Faisal's Notebook

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Lecture Planning - Responsible Sexual Intercourse and Awareness

10 min read

To Read

  1. Key Concepts and Topics
  2. Consequences of Sex
  3. Sex Overview
  4. Preventing Risky Sexual Behavior
  5. Socioeconomic disadvantage and unsafe sexual behaviors among young women and men in South Africa

What is Sex and Other Important Terminologies

  • Sex is a popular way of expressing intimacy whereby a vagina is penetrated by a penis (vaginal coitus). Although there are other forms or ways to perform sexual intercourse (e.g., oral coitus, femoral coitus, etc.), vaginal coitus is the only one that can result in pregnancy.
  • Gender identity is the private experience of one’s biological sex, while gender role is the outward expression of that gender identity—the way we present our gender identity through behavior, outfit, etc.
  • Sexual arousal occurs when internal thoughts or environmental factors engenders a sexual response. This can be triggered by cultural factors, but also physical contact with sexually sensitive regions of the body.
  • Proceptive behavior is the scientific term that describes flirting and seduction. It possesses some universal features despite it also being affected by culture and tradition.
  • An orgasm pertains to the intense pleasurable experience that can be generated from sex. Nonetheless, it should be noted that this is not necessary for reproduction to take place—females can begin the fertilization process despite not having an orgasm; some males can ejaculate without having an orgasm.
  • Most animals rely on hormones to stimulate their sexual behavior. There are two roles, specifically, that a hormone plays: influence sex drive (central effect of a hormone) and growth of peripheral tissues involved in sexual behavior (peripheral effect of a hormone).

Indicators of Risky Sexual Behavior

Indicators of risky sexual behavior include the following:

  • having sexual intercourse at an early age;
  • having a lot of sexual partners;
  • nonuse of contraception;
  • use of alcohol or drugs before sex;

Key Concepts

Relationships

  1. Families
    1. Families determine the values are important for each of their members. For this reason, it highly influences whether or not gender inequality is accepted or not within their members.
    2. To mature is to take responsibility of yourself and the people around you.
    3. Sexual relationships can affect family relationships.
  2. Friendships and Romantic Relationships
    1. Friendships are underpinned by trust, sharing, respect, empathy and solidarity.
      1. Inequality in personal relationships can damage them.
    2. Friends can both positively and negatively influence one another.
    3. Romantic relationships can be strongly affected by inequality and power differences.
      1. There are healthy and unhealthy types of sexual relationships.
    4. There are different ways to express love.
  3. Tolerance, Inclusion, and Respect
    1. Everyone is unique, deserves respect, and can contribute to society.
      1. Stigma and discrimination are dangerous, they are a violation of human rights
    2. It is crucial to fight against stigma and discrimination to promote tolerance and diversity
  4. Long-term commitments and parenting
    1. Early and forced marriages are harmful
    2. Culture and gender roles influence parenting, marriage, and long-term commitments
    3. Marriage and long-term commitments gives rise to many responsibilities

Values, Rights, Culture, and Sexuality

  1. Values and Sexuality
    1. It is important to develop the right values to rightly protect the rights of others. Your values influences your behavior.
      1. Knowing values that matter to you can make it easier to abide by them.
    2. Your values can differ from your parents.
  2. Human rights and sexuality
    1. Everyone has human rights, which include their sexual and reproductive health.
    2. It is crucial to be aware of human rights that affect sexual and reproductive health.
  3. Culture, society, and sexuality
    1. Cultural, social, and religious factors shape our understanding of sexuality and sexual behavior; however, we should be aware that this evolve and change over time.
    2. Even if social and cultural norms affect our attitude towards sex, we should still develop our own perspective.

Understanding Gender

  1. Social Construction of Gender and Gender Norms
    1. Social, cultural, and religious factors can shape your beliefs about gender norms.
    2. It is important to distinguish biological sex and gender.
    3. Gender roles and stereotypes can harm romantic relationships.
    4. Gender roles and norms affect others. For this reason, it is important to challenges one’s and others’ gender biases.
    5. How one perceives their gender is unique to them, and, therefore, should be respected.
  2. Gender Equality, Stereotypes and Bias
    1. Gender stereotypes and bias can affect how someone of a particular gender identity is treated.
    2. Gender equality promotes equal decision-making with regards to sexual behavior and life planning.
    3. Gender inequality can increase the chances of sexual coercion, abuse and gender-based violence.
  3. Gender-based violence
    1. It is essential to know what is gender-based violence (GBV) and where to seek for help.
    2. Gender-based violence violates human rights and is therefore wrong.
    3. Gender stereotypes give rise to violence and discrimination.
    4. Everyone ought to advocate for gender equality and combat gender violence.

Violence and Staying Safe

  1. It is important to be able to recognize bullying, sexual harassment, and child abuse, and understand that these are wrong (they are a human rights violation). In addition, seek support when witnessing it.
  2. Everyone has the right to be in control of what they will and will not do sexually and should actively communicate it.
  3. Consent is crucial for a healthy and pleasurable sexual relationship.
  4. Everyone should be able to understand privacy and unwanted sexual attention is.
  5. Be aware of the factors that affect your ability to acknowledge or give consent.
  6. The internet and social media can be used for good but can also put children at risk. As a result, special care and consideration is necessary when interacting with them.
    1. They can be sources of unwanted sexual attention.
    2. Sexually explicit media can be sexually arousing and harmful. This is exacerbated by their extreme accessibility. Moreover, they can promote unrealistic sexual expectations.

Skills for Health and Well-being

  1. Norms and Peer Influence
    1. Even if peer pressure and gender norms can negatively influence your sexual decisions and behavior, there are still strategies you can use to combat them.
  2. Decision-making
    1. Although everyone has the right to make decisions, all decisions still entail either positive or negative consequences, including legal and social ones.
    2. Rational decision making skills can be learned and practiced.
  3. Important Communication Skills
    1. Effective communication is key to expressing personal needs and sexual boundaries.
    2. Effective communication utilizes various modes and styles.
    3. Good communication is essential in all relationships.
  4. Media literacy
    1. It is important to be aware of the capacity of media to unrealistically portray sexuality—they can either be correct or incorrect.
    2. We can challenge inaccurate media representations to promote gender equality.
  5. Finding Help
    1. Family, friends, teachers, religious members, and community members can and should help each other.
    2. Everyone should assess the quality of the information and services provided by their sources of support.
    3. Everyone has the right to affordable assistance that also protects their privacy.

The Human Body and Development

  1. Everyone has a unique body that deserves respect.
    1. A person’s physical appearance does not determine their worth.
    2. We can challenge unrealistic appearance standards.
  2. It is important to know more about one’s bodily functions, and it is only natural to be curious about them.
  3. Men and women’s bodies change over time.
  4. Although not everyone is fertile, there are ways to address it.
  5. Puberty is a stage of sexual maturation whereby one experiences physical, emotional, social and cognitive changes.
    1. Menstruation is normal and should not be treated with secrecy or stigma.
    2. One may experience a variety of physical responses like erections and wet dreams

Sexuality and Sexual Behavior

  1. Sexual feelings, fantasies, and desires are natural; however, one does not always choose to act on those feelings.
  2. It is natural to be curious about sexuality and it is important to ask a trusted adult questions.
  3. Although people can show love through touching and intimacy, they should be aware of what is appropriate and inappropriate touching.
  4. It is important to make informed and responsible decisions when it comes to sex and sexual behavior, including whether to be active or to delay it.
  5. Everyone should be able to distinguish sexual facts from myths that emerge from culture and society.
  6. There are ways to avoid and minimize risks of sexual behaviors. One of which is the prior consideration of risk-reduction strategies to prevent unwanted pregnancy and sexually-transmitted infections (STIs).
  7. Sex should feel pleasurable and it should entail responsibility for one’s well-being.
  8. Transactional sexual activities may pose risks to one’s well-being.

Sexual and Reproductive Health

  1. Pregnancy and Pregnancy Prevention
    1. Pregnancy is a natural process that can be planned or prevented through means such as contraception.
    2. Gender roles and peer norms can influence decisions about contraception usage.
    3. Sexually active young people should have easy access to contraceptives.
    4. Unintended pregnancies occur, and all young people deserve services and protection needed for their well-being.
    5. There are health risks involved in early child-bearing and closely spaced births.
    6. There are practices that can threaten a healthy pregnancy.
  2. STIs Treatment and Support
    1. There are effective treatments against HIV.
    2. People with HIV should be provided with a safe and supportive environment to talk about it because they also have the right to be respected.
  3. Understanding and Reducing the Risk of STIs
    1. People can be ill despite their healthy appearance.
    2. Although there are a variety of ways to reduce one’s vulnerability to STIs, testing is the only way to conclusively determine whether someone possesses an STI.
    3. Sexual health services can offer provision of contraceptives, testing, and treatment for STIs.
    4. Communication, negotiation, and refusal skills can prevent unwanted sexual pressure and promote safe sex practices.

Consequences of Sex

Positive Consequences

  • Increased intimacy between partners
  • Physical satisfaction, though it should be noted that females have a higher likelihood of feeling dissatisfied than males.
  • Greater self-affirmation for males (than females) when having sex with a non-dating partner.
    • It is higher because they tend to focus more on the physical attractiveness of their partners than females do.
  • Primarily positive interpersonal and intrapersonal effects on mental and social well-being.

Negative Consequences

  • Interpersonal consequences such as guilt and health concerns (specifically in the context of sex with non-dating partners and/or non-use of contraception)
    • Females tend to worry about their health when having sex with dating partners less than males do. Though the opposite trend occurs when dealing with non-dating partners.
      • A possible explanation is that females are more concerned with STIs (they trust their dating partners not having STIs due to their sexual history together), whereas males are more concerned with hormonal birth control (they expect that non-dating partners would use birth control to avoid pregnancy).
  • Feelings of unpreparedness for sex.
  • Increased likelihood of engaging with risky sexual behavior.
  • Although a partner’s approval can result in temporarily alleviating relationship problem, it can still be detrimental to a relationship in the long-term, especially when it is used to avoid disagreements.
  • It can reinforce drinking habits as it has been reported to have positive consequences on alcohol use.
  • Based on the reports of UNICEF, UNAIDS, and WHO in 2002, nearly 13 million people ages between 15 and 24 have contracted HIV/AIDS.
  • ~11 million people who got infected at ages between 15 and 24 died of AIDS (according to UNAIDS in 1999).
  • Negative physical and emotional health. For example, hypertension, anemia, preterm delivery, cesarean section, low birth weight, and infant death.
  • Academic and economic damages.
    • Teen mothers who perform worse at school.
    • Risk of dropping out.
    • Unemployment.
  • Children of teen parents are often victims of abuse, or to be placed in foster care.
  • Studies reveal that male children of teenage parents have a much higher chance of being incarcerated when compared to male children of older parents.
  • STIs can cause infertility

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