HSC 4133 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Transsexual, Immunotherapy, Safe Sex
28 May 2018
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Miranda Goss
HSC4133
HSC4133 Lecture Notes (exam 1)
Module 1 → Human Sexuality: Introduction and Perspectives
• Sexuality (SIECUS, 2000)
o Sexuality is more than what you do with another person sexually
o Sexuality is also about the person you feel you are, your body, how you feel as a boy or
girl, man or woman, the way you dress, move and speak, the way you act and feel about
others
▪ These are all part of who you are as a person, from your birth until you die
o Our sexuality is a natural and healthy part of who we are
• Human sexuality (SIECUS, 2007)
o Human sexuality encompasses the sexual knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, values, and
behaviors of individuals
o Its various dimensions involve the anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry (biological) of
the sexual response system; identity, orientation, roles, and personality; and thoughts,
feelings, and relationships
o Sexuality is influenced by ethical, spiritual, cultural, and moral concerns
o All persons are sexual in the broadest sense of the word
• Dimensions of human sexuality
o Socio-cultural → the sum of the cultural and social influences that affect our thoughts
and actions both historical and contemporary
▪ Example – in North America, it is acceptable for both men and women to wear
pants, but only acceptable for women to wear skirts and dresses
• Result of socialization (process by which individuals learn about things
within their culture that are accepted)
▪ Current influences
• Social institutions – family, universities, schools, houses of worship
• Laws
o Same-sex marriage were not legal until 2004 (Massachusetts was
first state to legalize)
o Psychological → attitudes and feelings towards oneself and other people
▪ Overlap with socio-cultural and ethical dimensions
▪ Mental + emotional (cognitive)
o Ethical → includes questions of right and wrong, should you or should you not
▪ Focuses on values and attitudes of an individual
▪ Values and beliefs have been shaped by society, religious beliefs, family values
o Biological → involves physical appearance, responses to sexual stimulation,
physiological cycles and changes, growth and development, etc.
▪ Physical appearance → sexual development and differences in males and females
from anatomical/physiological view
▪ Physiological cycles → menstruation and ovulation in females
o Overlap between socio-cultural, psychological, and ethical dimensions
• Sexual intelligence
o Intelligence regarding sexual behaviors or how well-versed an individual is in engaging
in sexual activity
▪ More related to a person’s understanding of dimensions of human sexuality
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Miranda Goss
HSC4133
o 4 components
▪ Understanding self
• Allows one to be able to relate in an intimate or sexual relationship
▪ Having interpersonal sexual skills and integrity
• Allows individuals to make sound decisions regarding sexual attitudes,
values, behavior
▪ Obtaining accurate scientific sexual knowledge
• Knowledge is used by individuals in making sound decisions
• Allows one to understand that there are certain times of the month in
which conception is more/less likely to occur
▪ Having consideration of the cultural context of sexuality
• Relates to cultural relativity (principle that allows us to understand that
the values, beliefs, and behaviors of an individual are consistent with
their culture)
• Behaviors in one culture may be acceptable in one culture and not in
another
• “conscious clause law” – law that allows pharmacies to refuse to fill
certain prescriptions (usually related to female reproductive health)
o Increasing sexual intelligence will allow for responsible decisions in sexual behavior
• Studying sexuality: from a psychosocial orientation
o A psychosocial orientation takes into account:
▪ Psychological factors
• Emotions, attitudes, motivations
▪ Social conditioning factors
• Process with which we learn our social norms
▪ Biological factors
• Hormones, nervous system, genetics, etc.
• BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL approach = biological + social + psychological
o Belief – we are who we are as sexual beings, including our values, beliefs, sexual
behaviors, are a result of psychological factors and social conditioning factors
• Cross-cultural perspectives
o Cultural relativity → principle that an individual’s values, beliefs, attitudes, and
behaviors should be understood in the context of their cultural
▪ Vary by religion as well as ethnic group
• Differences present within ethnic groups (ex. Asian Americans (Chinese
immigrants, descendants of Korean and Vietnam war, Hong Kong,
Japan, other Asian areas) may consider themselves to be culturally
distinct from one another)
o Influence of education and socioeconomic status on sexual behaviors, research shows that
there are differences
▪ In US, cohabitation rates much higher among men who have less than a high
school education
• Cross-cultural perspectives (Islamic Middle East)
o Based on beliefs of Muhammad
▪ Islam is dominant religion in Middle East (Muslim)
▪ 2 to 8 millions in US
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Miranda Goss
HSC4133
o Belief that sex should be enjoyed by both sexes
o Women viewed inherently more sexual than men
▪ This power contained by veils, segregation, female circumcision
• Female circumcision may include partial or total removal of clitoris,
closing off vaginal area
o Oppression of women and many sexually related restrictions stem from patriarchal
cultural traditions and fundamentalists sects, not from religion and the teaching of the
Qur’an
▪ Men and women expected to wear loose clothing that covers entire body
• Cross-Cultural Perspectives (China)
o Ancient China
▪ Produced the earliest known sex manuals
• History rich in erotic literature and art
▪ Under Taoism, sexual activity promoted for spiritual growth and harmony (2nd
century BC)
• Sexual activity including sensual touching, oral sex, anal sex, intercourse
▪ Sexual connection of men and women was believed to join the opposing forces
of yin and yang
• Men were encouraged to ejaculate often because that was in means of
conserving yang
• Women encouraged to have orgasms as often as possible to create more
yin in women
o Sexual conservatism with communist rule (1949)
▪ During communist rule, liberal attitudes and behaviors of Taoism had been
replaced with more conservative views
• In an effort to rid the country of western influence (porn and
prostitution), government developed attitudes and behaviors that were
very conservative
o Ex. Display of romance in public was forbidden (holding hands
subjected individuals to persecution)
▪ Lack of basic information about sexuality
▪ Sex outside of marriage and frequent sex within marriage discouraged
• Engaging in sex while married more than 1 time per week was
considered a waste in energy
▪ Low STI rates (benefit)
o Current/contemporary trends
▪ Increasing rates of premarital sex
▪ Increasing rates of HIV infection
▪ Slightly more open to homosexuality
▪ Still lack sexual knowledge and safe-sex skills
• Our cultural legacy (two themes)
o Sex for procreation
▪ Definition of sex and intercourse used synonymously
▪ The only legitimate reason for engaging in sexual intercourse is for procreation
• Behaviors that cannot result in procreation are not acceptable/legitimate
(anal sex and oral sex)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Intelligence regarding sexual behaviors or how well-versed an individual is in engaging in sexual activity: more related to a person"s understanding of dimensions of human sexuality. Conscious clause law law that allows pharmacies to refuse to fill certain prescriptions (usually related to female reproductive health) Asian americans (chinese immigrants, descendants of korean and vietnam war, hong kong, Japan, other asian areas) may consider themselves to be culturally distinct from one another) Influence of education and socioeconomic status on sexual behaviors, research shows that there are differences. In us, cohabitation rates much higher among men who have less than a high school education: cross-cultural perspectives (islamic middle east, based on beliefs of muhammad. Islam is dominant religion in middle east (muslim: 2 to 8 millions in us. In an effort to rid the country of western influence (porn and prostitution), government developed attitudes and behaviors that were very conservative: ex.
