
Corp. 707 Tiaga corner Kasipagan Streets Barangka Drive, Mandaluyong city.

Reuters. (Aug. 1, 2017) Philippines has highest HIV infection growth rate in Asia – pacific:
UN. ABS – CBN News. http//news.abs – cbn .com/focus/08/01/17/Philippines-has-
highest-hiv-infection-growth-rate-in-asia-pacific-un.

Ty, R.(April 17,2012). Circumcision via ‘pukpok’ still being practiced in PHL. Lifestyle.
GMA News Online. Retrieved on February 19,2018 from
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/healthhandwellness/255224/circumcision -
via - pukpok - still – being – practiced – in -phl/story/

Zamosky, L. (January 15,2009). The Science Behind Romance. Wbmd. Retrieved on

February 22, 2018 from https://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/features/the-
science-behind- romance#2
Activity
1. Describe your puberty journey and the changes
that you have undergone. Did you feel interesting
or frustrating? Which part of your experiences
made you frustrating or interesting?
2. Make a Genderbread Person. Identify your Gender
Identity, Gender Expression, Biological Sex and
Sexual Orientation? Give concrete instances your
Genderbread Person.
3. As a student, propose campaign in a form
of/infographic that can help educate others
protect themselves from the perils of sexual
violence, and other sexually transmitted diseases.
 PHYSICAL SELF

Figure 1 : https://www.ncua.gov/about-ncua/diversity-inclusion/credit-union-diversity

“You are imperfect, permanently and inevitably flawed. And you are beautiful. -Amy
Bloom

Why Do I Look Like Myself?

 Science explain that our parents are very much instrumental in
understanding why we look how we look.
 Gregor Mendel first figured out how genes are passed from parents
to offspring in plants, including humans. His experiments on pea
plants showed that genes are passed intact from generation to
generation and that traits were passed from parent to off spring
through several generations ( Cummings, 2016)
 From our skin tone, our hair color, to our height, our
physical characteristics are confirmation that we are the offspring
of our parents.
When heredity is actually at work, we find ourselves being the
reflections of our ancestors, the product of their DNA
( deoxyribonucleic acid) at work in us, and for others, also looking
like carbon copies of them.

What kind of physical characteristics did you get from your parents?
Do you look more like your dad or your mom?
 Figure 2: https://www.allure.com/story/what-is-my-skin-tone

Cultural Standards of Beauty

 Different cultures have different standard beauty . during the 19 th century
in the African country of Tahiti, it was recorded that some men and
women were set aside in a special place for fattening purpose ( Pollock,
1995)
 They were covered in a large amount of tapa barckcloth, which, after the
ritual is over, reveals a lighter skin for those who were selected.

 Fattening rooms” are used less these days but are still relevant among
well – off families (brink 1995)

 Lakoff and sherr (1989) explains that beauty was not just a product of
wealth , but a commodity in and of itself. In their book Face Value: The
Politics of Beauty

 In the Philippines, the development of local standards of beauty can be

traced back to our colonial influence. Skin color is the characteristic of
culture.
 •Rondilla states that the lighter skin is the best in the hierarchy of being
than the brown and black skin. In terms of social rank and status.
 • As a result, the Philippines was colonized by fairer skinned races of
Spaniards, Americans and Japanese.

Figure 3 https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-beauty-standards-in-the-
Philippines

Pop question: Are you Satisfied WITH THE Culture DEFINES

BEAUTY? TYPICAL FILIPINO-
LOOKING CELEBRITIES
Commonly PORTRAY IN TELEVISION Shows AND MOVIES? Why
do you think they were giving the roles?
 The Filipino Obsession with Beauty: The case of
Xander Ford

 The Filipino fascination with beauty is expressed not only by women, but
also by men. Formerly known as Marlou Arizala, Xander is a former
member of Hast5-a teen boy band that has become an online sensation
bot because of their attractiveness or talent, but because of the disgust and
animosity they get from their ugly faces.
 His decision to go under the knife was because of a lookist culture which
dictates that happiness is only afforded to good looking people (Estrada,
2017).
 It was a good thing that he was funded by a cosmetic procedures’ clinic,
unlike those who pay out thousands if not millions just to appear
physically desirable.
 Women have been evaluated based on their appearance more than men
(Wade, 2017).

 Prior to these forms of surgeries, health issues must be addressed in the

first place. But there are others who feel like they still need to adjust
some aspect of their body, because they feel like they don't look good,
even though you tell them that they already are.
 those who are suffering BDD are so obsessed about their appearance, thus
think about their flaws, real or not incessantly and uncontrollably (Body
Dysmorphic Disorder: A Quest for Perfection., 2012)
 They want to be more pleasing, to be more beautiful. They consider that
having a beautiful face and body is always an edge in most aspects of
life, especially in getting to their chosen career (Sallan, 2017).
A HEALTHY BODY IMAGE, AND SELF-ESTEEM IN PERIL
 The quest for physical perfection has led us to an ordeal that will not end
until we get to the bottom of the problem.
 Our culture has not only given so much importance to looking stunning, but
has also done a fantastic job selling the same thing. And Americans are in
trouble trying to be physically desirable, as the statistics indicate.

 What do you think about the men and women who are going through
cosmetic surgery?
 Anorexia is defined as “A serious mental illness where people are of low
weight due to limiting their energy intake. It can affect anyone of any
age, gender, or background. As well as restricting the amount of food
eaten, they may do a lot of exercise to get rid of food eaten. Some people
with anorexia may experience cycle of binge eating and then purging
(Anorexia, 2017).
 Body shaming is not only suffering of those who have been criticized for
their weight.
 Disorder of body image is an significant feature of a number of
pathologies, especially eating disorders, in psychology.
 It has two aspects of a perceptual component, which applies to how we
correctly interpret the size of our body, also known as the estimation of
body size and the attitudinal aspect that refers to how we think and feel
about the size and shape of our body that, if not correctly interpreted, will
result in dissatisfaction of the body. (GREENE. 2011)

FIGURE:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/figure?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0163921.g001

 Reflective question : Have you ever been shamed by the body? How
did you feel and how did you treat it?
 Stice and Whitenton (2002), found out that body dissatisfaction is also
linked with mental disorders including depression and anxiety among
adolescents. This is very much alarming since statistics have shown
how much of today’s generation have fallen prey from body image
disturbance.
Filtered Self

 The advent of social media has put pressure on us to look even better.
 In Instagram, the most popular photo sharing application known to
us to date, we post our visually attractive self and more often than
not, we use filter-application, where we cover our imperfections,
build and re-construct self that is better accepted by our online
friends.
 Unfortunately, today's youngsters are victims of this, since we live
at a time when our self-approval depends on the likes, the sharing
and the responses of our social media posts.

Figure: https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/wellbeing/filtered-images-and-unrealistic-expectations-social-media-s-
link-to-depression-and-self-harm-1.894653
 CELEBRATING BEAUTY IN Diversity
 Cultural concepts of beauty should be celebrated. However, practices that
enhance attractiveness, yet, are severely harmful to our health, should be
stopped.
 It is not enough to know that there are a lot of beauty enhancement
practices that are detrimental to women’s health. Women should stand
against the cultural requirement on what they should do with their bodies
(Jeffreys, 2005)
 This is a community that separates itself from the rules of what women in
society should look like to be considered attractive.
 At this time, we are urged to speak out against body shaming in particular
as we live in an image-driven virtual society.
 We should never allow ourselves to be victims of this, since we are
supposed to celebrate true us, where we do not need to conceal our
physical defects and fight the demands of a deprecating picture guided by

society.

Figure:https://www.google.com/search?q=celebrative+beauty+in+diversity&sxsrf=ALeKk0
1IoNprGorsS7CXztHQ3n-
1OwC3ZA:1599054212472&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjGhr6SzcrrAh
WCBIgKHVvoBNUQ_AUoAXoECAwQAw&biw=1034&bih=620#imgrc=-
a3VryjaWgZf3M
 Reference
Anorexia. Retrieved March 10, 2018 from
https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/types/anorexia

Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A quest for perfection. (2012). Retrieved from

https://www.medicalbag.com/grey-matter/body-dysmorphic-disorder-a-quest-for-
perfection/article/472265

Cummings, M.R. (2016). Human heredity: princples and issues. Australia: Cengage learning

Estrada, O. (2017). Xander Ford`s Story Proves that Society Is Long Due for Its Much

Needed
Makeover. Retrieved March 10, 2018 from http://preen.inquirer.net/57978/xander-
fords- story-proves-that-society-is-long-due-for-its-much-needed-
makeover67978#ixzz59IOxS1zq

Greene, S. (ed). (2011). Body Image: Perceptions, interpretation and attitudes. New York:
Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Jeffreys (2005) Beauty and Misogyny: Harmful cultural practices in the west. London:
Routledge.`

Lakoff R. T. and Sherr, R. (1989). Face Value: The Politcs of beauty. Boston:Routledge.

Pollock, N. (1995). Cultural elaborations of obesity – Fattening Practices in Pacific Societies.

Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 4, pp. 357 -358

Rondilla j. L. Colonial Faces: Beauty and Skin Color Hierachy in the Philippines and the US.
(Doctoral Distertaion) Retrieved from http//:digitalassets.lib.berkeley.edu/etd/
ucb/text/Rondilla_berkeley_0028E_12897.pdf

Sallan, E. Expert surgeon who transformed Marlou into Xander not always successful
Retrieved from http://www.interaksyon.com/expert -surgeon-who-transformed-marlou-
into-xander-not-always-successful/

Stice, E., and Whitenton, k. (2002) Risk factors for body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls:
A investigation. Development Psychology, 28(5) 669-678
 Activity
1. Compare and Contrast the Standard beauty of the
World?
2. How your society define beauty? How you feel
about it?
3. Have you ever been body shamed? How did you
feel about it and how did you handle it?