FRHD 2100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 12: Vaginal Lubrication, Preadolescence, Masturbation
16 Dec 2016
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Chapter 12: Life Cycle
-Sexuality begins to develop in the womb and continues throughout childhood.
-Considerable variability in the precise ages at which children exhibit different sexuality-related behaviors
and the rates at which their bodies develop
Infancy (Birth to two years)
-Most boys have erections during the first few weeks of life. Signs of arousal in infant girls, such as vaginal
lubrication, are less readily detected, though evidence of lubrication and genital swelling has been reported.
-Stimulation of genitals in infancy can produce pleasure.
-Masturbation typical for infants and young children, and may start as early as five months of age.
Masturbation to orgasm is rare until the second year. Most people do not purposely masturbate to orgasm
as a means of sexual gratification until adolescence.
Early Childhood (Two to five years)
-Gender identity-ability to identify oneself as a boy or a girl.
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-Children at this age may show curiosity about sexual anatomy, ie playing dr, wanting to watch parents take
showers and baths.
-Children in Canada typically don’t engage in genital play with others until they’re about two or older. To
satisfy curiosity about their surroundings and other people, they may investigate other children’s genitals or
hug, cuddle, kiss, or climb on top of this. This is normal curiosity.
Middle Childhood (Five to eight years)
-Crushes; childhood attractions, while typically not overtly sexual in nature, represent our first conscious
romantic attachments. (i.e kids having “boyfriends” or “girlfriends”).
-Curiosity about genitals increases at this stage. Sex games like show and playing doctor. Much of this
sexual activity takes place in same-gender groups, although mixed gender games are not uncommon.
-Children may show their genitals to one another, touch one another’s genitals, and in rare cases,
masturbate together.
-Same-gender sexual play in childhood does not foreshadow adult sexual orientation. For curiosity, rather
than desire or sexual gratification.
-Questions like, “where do babies come from?” May outwardly express revulsion when first learning that
reproduction involves the insertion of a penis into a vagina.
-Some degree of awareness that not all people are heterosexual. Factual explanations will likely satisfy
them.
Preadolescence (Nine to twelve years)
- Some behaviors are sexually related, rather than sexual per se.
-Friends in gender-segregated groups.
-Grow increasingly preoccupied with- and self conscious about - their bodies. Pressure from peers to
conform to dress codes, the proper slang, and group norms concerning sex and drugs. Peer disapproval can
be an intense punishment.
-Sexual urges experienced by many preadolescents, but may not emerge until adolescence.
-PUBERTY; some girls and a few boys begin the physical changes associated with puberty before age 13.
Critical for children in this age group to be properly educated about the physical and emotional changes
they’ll experience.
-Study reported that msaturbation is the primary means of achieving orgasm for both boys and girls during
preadolescence. Found that 45% of males and 15% of females had masturbated by age 13.
-Although preadolescents tend to socialize in in same-gender groups, interest in other-gender individuals
among heterosexual youth tends to increase gradually as they approach puberty. Sexual intercourse in this
age group is uncommon.
Adolescent Sexuality
Four major developmental tasks of adolescent sexuality:
1. Adapt to the physical and emotional changes of puberty
2. Accept yourself as a sexual being
3. Explore romantic and sexual relationships
4. Learn to protect your sexual health.
-Adolescence formally begins with the onset of puberty, and ends at some point in the late teen years.
Puberty: the stage of development when reproduction first becomes possible. Begins with the appearance
of secondary sex characteristics and end when the long bones make no further gains in length.
Secondary sex characteristics: physical characteristics that differentiate males and females, usually
appearing at puberty but not directly involved in reproduction. Examples include bodily distribution of hair
and fat, development of muscle mass, and deepening of voice.
Primary sex characteristics: physical characteristics that differentiate males and females and are directly
involved in reproduction. These are the sex organs.
Sexual self-acceptance
-Adolescence is a time of rapid physical change and intense pressure to meet physical and social
expectations. Body image can be a huge concern, with a significant impact on sexual well-being. Pressure
in respects to sexual behavior as well.
-Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth are obvious examples of adolescents who don’t fit the
traditional, stereotypical molds of what it means to be sexual beings. Girls who are assertive about their
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Sexuality begins to develop in the womb and continues throughout childhood. Considerable variability in the precise ages at which children exhibit different sexuality-related behaviors and the rates at which their bodies develop. Most boys have erections during the first few weeks of life. Signs of arousal in infant girls, such as vaginal lubrication, are less readily detected, though evidence of lubrication and genital swelling has been reported. Stimulation of genitals in infancy can produce pleasure. Masturbation typical for infants and young children, and may start as early as five months of age. Masturbation to orgasm is rare until the second year. Most people do not purposely masturbate to orgasm as a means of sexual gratification until adolescence. Gender identity-ability to identify oneself as a boy or a girl. Children at this age may show curiosity about sexual anatomy, ie playing dr, wanting to watch parents take showers and baths.
