Unit 1 : LGBT refers to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender

GENDER AND SEXUALITY AS A SOCIAL REALITY community

 Sex, Gender And Sexuality GENDER ROLE OR SEX ROLE
 Gender Role And Sex Role - sets of culturally defined behaviors such as masculinity and
 Patriarchy And Feminism femininity (Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender, 2019).
 Historical Views And Gender PATRIARCHY
 Woman Empowerment - is often the Greek word Patriarkhes which means "the rule of the
SEX (biological sex or physical sex) father".
- is the biological dimension of your gender and sexuality. - It is a social system where men primarily holds power in the
- is typically determined by examining your genitals these are political and the private spheres.
external organs that are associated with reproduction -the process - It is a structure that upholds male supremacy in the law, at home,
or the ability to create offspring. Sex is often assigned at birth. in the work place, and in society.
MALE FREDRICH ENGELS
- a child is observed to a penis and testicles - a German philosopher and sociologist, argues that patriarchy
FEMALE came about when people started having private property instead of
- a child is observed to have a vagina, a communal living.
HERMAPHRODITISM OR INTERSEXUALITY
(from Hermes, a male Greek god and Aphrodite, a female Greek HISTORICAL VIEWS ON GENDER
goddess) Greek
- cases when the baby's genitals appear to be a conglomerate of - Aristotle, Plato, and other Greek philosophers viewed women as
male and female organs such that it may be difficult to classify the the inferior sex and are properties of men whose only job was to
baby's sex without further examination. obey their husbands, bear children, and take e of the household.
SEX CHROMOSOMES They were forbidden to learn philosophy, politics, and science.
- An individual with a set of XY sex chromosomes is said to be a Egypt
male, while an individual with a set of XX sex chromosomes is - Herodotus, a Greek historian, observed the Egyptian civilization
said to be a female. citing that Egyptian women enjoyed higher social status than Greek
- human males tend to have higher levels of testosterone, which is women because they can inherit property and engage in trade and
associated to sex drive and aggressions. politics. However, Greek influence quickly spread in Egypt through
- human females tend to have higher levels of estrogen and the conquests of Alexander the Great across Asia and Africa.
progesterone, which are associated to lactation, menstruation and China
other female reproductive functions. - Confucianism has stringent written rules that dictate how women
GENDER should conduct themselves. The written documents titled "Three
- it is a social dimension of one’s sexuality. obedience's and four virtues" and "Precepts of women" states that
- Our ability for higher order thinking and our tendency to create women should obey their father, when married she is to obey her
social norms, allow us to attach social and cultural meanings to husband, and when widowed she is to obey her son.
things, including our sex. Women have come a long way since the ancient times
- For example, males are typically expected be masculine and through the feminist movement, however, patriarchy has taken on
females are expected to be feminine. Once parents are aware of subtle forms of oppression that often go unnoticed such as:
their child's sex (male or female) during birth or through prenatal  sexism prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination based on sex;
procedures such as ultrasound, they automatically attach social and  gender pay gap men earn more that women;
cultural meanings to their child's sex and in doing so, they already  underrepresentation in politics, military, executive positions,
set an expectation in terms of how their child should behave and etc:
how they should treat their child. This social dimension of one's  rape on women and the stigma making women ashamed to
sexuality is referred to as gender. report the crime;
HETERONORMATIVITY  very conservative expectations on women on how they behave;
- phenomenon of determining the normality of a behavior based on  unrealistic depictions of women in fiction, often very
whether it conforms or not to the expectations relative to one's sexualized;
biological sex.  women do more housework and childcare boys were trained to
GENDER IDENTITY be leaders while women were trained to do house chores.
- it refers to a person’s deeply felt sense of their own gender, which
may or may not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
- there are cases wherein a person’s biological sex does not align Women's liberation movement, women's movement, or
with one’s gender identity. People with this experience are referred feminism
to as transgenders, such as male who does not feel comfortable (Le Movement de Liberation des Femmes or the women's
identifying as a man (transgender woman ) or a female who is not liberation movement)
to comfortable identifying as a woman (transgender man ). - is a continuing series of social movements that aim to challenge
Transgender people may undergo gender reassignment surgery to the patriarchal society that creates these oppressive political
align their physical characteristics their to their gender identity. structures, beliefs, and practices against women. During the 19th
SEXUAL ORIENTATION and early 20th century first-wave feminism spread across the
- aspect of our gender pertains to our emotional and sexual western countries as women demanded for their right to vote or
attraction to a person. participate in elections and to be able to legally own property.
- According to the Psychological Association of the Philippines, In France, Simone de Beauvoir wrote book titled “The
typically at ages 6 or 8, we experience or develop attraction to Second Sex" in 1949. It outlined how the patriarchal society
other people. disadvantaged women by slowly raising her into submission and
HETEROSEXUALS (STRAIGHT) hindering their productivity and happiness by relegating them to
- People who are attracted to the opposite sex housecleaning. This inspired many women to write and speak their
HOMOSEXUAL (GAY OR LESBIAN) truths, such as Betty Friedan (The Feminine Mystique, 2963),
- People who are attracted to people of the same sex Kate Millet (Sexual Politics, 1969), and Germaine Greer (The
BISEXUAL OR BI Female Eunuch, 1970). Beauvoir's book was instrumental in
- people are attracted to both sexes, male or female. awakening women about their plight as the "wife-servant" to their
husbands in her famous quoted "one is not born, but rather aids its expansion and triggers the release of
becomes a woman". lubricants from vaginal mucosa;
Le Movement de Liberation des Femmes or the women's Cervix - small end ofuterus to which vagina leads. It
liberation movement is the opening in cervix leading to interior of
- was formed in Europe and they sought the right to education, right uterus;
to work, and right to vote in the 1940s. Later, they also won uterus - womb organ within pelvic zone where fetus
womenis right to decide on their own bodies and their sexualities. is carried;
This liberation movement views the intersectionality of economic fallopian tubes - carry egg cells from ovaries to
status or class to patriarchy. uterus, this is where fertilization occurs; and
Inspired by Beauvoir's book, second-wave feminism in ovaries -produce estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen
I960's through the 80's, women drew attention to various social and influences female sex characteristics and initiates
cultural inequalities such as domestic violence especially marital menstrual cycle. Progesterone aids in regulation of
rape, reproductive rights, wage inequality, and etc. The 90's gave menstrual cycle and promotes mature development of
birth to the 3rd wave and 2012 started the fourth wave. These uterine lining to allow for zygote implantation. Also,
movements only show that there is still much to be done for produce ova, egg cells, and bring them to maturity.
women's rights. Surviving to puberty. Of these, only about 400-450 are typically
To put simply, feminism demands equality. Here are a few brought to maturity and released into the fallopian tubes.
salient points that feminism demands. PUBERTY
1. Women suffrage 3. Reproductive rights The menstrual cycle marks the beginning of puberty in
2. Equality in politics and society 4. Domestic violence females. The first episode occurs between 11 to 15 years of age
5. Sexual harassment and sexual violence referred to as menarche. Menstruation pertains to the sloughing off
6. Other rights include the right to divorce their husbands, the right of the uterine lining if conception has not occurred. It may last
to make decisions on her pregnancy, equitable wages, and equal within two to six days which follows a cycle ranging from 24 to 42
employment opportunity. days. Regardless of the length of the cycle, menstruation begins
about 14 days after ovulation (plus or minus one to two days). The
overall cycle is governed by the hypothalamus as it monitors
Unit II: hormone levels in the bloodstream
BIOMEDICAL PERSEPECTIVE IN It involves changes in the endometrium in response to the
GENDER AND SEXUALITY fluctuation blood levels of ovarian hormones. There are three
 Anatomy And Physiology Of Reproduction Phases as described below:
 The Process Of Reproduction MENSTRUAL PHASE
 Sexual Health And Hygiene - occurs if the ovum is not fertilized and does not implant itself into
 Risky Behaviors Of Adolescents the uterine lining. The continued high levels of estrogen and
Anatomy and Physiology of Reproduction progesterone causes the pituitary to stop releasing follicle-
The sexual organs of men and women arise from the stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).
same structures and fulfill similar functions. Each person has a Estrogen and progesterone levels decrease causing the
pair of gonads: ovaries are female gonads; testes are the male endometrium to be sloughed off, and bleeding ensues. It is during
gonads. The gonads produce germ cells and sex hormones. The this time that ovarian hormones are at their lowest levels.
female germ cells are ova (egg) and the male germ cells are sperm. PROLIFERATIVE PHASE
Ova and sperm are the basic units of reproduction; their union - occurs when the hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland to
can lead to the creation of a new life. release FSH that stimulates the ovaries to produce estrogen and
THE BIOLOGICAL FEMALE causes ova to mature in the ovarian follicles. Endometrium is
Anatomy the study of body structure in relation to body repaired, thickens, and becomes well-vascularized in response to
parts. The female sexual anatomy is designed for the production increasing levels of estrogens.
and fertlization of ovum, as well as carrying and delivering infant SECRETORY PHASE
offspring. Puberty signals the final development of primary and - occurs when the pituitary gland releases LH that causes the ovary
accessory organs that support reproduction. to release a mature ovum and causes the remaining portion of the
A. The female external genitalia consists of the following: Follicle to develop into corpus luteum. The corpus luteum then,
vulva - all the external genital structures taken together; produces progesterone. Endometrial glands begin to secrete
mons veneris - pads of fatty tissue between pubic bone and skin; nutrients, and lining becomes more vascular in response to
labia majora - outer lips surrounding all the other structures. increasing level of progesterone,
Prepuce - clitoral hood (foreskin above and covering clitoris); Problems associated with menstruation include
Clitoris - glans (head), shaft, and crura (root), the clitoris is premenstrual syndrome (PMS (80-95% of women experience),
particularly sensitive to stimulation; dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation caused h Overproduction of
labia minora - inner lips surrounding the vestibule where sweat prostaglandins, causing the uterine muscles to contract), and
and oil glands, extensive blood vessels, and nerve amenorrhea (disruption or absence of menstruation). All of these
endings are located; involve the fluctuation of hormone levels associated with
vestibule- area surrounding the urethral opening and vagina, which menstruation. At menopause (usually around age 45-5o), a woman
is highly sensitive with extensive blood vessels and nerve stops menstruating as ova are no longer brought to maturity.
endings; Female secondary sexual characteristics emerge after puberty
urethral opening - end of tube connecting to bladder and used for - widening of hips and pelvis
urination; - enlargement of breasts
vaginal opening - also called introitus; and The More female characteristics:
Perineum - area of skin separating the genitalia from the anus; - generally shorter than men;
distance is less in females than males. - greater proportion of body weight composed of fat than men;
B. The female internal reproductive structures consist of the - two X chromosomes reduces expression of many sex-linked
following as described and shown below: conditions;
Vagina - collapsible canal extending from vaginal - and lower mortality rate at every age and longer projected
opening back and upward into body to cervix and lifespan than men.
uterus. During arousal, it is engorged with blood. This THE BIOLOGICAL MALE
The male sexual anatomy is designed for the production and absence of pregnancy. The menstrual cycle is from the first day of a
delivery of sperm for fertilization of the female's ovum. Puberty period until the day before the next period starts.
signals the final development of primary and accessory organs that Normally, it lasts around 28 days, on the average, but can be as
support reproduction. short as 21 or as long as 40. Whatever the length, ovulation will
A. The male external genitalia consist of the following happen about 10-16 days before the start of the next period.
structures: How does pregnancy occur?
Prepuce foreskin - covering head of penis, removed in male For pregnancy to proceed, the sperm needs to meet up with an egg.
circumcision; Pregnancy happens 2-3 weeks after sexual intercourse.
Penis - glans (head), shaft, and root. The glans is particularly CONCEPTION is the process that begins with fertilization of an
sensitive to stimulation. Running the length of the penis is egg by the sperm and ends with implantation. When a male and
the urethra surrounded by the spongy body and two female have a sexual intercourse, the penis fits into the woman's
cylindrical chambers known as the cavernous bodies. vagina. Ejaculation or coming releases the sperm via the penis into
During arousal, these become engorged with blood, the Vagina. The sperm swims through the female's cervix, into the
resulting in erection; womb, and finally into the fallopian tubes. Once the esg or ovum
Corona - rim of glans where it arises from shaft; has been released into the fallopian tube, hundreds of sperm swim
Frenulum - thin strip of skin connecting glans and shaft on up to reach it. Finally, the sperm penetrates the egg in the fallopian
underside of penis; tube where fertilization takes place and eventually, becomes an
Scrotum - sac that encloses the two compartments housing the embryo. Once the embryo (fertilized egg) attaches to the inner
testes; lining of the uterus (endothelium), a fetus develops within five to
Urethral opening - found on head of penis this is the end of tube seven days from a ball of cells floating in the uterus, which
connected to bladder and used for urination. It is also tube officially begins pregnancy.
to which internal structures deliver semen by which male A normal pregnancy lasts 37-42 weeks (nine months). This is
ejaculates; and measured from the first day of the last period. Pregnancy is
Perineum - area of skin separating the genitalia from the anus, discussed in terms of trimesters (three-month periods), since each
distance is greater in males than females. trimester is very different from the rest. After eight weeks, the
B. The male internal reproductive organs: embryo is officially referred to as a fetus.
testes produce androgen - particularly large quantities of What can be done to prevent teenage pregnancy?
testosterone, which greatly influence male development Teen pregnancy has a tremendous impact on the educational, social,
and drive sexual motivation and economic lives of young people. Early parenting reduces the
vas deferens - travels from testicle toward urethra carrying sperm; likelihood that a young woman will complete high school and
Seminal vesicles - two glands that produce alkaline fluid rich in pursue the necessary post-secondary education needed to compete
fructose sugar, comprising some 70% of semen volume. in today's economy.
ejaculatory ducts -connect vas deferens to urethra; What are the health effects of early pregnancy in the growing
Prostate - gland producing alkaline secretions that account for adolescent?
about 30% of semen volume. Fluid passes through a series of ducts There are serious health risks associated with early pregnancy
along wall of urethra; and because a young woman's body is not mature enough to handle
Urethra - tube within penis that carries sperm and semen the rest bearing a child. When a woman is under 20, the pelvic area (the
of the way to the' opening of the penis. bone surrounding the birth canal) is still growing and may not be
More Male Characteristics: large enough to allow the baby to easily pass through the birth
- generally taller and greater proportion of body weight composed canal. This can result in what is called an Obstructed labor".
of water proportionately larger heart and lungs, presumably to Obstructed labor is dangerous to both mother and child and requires
handle greater blood fluid \ volume; exposure to greater levels of the help of trained medical professionals. Under the best
testosterone resulting in heavier body and facial hair, but also circumstances, the young woman will have an operation called a
increased frequency and degree of baldness; and single X "caesarean section" in which a cut is made in the abdomen and the
chromosome resulting in sex-linked conditions such as baby is removed directly from the uterus. A major contributor to
colorblindness and hemophilia. high maternal mortality rates is adolescent pregnancy. If a young
Male Hormones woman is not physically mature, the uterus may tear during the
The testosterone is the major male hormone produced mainly by birth process, and she may die because of blood loss. If she is lucky
the testes, but there are other glands called the adrenal glands that and survives the delivery, she might face fistula due to prolonged
also produce some testosterone. In case a man has lost his testes, labor. A baby's head can also tear the vagina causing a hole
these glands would continue to produce testosterone to support the between the vagina and bladder or between the vagina and the
male physical appearance. Testosterone is responsible for the rectum, resulting in what is known as a fistula. Unless she has an
growth and development of a boy during adolescence and for the operation to fix her problem, for the rest of her life, she will not be
development of sperm and secondary sexual characteristics. able to hold her urine or feces and this will make her a social
A. Male secondary sexual characteristics that emerge after outcast.
puberty: In addition, younger women who become pregnant face a higher
1. no monthly cycle; risk than older women in developing a number of other
2. elongation of vocal cords (lower voice); complications. These complications can be any or a combination of
3. broader shoulders; and deeper chest cavity. the following manifestations:
THE PROCESS OF REPRODUCTION  excessive vomiting;
Female puberty usually begins at about 8-13 years of age; the  severe anemia;
reproduction maturation of boys lags about two years behind that of  hypertension;
girls. The physical changes of female puberty include breast  convulsions;
development, rounding of the hips and buttocks, growth of the hair  difficulty in breast feeding (if the girl is too young to
in the pubic region and the underarm, and the start of menstruation. produce milk);
How does one ovulate?  premature and low birth weight babies;
The major landmark of puberty among females is the onset of the  infection;
menstrual cycle, the monthly ovulation cycle that leads to  prolonged labor; and
menstruation (loss of blood and tissues lining the uterus) in the  high maternal mortality or death.
 The risk of having serious complications during pregnancy or Keeping the external female genitalia clean.
childbirth is much higher for girls in their early teens than for older  Use soap and water to wash the external genitalia and your
women. Ages of 20-30 years are the safest period of women's life underarms every day, especially during menstruation.
for child bearing. The major difference between girls in their early  Use either a disposable pad made of cotton, which has a
teens and older women is that girls aged 12-16 years are still nylon base, or a clean piece of cotton cloth to absorb blood
growing. The pelvis, or the bony birth canal, of a girl can grow during menstruation.
wider by as much as 20% between the time she begins menstruating  Properly dispose of the pad after each use, or wash and dry
and the time she is 16 years old. This widening of the pelvis can the piece of cloth used as a menstrual pad before reuse.
make the crucial difference between a safe delivery and obstructed  Wash only the external genitalia. Do not try to clean the
labor. It is not surprising, therefore, to find that obstructed labor, inside part of the vagina.
due to disproportion between the size of the infant's head and the  While washing, wash starting from the vagina towards the
mother's pelvis, is most common among very young mothers. The anus. Do not wash from the anus towards the vagina. This
consequences of such obstructed labor may be death due to will allow germs to enter the inner genitalia easily and cause
numerous complications or lifetime crippling conditions of vesico- infection.
vaginal fistula.  Be aware of abnormal fluids from your vagina. Do not
SEXUAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE confuse this with normal vaginal fluids.
Puberty causes all kinds of changes in the adolescent's body. These  If you see any changes in the vaginal fluid-a change in color
bodily changes are normal part of developing into an adult. There or odor, please visit a health professional.
are instances when these changes can be a source of anxiety to the Healthcare Check for the Male:
growing teen. Keeping the external male genitalia clean:
Oily Hair  Wash the external genitalia at least daily with soap and water,
- Do not scrub or rub too hard as you wash the rest of the body.
Sweat and Body Odor  Boys who are not circumcised need to pull back the foreskin
- bathe or shower every day using a mild soap and warm and gentlywash underneath it with clean water
water. If you are concerned about the way your underarms smell,  Be aware of any abnormal fluids coming from your penis. Do
you can try using a deodorant or deodorant with antiperspirant. not confuse this with the presence of normal fluids.
Deodorants get rid of the odor of sweat by covering it up, and  If you see any abnormal fluid or wound, please visit a health
antiperspirants actually stop or dry up perspiration. professional.
Body Hair RISKY BEHAVIORS OF ADOLESCENTS
Body hair in new places is something you can count on-again, they Risk-taking is a normal part of adolescent development. Risk-
are hormones in action. taking is defined as participation in potentially health-
Dental Hygiene compromising activities with little understanding of, or in spite of
Dentists say that the most important part of tooth care happens at an understanding of, the possible negative consequences.
home. Brushing and flossing properly, along with regular dental The Department of Health, in its Adolescent and Youth Health
checkups, can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. To Policy (2000), has identified the following health risk: substance
prevent cavities, you need to remove plaque, the transparent layer use, premarital sex, early child bearing, abortion, HIVAIDS,
of bacteria that coats the teeth. The best way to do this is by violence, accidents, malnutrition, and mental health.
brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once a day. Guidance of family is also important as the adolescent develops
Brushing also stimulates the gums, which helps to keep them into a mature adult.
healthy and prevent gum disease. Brushing and flossing are the Data on non-sexual behaviors where adolescents engaging in vices,
most important things that you can do to keep your teeth and gums such as smoking and alcohol drinking, show that the adolescent is
healthy. Toothpastes contain abrasives, detergents, and foaming the fourth highest in the country who are currently smoking
agents. Fluoride, the most common active ingredient in toothpaste, (207%). The adolescent is likewise, the fifth highest in the country
is what prevents cavities. So you should always be sure your who are Currently drinking alcoholic beverages (38.9%). More than
toothpaste contains fluoride. three in 100 of adolescents have used drugs, below the national
Tips on Proper Brushing average, while greater than eight in 1oo have ever thought of
Dentists say that the minimum time you should spend brushing suicide. This has decreased from 2002 to 2013 compared to the
your teeth is two minutes twice a day. Here are some tips on how to general population. Those who attempted suicide decrease to 2.4%,
brush properly: below the national average
 Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle against your gumline. Sex and Media have been identified as key influencers among
Gently brush from where the tooth and gum meet to the adolescents engaged in high risk behaviors, as shown in studies in
chewing surface in short (about half-a-tooth-wide) strokes. NCR and CALABARZON. Three in five have watched Xrated
Brushing too hard can cause receding gums, tooth movies and videos, the fourth highest in the country. Three in ten
sensitivity, and, over time, loose teeth. have sent or received sex videos through cell phones or Internet, the
 To clean the chewing surfaces of your teeth, use short second highest in the country. Six in 100 have engaged in phone
sweeping strokes, tipping the bristles into the pits and sex, higher than the national average.
crevices. Identified Sexual Risks that were found among the growing
 To clean the inside surfaces of your top and bottom front Filipino adolescents are as follows:
teeth and gums, hold the brush almost vertical. With back One in three has sexual experience. They also engage in sex at
and forth motions, bring the front part of the brush over the younger ages: first sex for boys: 17.6 years old while first sex for
teeth and gums. girls: 18.1 years old. One in 50 had sex before age 15 while one in
 The main reason for going to the dentist regularly-every six four had sex before age 18. Seven in 1o of 1st premarital sex cases
months -is prevention. The goal is to prevent tooth decay, are unprotected against unintended pregnancy and sexually-
gum disease, and other disorders that put the health of your transmitted infections (STI) including HIV-AIDS.
teeth and mouth at risk. 1.2% have paid for sex and 13% have received payment for sex,
Healthcare Check for the Female: this is low but above the national average level; 67% have engaged
The best time for a self-breast exam is about a week after the last in casual sex; 4.1% mostly males have fu* buddy (FUBU)
day of your menstrual period, when your breasts are not tender and experience; 6.3% have males having sex with males (MSM)
swollen. This should be done at the same time each month when experience; 2.9% of married youth (including those in live-in) have
you no longer have your menstrual period. engaged in extramarital sex.
Giving birth at younger ages has also been evident in the Filipino 5. Cocaine (also known as Crack, Coke, C, Charlie, Nose candy,
youth. Such that there is a marked increase in teenage fertility in the Toot, Bazooka, Big 5. C, Cake, Lady, Stardust, Coco, Flake,
past decade, 7.1% aged 15-19 are already mothers. The proportion Mister coffee). Cocaine is prepared from coca leaves which are
of women who begun childbearing increases with age: 2.0% aged greenish-yellow leaves of different size and appearance.
16, 31.2% aged 19. Teenage fertility is the lowest among all Cocaine is often called the "champagne of drugs" because of
regions of the country. its high cost. It makes one feel like his/ her body is going very
While prevalence of sexually transmitted infections like HIV and fast. His/her heart races and the "highs" and "lows" are sudden.
AIDS are increasing in the youth, as of 2013, 86.7% have heard of Crack, which is smoked, is a much stronger form of cocaine.
HIV and AIDS with poor understanding being the highest in the Cocaine usually comes in a white powdered form and crack
country noting that three in four think that they would not get looks like hard white rocks. It is usually snorted up the nose. It
AIDS. can also be injected or smoked.
TROUBLE SIGNS among TEENS: 6. Heroine (also known as Hammer, Horse, H, Junk, Nod,
 sexual promiscuity; Smack, Skag, White, beige White lady, White stuff, Joy
 regular use of drugs and alcohol; powder boy, Hairy, Harry, Joy powder). Heroin is a drug
 repeated violation of the law or school regulation; obtained from morphine and comes from the opium poppy
 running away more than once in three months; plant. Heroin is a drug that slows down the user's body and
 skipping school more than once in three months mind. It is a very strong painkiller and can be one of the most
 aggressive outbursts/impulsiveness; dangerous things to mix with other drugs. Heroin usually
 dark drawings or writings; comes in a rock or powdered form, which is generally white or
 deterioration in hygiene; pink/beige in color and could also come in dark grey/medium
 oppositional behavior; brown. Heroin can be injected, snorted, smoked, or inhaled.
 refusal to work/non-compliance; This last method is often called "chasing the dragon".
 chronic lateness; 7. Amphetamines (also known as Speed, Ice, Browns, Footballs,
 falling asleep in class; Hearts, Oranges, Wake ups, Black beauties, Crystal meth,
 changes in physical appearance; and Crack meth, Cat, Jeff amp, Dexies, Rippers, Bennies, Browns,
 Excessive daydreaming. Greenies, Pep pills). Amphetamines are stimulants that affect
HARMFUL PRACTICES a person's system by speeding up the activity of the brain and
Culture and tradition play a significant role in shaping the way giving energy. Ice is a strong type of amphetamine and is very
young people and adolescents behave and lead their lives. similar to crack. Amphetamines are man-made drugs and
However, young people have become victims of some harmful relatively easy to make. Usually, they are white or light brown
traditional practices, which affect their human and reproductive powder and can also come the form of a pill. "Ice" usually
rights. These practices differ from place to place but primarily comes as colourless crystals,or as a colourless liquid when
affect women. Common drugs abused by young people and their used for injecting. It can be swallowed, snorted, injected, or
effects: smoked.
1. Marijuana (also known as Cannabis, Grass, Joint, Splif, 8. Ecstasy (also know as Ecstasy, Adam, Essence, MDM,
Hashish, Pot, Weed). Marijuana is a plant grown and used MDMA, XTC, Eve, MDE, MDEA). Ecstasy belongs to the
worldwide. Usually people smoke the leaves but the leaves and same group of chemicals as the above category that is
the stem can be made into tea, or even cookies. The effects stimulants, and is most often used in the form of tablets at rave
vary. You can stay under the influence for about two or three parties. Ecstasy is a drug that speeds up the users system by
hours. Some people become relaxed and happy while others increasing his/her physical and emotional energy. Like
feel panic or fear. Users' eyes usually become red and their amphetamines, ecstasy is also a synthetic (or man-made) drug.
throats and mouths will become dry. Appetite may increase. Ecstasy is usually a small, coloured tablet. These pills can
2. Mairungi (also known as Khat, Qat, and Mirraa). Mairungi is come in many different colours. Some ecstasy tablers have
the common name for a stimulant leaf that is chewed in much pictures on them, such as doves, rabbits, or champagne bottles.
of East Africa. Chewing Mairungi can help someone feel more The colour or the "brand" of the tablet is usually unrelated to
awake, confident, and energetic and can also reduce hunger. In the effects of the drug. Ecstasy tablets are usually swallowed.
fact, many students use it when "cramming for exams. 9. Inhalants and solvents. Inhalants and solvents are chemicals
3. Alcohol. Alcohol is the most common drug and is used that can be inhaled, such as glue, gasoline, aerosol sprays,
worldwide. Because it is legal, often 3 kept in the home and lighter fluid, etc. These are not drugs as such and are, in fact,
comes in extremely cheap local brews, alcohol is extremely legally available from a large number of shops. However, they
easy to find and consume. At first, alcohol causes relaxation are abused widely by the poorer sections of society,
and people feel less self-conscious. After more alcohol, and particularly street youth. Inhalants can look like almost
individual gets drunk; reaction time slows down and thinking anything (glue, paint thinner, gasoline, lighter fuel, cleaning
straight becomes difficult. (This is why people who are fluids, etc). They usually come in tubes or bottles. Often the
drinking are often involved in car accidents). chemicals placed in the bottom ora cup Or container and then,
4. Cigarettes (tobacco, cigars). Many young people start placed over the nose and mouth. Other methods include:
smoking tobacco produces 18F different reasons including: soaking a rag in inhalant placing the rag in bag or sack and
influence of friends, seductive advertisements, and older role then placing the bag over the laCe, and inhaling the vapors.
models like siblings' or celebrities, to mention a few. Young Tips to Avoid Drugs:
people find smoking a 'cool' thing to do, but they become  You do not need to take drugs to be liked by other people.
addicted to one of the most addictive and dangerous  You do not need to take drugs to feel brave or courageous.
substances, Nicotine, which is an active ingredient in tobacco.  You do not need drugs to cope with sorrow or
Effects: According to WHO (2006), tobacco is the second major disappointments.
cause of death in the world. Nicotine, which is found in tobacco  You have, inside you, the strength and inner resources to
products including cigarettes, is highly addictive. The tar in deal with any situation and any problem.
cigarettes increases a smoker's risk of lung cancer, emphysema, and Whatever problem you are facing, there are peop available to help
bronchial disorders. The carbon monoxide in smoke increases the you. You can talk to a friend, a teacher, a parent, or a trusted person
chance of cardiovascular diseases. Inhaling smoke passively causes at your church or mosque.
lung cancer in adults and greatly increases the risk of respiratory
illness in children.
 WELL-BEING
- the ultimate goal of understanding the psychosocial aspects of our
experiences
- a state of satisfaction, meaning, and purpose. There are two sides
to well-being;
Unit III: PSYCHOSOCIAL IN GENDER AND SEXUALITY OBJECTIVE WELL-BEING
 Gender And Sexuality As Psychosocial Issue - is that kind of well-being which is observed, outward, and can be
 Love, Intimacy, And Relationship evaluated through the presence or absence to particular elements in
 Sex And Senses our environment.
 Sexual Behaviors SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING
 LGBT Psychology  - is our personal experience of satisfaction, meaning, and
 Men Masculinities purpose. It is subjective because it pertains to our own
appreciation of how well we are. In a common term, the closes
UNIT III word to also mean subjective well- being is happiness.
PSYCHOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE IN Dimensions of Well-being
GENDER AND SEXUALITY Based on what well-being means, we can see that there are various
GENDER AND SEXUALITY AS A PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUE dimensions into The following are just the primary dimensions of
PSYCHOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE well-being which we must look into when trying to understand the
- This perspective of exploring and understanding human sexuality psychosocial condition of a person:
in the in the lens of psychological social processes. Physical - physical/biological health;
PSYCHOSOCIAL Emotional - positive feelings; mood stability;
- is an encompassing term. It is comprised by two primary aspects: Mental - clarity of mind; healthy thought process
psychological and social. There are myriad of ways in defining Material - available and adequate financial and other resources;
these two terms but in essence psychological pertains to anything Social - healthy and positive interaction and relationship with
associated with mental process and behavior, while social pertains others.
to anything associated with human relationships, connection, and LOVE, INTIMACY, AND RELATIONSHIP
interaction. Introduction
The psychological aspect of gender and sexuality anchors itself on In February 15, 2015, an article featuring a study by McCann
the field of psychology. World Group, among 30,000 respondents from 29 countries, came
PSYCHOLOGY is a field of science which concerns itself with out of a national newspaper, bannering the title Filipinos most
how people think and feel and how thoughts and feelings interact expressive about love among Asia Pacific countries-study" (Hegina
and lead to behavior. There are three primary psychological 2015). The article presented an interesting result: The Filipinos say
domains: affect, behavior, and cognition. Affect or the affective "I love you" approximately 17 times in a week, making us sixth
domain pertains to people's emotions and feelings. Behavior or the among the countries in the survey, which are most articulate and
behavioral domain pertains to peoples actions-both observable expressive.
(overt) or not readily observable (covert). Cognition or cognitive Robert Sternberg, a psychologist renowned for his theory of love
domain pertains to people's thought processes such as memory, asked, in his 1986 paper: "What does it mean "to love" someone?
perception, and information-processing. Does it always mean the same thing, and if not, in what ways do
On the other hand, the social aspect of gender and sexuality loves differ from each other?" In this chapter, we will tackle,
primarily anchors itself on the field of sociology and allied fields perhaps, one of the most complex and celebrated human emotion
such as social psychology. and experience: LOVE.
SOCIOLOGY is a field of science which concerns itself with the LOVE AS A HUMAN EXPERIENCE
human personas realities and experiences as part of groups and Love is a human experience differently defined and conceptualized.
institutions, including the structures and functions of these LOVE AS A CULTURE UNIVERSAL
institutions, and the dynamics of human relationships within them. Love is constructed as a culture universal. A culture universal is a
Understanding the Psychosocial Dimension phenomenon experienced similarly by people across time and
There are many ways through which the psychosocial dimension of cultures. This means that humans, whether those who lived in the
gender and sexuality can be understood and explained. Our past or who are living now and regardless of their geographic
experience of gender and sexuality is generally a relational location and socio-cultural identities, have experienced love, in one
experience. It is relational because while as individuals, we have way or another. Said differently, love is an experience that
our own affect, cognition and behavior to be aware of, we are also transcends time and culture. People before us, such as our
viewing ourselves in relation to others who also have their own grandparents, parents, and other adolescents like us who live in
personal preoccupations. There are some elements of our gendered other countries, are believed to know and encounter love as we do,
self which are best viewed in an ecological context-that is, in the The way we appreciate and experience this phenomenon may be
circumstances in our physical and social environment. unique, but it is a similar phenomenon altogether.
AWARENESS LOVE AS A SOCIAL PHENOMENON
- awareness is our conscious understanding of something. Likewise, love is viewed as a social phenomenon. Social
INTIMACY AND RELATIONSHIP phenomena are events or experiences which ensue within our
HUMAN RELATIONSHIP - a bond formed between two or more interaction and relationship with other people Iodine entails
people, manifested through communication and interaction. These communication-the process of giving and receiving information he
relationships may be in the form of family, friendships, romantic living information between and among people. It also entails the
relationship, or others. While in these relationships, we share use of a language-symbols that are culturally agreed upon as
resources and emotions, we, as individuals, constantly aim to possessing certain meanings and that are used by people to express
further understand our own selves as we also try to understand certain realities and world views.
others and be understood by them. This process of knowing others LOVE AS AN EMOTION
and allowing others to know us is intimacy. Love is also construed as an emotion. Emotions are physiological
The process by which we learn cultural norms and traditions is responses that we evaluate psychologically as we experience
referred to as socialization. particular life events. There are basic emotions such as joy, sadness,
WELL-BEING AS A PSYCHOSOCIAL GOAL fear, disgust, and anger among others. There are also complex
emotions, which are a combination of basic emotions in varying
magnitudes and are made intricate by circumstances surrounding Commitment - pertains to the agency component that is the choice
the experience (e.g., the people involved, the place and time where we make with regards to engaging and maintaining the loving
the emotion is experienced, etc.). Love, as we know it, is a complex relationship.
emotion. The combination of these dimensions yields a particular love type.
LOVE AS A NEUROBIOLOGICAL EVENT For instance, when there is only passion but no other components,
With recent advancements in science, love, now, can be studied as infatuation is termed. When there is only intimacy but no other
a neurobiological event. Every split of second, information is being components, there is liking. When there is only commitment, there
passed on within our nervous system-a conglomerate of organs is empty love. However, when there is passion and intimacy, there
(including our brain, our spinal cord, and our nerves, among others) is romantic love. When there is passion and commitment, there is
responsible for our ability to process and transmit essential ludic love. When there is intimacy and commitment, there is
information among the many organs in our body. The information friendly love. When all three components are presents, then we can
comes in the form of electrical signal running along our neurons say that consummate love exists.
(nerve cel), which movement is facilitated by our ROMANTIC AND COMPANIONATE LOVE
neurotransmitters-a variety of chemicals found in our nervous Hatfield and Rapson (1978, 1993), on the other hand, suggests
system. that there are two general types of love: romantic love and
Neurobiological, the experience of love is associated with various companionate love.
parts of our brain. For instance, the loving experience is commonly Romantic love - is characterized by intense passion - a state of
associated with the activation of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) intense longing for union with your partner
of our brain which is just right behind our left eyes. It is also Companionate love - is characterized by intense intimac y-
associated with the increased amount in endorphins-hormones emotional closeness - which is also characteristic of liking.
believed to provide humans a good mood. LOVE LANGUAGES
THEORIZING LOVE Gary Chapman, a world-renown author, suggested that people
Since love is a rather complex idea, which can be described, hiave various ways through which we give and receive love. He
defined and experienced in myriad of ways, several theories and referred to these unique ways :2s love languages. Chapman (1995)
frameworks offer diverse perspectives on how it can be understood posited that there are generally five love languages; namely, words
and explained. of affirmation, touch, time, gifts, and acts of service.
PSYCHODYNAMIC VIEW ON LOVE Words of affirmation tend to verbally express their thoughts and
Psychodynamic theory is a collective term, which pertains to the feelings of love towards the people they love. T
psychoanalytic tradition forwarded by Sigmund Freud (a Viennese Touch - express love non-verbally through hugs, kisses, or, simply,
neurologist), as well as the succeeding theories that support, a tap on the back. They value proximity (nearness) and yearns for
redefine, or refute his propositions. physical contact (not necessarily sexual in nature) with their
In a nutshell, the psychodynamic theory posits that we have desires partners.
and motives fueled by our life (eros) and death (thanatos) Time tend to value quality moments with their loved ones. They
instincts. For instance, desirable behaviors that promote positive are much willing to create memories with the people they love.
relationship with others might be viewed as influenced by our life Gifts - want to show and receive affection through material objects,
instincts, while aggressive behaviors that hurt, manipulate, or harm especially during special occasions.
ourselves and others might be viewed as influenced by our death Act of service - are much willing to serve the other person by
instincts. Both the life and death instincts are thought to stream helping her or him in things that they do.
from our unconscious-the province of our mind, which we are LOVE AND INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS
highly unaware of. Likewise, the psychodynamic view puts prime Love, although well-studied and variedly-theorized, remains
on the influence to our early life experiences (from conception to abstract and obscure unless viewed in the context of human
around six years old)-referred to as formative years-in our relationship. The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, has been widely
personality development. Crucial to this life stage is our quoted as referring to humans as social animals. This means that we
relationship with our primary caregiver-typically the mother. It survive, thrive, and flourish when we are together such that relating
suggests that the kind of attachment (psychic bond) we have with to other humans is not only a sentimental, but also an evolutionary
our primary caregiver/s, influence our relationships in later life, and a practical process.
including our choice of romantic partners and the way we relate and Social connection is necessary for our growth as individuals. In
operate within this partnership. certain cases, it also serves as a foundation for family life, which
Hence, from a psychodynamic view, love can be seen as a then provides us humans a venue for nurturance and care and as a
manifestation of our eros and the placement of our libido (life platform where we can develop to our greatest potentials. In other
energy) unto an object (a thing or a person towards who we transfer cases, it enables us to secure our social position and provides us
our psychic energies to ease pain or achieve pleasure). human resources to implement our goals for ourselves and for the
COLOR WHEEL OF LOVE greater community.
John Alan Lee (1973), a Canadian psychologist, suggested that In his analysis of close human relationships, George Levinger
there are different types of love. The primary types are: Eros (1982) postulated that there are stages that intimate relationships go
(sexual and romantic), philia (friendly), and storage (parental/ilial through: (1) acquaintance, (2) buildup, (3) continuation or
love). The secondary types are: pragma (practical love), agape consolidation, (4) deterioration or decline, and (6) ending or
(universal love), and philautia (self love). It is possible for us to termination, simply, the ABCDE of intimate relationships.
experience not just one, but two or more of these types of love in ACQUAINTANCE
our lifetime. A child who loves her parents (storage) might Intimate human relationships start in acquaintanceship. We meet up
eventually find new friends whom to like once they go to school through Circumstances and horst learn about basic information
(philia) and then experience romantic love (eros) especially during about one another. Crucial at this Stage is attraction. Attraction can
her youth. take place in an enabling environment. It can happen when there is
TRIANGULAR MODEL OF LOVE propinquity or proximity-when we are physically closer to one
One of the most popular theories of love is the triangular model by another.
Sternberg (1986), a psychologist. According to Sternberg 1986), BUILDUP
1ove has three interlocking dimensions - passion, intimacy, and Some acquaintanceships build up into deeper relationships.
commitment. Frequency to interaction increases. Kinds of activities shared
Passion - refers to the physical/emotional aspect. become diverse. The involved parties begin to introduce one
Intimacy - pertains to the psychological/relational aspect. another to each other’s friends and families, thus, making the social
network larger and interconnected. This is the stage when two advantages and disadvantages of your choice: shall you fight the
persons test their boundaries. They test the waters before engaging snake or fly away from the scene.
fully and so committedly in the relationship. In all three basic emotional response, there is a requirement: We
CONSOLIDATION AND CONTINUATION should be able to sense the environment, organize the stimuli we
the third stage of intimate relationship is consolidation. This stage receive, and interpret these stimuli, so we can make a choice and
is when people commits to a long-term relationship with one corresponding action. We will not be able to arrive at the behavior
another, either through a personal agreement (ie, exclusivity of if not through our senses. This makes our sensorium a necessary
partnership, domestic partnership) or a social-legal agreement (i.e., component to the emotional response arc.
marriage). SENSES AND SEXUALITY
DECLINE OR DETERIORATION Having provided an overview on how human affect, the sensorium,
Unfortunately, some intimate partnerships are unable to sustain and and the brain's limbic system coordinate, we are now ready to
maintain their commitments or attraction. For one, there may be a discuss how the various senses play in the human sexual response.
change in priorities between the individual couple, such that the Visual Experience
conjoint value of the partnership is not anymore sufficient. There Humans are predominantly visual. Our societies highly rely on
may be infidelity-the breech of loyalty and promises as agreed upon visual culture to co- create meaning and convey information. For
by both individuals (e.g, presence of a third-party, extra-marital instance, our language has a visual component, as observed from
affairs). Or, in other, there may be irreconcilable differences-which our writing systems. Walking down the streets, you will see a lot ot
are already harming each individual and the partnership as a whole. signs which directs you what to do or not do. You will see
SEX AND SENSES signage’s placed on business establishments to tell you where to
Introduction buy your groceries, ask for medical help, or go to school. These
When we were children, we were taught that there are five bodily only show that visual culture is an essential element of our society.
organs, which corresponds to our primary senses that we use to It is only appropriate to utilize these visual cues since visual
explore and experience the world around us. Our eyes enable our memory is deemed superior to other forms (Cohen et. al 2008). It is
sense of sight (visual), so that we are able to see visual stimuli assumed that, at the average, when realities are presented visually,
(color, size, shape) in the environment. Our nose enables sense of we tend to remember them and easily retrieve them from our
smell (olfaction), so that we are able to experience scent. Our ears memory.
allow us sense of hearing (audition), so that we are able to In the context of human sexuality, some studies have explored
experience sounds of varying tones, pitches, and volume. Our gender differences in visual stimuli and sexual arousal. For
tongue is covered with taste buds that allow us sense of taste instance, the study of Rupp and Wallen (2007) found that men
(gustation), so that we are able to experience the taste (eg. saltness, respond more to visual sexual stimuli and tend to be influenced by
sweetness, bitterness, etc) of our food and other objects we put in the sex of the actors in a sexual scenario. This means that when
our mouth. Then, we have sensory reception in our skin, muscles confronted by an intimate interaction, men would tend to be rather
and joints which allow us the sense of touch/feeling so that we are influenced by visual cues, e.g, how the other person looks
able to have tactile experiences, e.g, heat or its absence, various physically or what the other person is wearing. In the same study,
texture, various physical pressure. on the other hand, women were found to be more influenced by
These five senses comprise our sensorium-the totality of aur context, although they, too, are responsive to the sexual content of a
sensory experiences and perception. While we receive information visual stimuli. This means that when confronted by an intimate
from our environment through the senses, our brain has the ability interaction, women tend to be rather influenced by the nature of
to organize and interpret these numerous stimuli into meaningful relationship they have with another person, e.g, is the other person
ideas that are useful for our choices (behavior). someone they know and can trust.
HUMANAFFECT AND THE SENSES Other studies explored how heterosexual men and women would
Interestingly, while human beings are hailed as rational beings who res pond to female- filmed and male-filmed videos (Lann 1994) and
are constancy making choices and are behaving through a set of to female-chosen and male-chosen videos (Peterson and Janssen
rational choices made from higher order thinking (eg., evaluating, 2007). These studies established that either gender respond more
judging), it is hypothesized that our affect (emotions and feelings) intensely on materials filmed and chosen by people of similar
actually play a major role in our behaviors. gender.
Affective Primacy Hypothesis (Zajonc 198o) postulates that in What can we glean from these studies? Women and men differ in
many cases, cognitive processing (ie., higher order thinking) plays strategies of viewing sexual stimuli. Women tend to pay more
a lesser role compared to our emotional responses in eliciting attention to contextual and nonsexual cues than men (Lann and
behavior. By virtue of this hypothesis, by default, our emotions take Everaerd 1995), and thus are putting prime on subjective valuing of
precedent primarily because these are only processed and circumstances.
modulated by the limbic system-the emotional part of our brain Olfactory Experience
which is more primitive compared to the ones responsible for Olfaction in non-human animals, which are believed to be
higher order thinking (e.g, neocortex). microsmatic organism, or organisms having greater sense of smell,
This is where the sensorium and the human affect meets. Here it have been an interest among psychologists since the 1950s.
will help us to think of a particular case: Imagine walking in the Conversely, humans and apes are generally believed to be
woods with your friends when all of a sudden, a venomous snake microsmatic (lesser levels of olfaction) compared to their non-ape
drops down in front of you. How will you respond to the situation? counterparts. However, recent studies in the field of human
As part of our mechanisms for evolution, humans like us have three sexuality show that while we humans have limited olfaction, sense
primary emotional responses: fight, flight, or freeze. A fight of smell may play an important part in our sexual response.
response is when we face adverse or dangerous stimuli squarely. For instance, in a study by Muscarella, Arantes, and Koncsol (201)
This would mean grabbing the nearest solid object in the explored on th preferred scent among heterosexual and homosexual
environment and throwing it to the snake to "shooo" the snake males and females. The study found that heterosexual al females
away. A flight response is when we move away from the adverse or who participated in their study tend to like wearing floral-sweet b
dangerous stimuli. This would mean running away from the place want musky-spicy scent to be worn by their partners. Heterosexual
finding a new route where the snake cannot find you. A freeze males and homosexual females in their study preferred wearing
response, on the other hand, is when you are startled and are unable musky-spicy scent and liked their partners to wear. Floral-sweet
to make choice, thus, are unable to move. Sometimes, the freeze scent. On other hand, homosexual males who joined the study
response can also be used to buy time so you can calculate the wanted musky. Spicy for themselves and their partner.
Scientists have tried to explain how human olfaction influence receive tactile stimulation to and from others through holding,
sexuality. They identified through possibilities: first, through what hugging, and other forms of physical connections.
is referred to as signature odor (the unique way that each individual Auditory Experience
smells) which is associated with the Major Histocompatibility Social interactions are not only visual, but are also auditory
Complex,, set ot proteins signaling our immune system the processes. Our union language often have a verbal counterpart to
presence of foreign substances, and second through what is referred the written language. In fact, historically, much of our culture are
to as pheromones, substances putatively excreted by our glands passed on through oral traditions, even before the writing system
which signals mood. And affects social behaviors. was developed.
One of the famous studies about MHCs is the "sweaty T-shirt Sexual activities are also a verbal communication process. Sounds
experiment"| (Wedekind and Füri 1997: Wedekind et al. 1995). In give additional context to sexual situations. For instance, in sexual
these experiments, it was found that individuals tend to be attracted interactions, couples may give verbal erotic encourage words that
to other people with a different set of MHC genes. triggers sexual response or verbal expression of affection words
Humans' interest in pheromones, on the other hand, has been that manifests feelings (eg, I love you, I miss you). A survey of
present since the early 1930s when an entomologist Bethe (932) popular music will show that love and sex are among the common
suggested that there are hormones emitted outwards the body. themes of songs nowadays. This only emphasize the value of sound
These are called ectohormones. In a few decades, the term was in human sexuality.
replaced with the word pheromones, and eventually, the concept SEXUAL BEHAVIORS
was generalized to be true also to mammals. In the 1970s for Introduction
instance, the McClintock efect (1971) or menstrual synchrony--the In earlier discussions, we mentioned that psychology has three
observation that females in the same dormitory usually would have primary components: affect (emotions and feelings), cognition
their menstruation at nearly the same time-was thought to be due to (thought process) and behavior (actions). Hence, when used as a
pheromones. This culminated in the 1980s when the presence of a framework in understanding human sexuality, it is only appropriate
human pheromone was hypothesized (Cutler and Preti 1986) to explore the diversity of behaviors relevant to our understanding
What do scientists think human pheromones do? First, it is thought of human sexuality. What is behavior? In simpler terms, it refers to
to act as attractant s (of the opposite sex), repellants (of the same actions. These are things that we do, both overt or observable and
sex), stabilizer of mother-infant bond, and modulators of menstrual covert or not readily observable by the naked eye. On a daily basis,
cycle (Cutler 1999). Some chemicals thought to be human we act because of a motivation-something that drives us to do
hormones are: (1) androstadienone (AND), a testosterone-like something. Some psychologists believe that we behave as a
substance found in male sweat, saliva, and urine; (2) estratetraenol response to stimuli. Others believe that we do things because we
(EST), an estrogen-like found in female urine, and (3) 1-pyrroline, want to achieve pleasure or avoid pain. Some think it is because we
a substance found in human semen, pubic sweat, and smegma. want to achieve a goal towards the fulfillment of our own potentials
However, there are those who dispute the presence of human and aspirations as a human in search for meaning.
pheromones because modern studies could not replicate what has What is interesting about behavior is it is readily measurable as
been believed to be the effect of putative pheromones on social opposed to feelings and thoughts. You can look at its frequency-
behaviors (Wessel 2017). Hence, it is an interesting area of research how many times an action is done in a span of time. You can also
really explore if, pheromones truly exist as they are believed to be. check on the duration-how long does an action take place, say, in
Tactile Experiences seconds, minutes or hours. A behavior has an intensity-the
Touch is observed to be an element of intimacy. Our body is magnitude by which it is done: Is it forceful? Is it weak? Then there
covered in skin, often referred to as the largest bodily organ. Our is diversity-what are the varieties of a similar behavior done in
skin totally accounts for 16 to 20% of our body weight. It is a various context or what are the different behaviors we are capable
sensitive organ as every square inch of it houses more than a of depending on our physical characteristics.
thousand nerve endings. Hence, in social interactions, particularly SEXUAL BEHAVIORS
intimate ones, touch holds meaning. There are only people who we Sexual behaviors are actions that humans agree to interpret as an
allow to touch us. There are only parts of our bodies we allow expression ot ther sexual motivations or intentions. It is important
people to touch. Touching. just like any other behavior, may also be to remember that behaviors are given meaning by people. For
governed by social norms. instance, while hugging and kissing maybe considered sexual in
As a sensation, touch has some elements. Tactile element pertains nature, this is not always the case because the context of the
to the experience relative to the object being felt: Is it rough? Is it behavior matters.
smooth? Is the surface hard or soft? Then there is thermal element: Sexual behaviors are generally erotic behaviors such that they
Is it warm or cold? Finally, there is vibrational element: Is the involve any of the primary or secondary erotic zones. Earlier we
pressure to the touch strong or weak? Is the sensation moving and mentioned that body parts such as face, neck, genitalia, and chest,
pulsating or steady and stationary? among others, are erogenous zones.
Different parts of the human body also have different threshold of Sexual behaviors can be typed according to the aim of the behavior.
tactile experience. Areas such as the mouth, anus, genitals, and For instance, sexual behavior such as masturbation or the
nipples are referred to as primary erogenous zones-as they are very stimulation of one's own genitals can be considered as auto-erotic
sensitive to touch. The back, cheek, neck, and buttocks are (self-directed). Erotic motivations can also be directed to other
secondary erogenous zones-as they are also sensitive to touch, but people of the same-sex or of the opposite sex. Homoerotic
only supportive of the primary zones in eliciting response. Often, behaviors are sexual behaviors oriented to the same sex. On the
these erogenous zones are areas of the body involved in the other hand, heteroerotic behaviors are used to refer to sexual
reproductive and sexual act. behaviors oriented to the other sex.
Human touch is essential in social bonds. Often, we only give For reproductive purposes, copulation or the insertion of the penis
people we trust the right to have tactile contact with us. It is always to the vagina 1s necessary: Humans can assume two positions in
a consensual act to touch and be touched. When we touch, our body this process. More common is the ventral- ventral position (ventris
produces a hormone called oxytocin-it is referred to as the love abdomen), wherein the male and the female species are facing each
hormone because it is believed to influence tribal behaviors and other. Alternatively, a ventral-dorsal position (dorsum: back), may
maternal bonding. Oxytocin is observed to be produced in vast be assumed wherein the abdomen of the male species is facing the
amounts during nipple stimulation, such as for instance when a dorsum of the female species, such that insertion of the penis to the
mother suckles her newly-born. vagina is from behind.
In intimate relationships, touch is suggested to be one of the love However, sexual behaviors do not only refer to copulation-the
languages. A person whose love language is touch tend to give and insertion of the penis to the vaginal orifice. They also include an
array of non-copulatory sexual behaviors such as hugging, kissing, Some people experience difficulty or problems in some of the
caressing. There are also sexual behaviors that involve oral sexual phases. The following are the common sexual response
stimulation of the genitals such as fellatio (oral stimulation of the dysfunctions:
penis) or cunnilingus (oral stimulation of the vagina). Then, there sexual desire disorder - when an individual has low levels of
are also sexual behaviors involving stimulation or penetration of the desire or has an aversion to sexual activities;
anal orifice (anal sex). sexual arousal disorder- when an individual has problems in
SEXUAL RESPONSE CYCLE achieving necessary physiological state for copulation (e.g, erectile
For heterosexual couples, one of the ultimate goals of the sexual act dysfunction in males);
is reproduction. This is made possible through the fertilization of orgasmic disorder - when an individual has problems in achieving
the ovum by a sperm, which necessitates ejaculation (release of the orgasm (eg premature ejaculation among males; male and female
sperm) from the human male into the internal reproductive system orgasmic disorders); and
of the human female. Before this ultimate process, both the human sexual pain disorders- when there is an experience of pain during
male and female undergoes a sequence of bodily changes which the sexual response cycle (eg painful erection or dyspareunia, and
prepare them for the sexual climax. This sequence of changes is vaginal spasms or vaginismus).
referred to as the sexual response cycle. The origins of sexual dysfunction disorders are varied. It can be
Master and Johnson's Model. organic (problem with the anatomy and physiology of the
Masters and Johnson (1966, 1970) proposed that the following are reproductive organ). It can also be psychosomatic (a psychological
four phases in the cycle: concern which manifests physically). Hence, there are also a gamut
Excitement. The Excitement phase is the first phase in the cycle: of interventions that are either biomedical (e.g, surgery,
For the human male, goal of this phase is erection or tumescence medication) or psychosocial (e.g, psychotherapy, education, marital
(the elongation and stiffening of the penis) so that it can be or couple's counseling).
efficiently inserted into the vagina. At this phase, the testes and PARAPHILIAS
serotum start to elevate and some parts of the skin (e.g, in the breast While there are typical sexual behaviors among humans, there are
and chest) reddens-a phenomenon referred to as a sex flush. For the also those behaving that are relatively a typical. They are atypical
human female, the goal of this phase is lubrication (wetness of the due to any of the following reasons: (1) they are not prevalent, (2)
vaginal orifice to facilitate insertion of the penis). Lubrication is they are dangerous to self and to others, (3) they are bizarre and
made possible by vaginal vasocongestion. At this phase, there is socially acceptable, and (4) they are distressing either to the doer or
swelling of the glans clitoris and the labia minora, and there are sex to other people involved in the act.
flushes in breasts and chest. In both male and female humans, heart Among these atypical sexual behavioral variations, which is also
rate increases during the excitement phase. considered by the APA as a disorder, is paraphilia. Paraphilia is
Plateau. The Excitement phase is followed by the Plataeu phase. when an individual gets sexually aroused by an object, a person, or
This phase is characterized by a sustained peak in stimulation of the a circumstance that are unusual (e.g, pain-inflicting, nominating
organs. In the human male, the corona and glans penis become non-consenting persons). A paraphilia disorder is when the urge or
enlarged and reddish. Internally, the Cowpers glands release a act lasts for at least six months and is a manifestation of clinically
lubricating fluid and the testes and the scrotum are totally elevated. significant distress.
In the human female the outer vagina swells while the inner vagina Some of the common paraphilia disorders are as follows:
expands and becomes elongated creating the orgasmic platform exhibitionism - pleasure from exposing one's genitals to no
(tenting). consenting people;
Orgasm. The Orgasm phase is the climax of the sexual response fetishism - arousal from non-living objects (e-g, shoes, socks, body
cycle. It is a stage of release wherein the human male achieves parts);
ejaculation and the human female is ready to receive the sperm for frotteurism - touching or rubbing one's body or genitals to no
possible fertilization. In the human male, ejaculation is made consenting people;
possible by the contraction of the vas deference, seminal vesicles, pedophilia -arousal from children (prepubescent);
and urethra, followed by the contraction of the rectal sphincter. In sexual masochism - arousal from actual suffering or humiliation;
the human female, the vagina, uterus, and anal sphincter also sexual sadism - arousal from actually inflicting pain to others;
contract. transvestic fetishism - (for heterosexual males only) arousal from
Resolution. In the Resolution phase, the male penis return to its wearing clothing by the opposite sex during sexual activities; and
normal unelected phase, whereas the testes and the scrotum voyeurism - observing other people engaged in sexual activities.
descend. In the human female, the outer and inner reproductive Note: For a paraphilia to be considered a paraphilia disorder,
organs also relax. diagnosis has to be made. Only trained psychologists or medical
Kaplan's Model. Unlike Master and Johnson's model, Kaplans doctors can make such clinical judgments after lengthy and
model (1979) sees the sexual response cycle as having relatively comprehensive assessment.
independent stages. The three phases of this model include: (1) STEREOTYPE, PREJUDICES AND DISCRIMINATION
Desire, (2) Arousal, and (3) Orgasm. Introduction
Desire. Desire is the psychological component of the sexual There are 7.7 billion people across 195 countries and every race has
response. It involves sexual thoughts and feelings, which are their own belief systems, religion, culture, and tradition. Yet, each
necessary for a satisfying sexual experience. However, desire does individual is a unique mix of their own. That is why appreciating
not necessarily translate into action. diversity is very important to fully understand the human
Arousal. Arousal phase is the phase where the Excitement and experience and for us to coexist peacefully.
Plateau (as defined by Masters and Johnson) take place. It is the However, understanding diversity requires us to broaden our
physiological component of the sexual response, wherein bodily appreciation of the many facets of the human race and recognize
changes occur as an outcome of sexual stimulation. Just like Desire, that we have our own stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination
Arousal may not necessarily translate into Orgasm. too.
Orgasm. Orgasm in Kaplan's model is generally similar with that Stereotypes
of the Masters and Johnson model, except that this phase also Stereotypes are an "over-generalized belief about a particular group
include the Resolution phase. In Kaplan's model, Orgasm is the or class of people" (Cardwell 1996). It can be helpful in simplifying
completion of the sexual response. things, after all, there 77 billion people in the planet. When we meet
SEXUAL RESPONSED FUNCTIONS someone for the first time, we associate with them certain
characteristics and abilities that we usually base on the group they rights." This declaration was drafted by member countries of the
belong to. United Nations, including the Philippines, in 1948. This
While some stereotypes convey positive examples (like a student monumental document outlines the fundamental rights of every
from lvy League schools would be stereotyped as very intelligent or human being that should be protected by everyone at all times.
matalino, or Filipinos being known for Our hospitality), most Its preamble recognizes that the "inherent dignity and of the equal
stereotypes, however, are drawn from negative generalizations like and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the
equating our Muslim countrymen as terrorists and viewing farmers foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world."
and blue-collar workers as lazy and less educated. While discriminatory traditions, policies, ideas, practices, and laws
It reflects our expectations and beliefs and is largely based on the exist many countries, many have shifted towards making
social circle we belong to as we try to conform or agree to the opportunities and privileges accessible to everyone. In many
standard way of thought. However, these stereotypes change countries, people of the same sex can now get married and create
through time depending on social and political conditions. their own families while enjoying the same rights as straight
A stereotype can be categorized as "explicit", meaning the person is couples. In the Philippines, all establishments are now required by
aware that they have these thoughts towards a group of people and law to have an access ramp for people with disabilities.
they can say it out loud. It can also be implicit" wherein a person Appreciating diversity of the human race is key to making a safer
does not know if they have these stereotypes since it lies in their and more inclusive environment for everyone, regardless of race,
subconscious. When the stereotype is explicit, a person can choose sex, religion, sexuality, gender, or creed.
not to turn their stereotypes into actions. While with an implicit LGBT PSYCHOLOGY
stereotype, a person has no control or awareness of it, and it may Introduction
manifest into actions or behavior. Labels are so powerful it can be used to discriminate and oppress
Prejudice is an "unjustified or incorrect attitude (usually negative) people. Like how the German Nazi's used the word Aryan race' to
towards an individual based solely on the individual's membership mean superior and Jews' and 'homosexual to justify their mass
of a social group" (McLeod 2008). Prejudice represents our murder of what they called as 'inferior race.
emotional response upon learning of a persons' membership to a However, labels can also empower people to claim their space in
specific group (like age, skin color, race, disability, generation, our society, especially in the political sphere. Language can be used
nationality, religion, sex, sexual expression, gender expression, and to avoid offense or disadvantage to certain groups of people like
so on). using "persons with disabilities" instead of disabled, African
This negative attitude (prejudice) can be dangerous since it often American instead of 'blacks', and LGBT instead of homosexuals."
leads to negative actions and behaviors. For example, a sexist Views on LGBT in History
person is someone who has negative attitude towards the other sex Sexual and emotional attraction towards the same sex has been
and sees them as the lesser sex. This negative attitude could recorded throughout history of mankind. In China 600 BCE, they
manifest into action such as bullying, discrimination, or violence. used the terms 'pleasures of the bitten peach and 'brokeback'. In
Discrimination Japan, they have 'shudo' or 'nanshoku'. 'Kathoey' is used in Thailand
Discrimination refers to actions or behaviors towards an individual to refer to lady boys. In the Philippines we have the 'babaylan' and
or a group of people. According to the United Nations, the 'catalonan' who were mostly women priests, but some are males
discriminatory behaviors take many forms, but they all involve who lived their lives as women.
some term of exclusion or rejection". Society's attitude towards homosexuality and other gender variants
People who are discriminated on are treated worse than the way change through history. In ancient Greek, all mates are expected to
people are usually treated just because they belong to a certain take on a younger male lover in a practice called pederasty. Some
group or they have certain characteristics. Here are a few examples societies, like the indigenous Native Americans, accepted and
of discrimination: celebrated what they called 'two-spirited' person in a dance to the
 Genocide is the action of recognizing someone as different so 'Berdache.
much that they are treated inhumanly and degraded. However, later cultures see it as a "sin following the Abrahamic
 Apartheid (means separateness) is a form of racial Religion which branded it as sodomy, a crime against nature. As
discrimination wherein one race is viewed as less than the these cultures colonized other countries, it enforced its belief
other, resulting in the separation of black and whites and the systems of viewing same sex attractions as a sin through violence
mass murder of Jews in concentration camps. such as killing homosexuals through burning, stoning, or being fed
 Gender discrimination is another common form of to the dogs.
discrimination. Statistically, women earn less than men and are Homosexuality was classified as an illness in the 19th century as a
often relegated to be solely responsible for child-rearing and basis for them to legally persecute homosexuals, imprison, and
house chores,. Men, on the other hand, are discriminated in commit them to a mental institution. An example of this percussion
household responsibilities such that they are perceived as less is that of Alan Turing, the father of modern computing, who was
manly when they do their share of house chores or when they prosecuted in 1952 for homosexual acts. He was sentenced with
become stay at home husbands. chemical castration treatment, and he later died through cyanide
 LGBT discrimination happens when LGBT people are treated poisoning.
as lesser than straight people. Discrimination happens early in As science advanced through years of extensive research, the APA
their childhood as they get bullied when they act differently or removed homosexuality as a psychiatric disorder or a sickness in
dress differently than other kids. During adolescence, they get 1973. This decision was after many years of struggle trom the gay
judged, bullied, or physically assaulted as they explore and and lesbian liberation movement. APA finally declared that being
express their sexuality. attracted to people of the same sex is a natural variation of the
Restricting opportunities or privileges that may be available to human experience, and it does not make anyone any less of a
other groups is discrimination, like the right to vote in national healthy and functioning human being. Now that society is more
elections. In the Philippines, women only gained the right to vote in accepting towards the LGBT, new terms and labels have been used
1937 and before that, Filipino women had no legal rights even to to cater to everyone.
own properties. That form of institutional discrimination was based The ABC's of the LGBTQIA+
on illogical or irrational judgement that women are weaker than In an effort towards visibility and inclusion, a few letters were
men. added to the LGBT. The term "homosexual" sounded too clinical
FREEDOM AND EQUALITY and it no longer adequately represents the diversity within the
Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) LGBT community. These labels are changing, some you may be
states that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and
familiar with, but others may be very new to you, so let us try to their life expressing a gender that is different from their biological
explain it as simple as we can. sex.
Lesbian - Women who are emotionally and sexually attracted to This gender nonconformity or gender crossings were celebrated by
women. the Native Americans through the "berdache" or the two-spirited
Gay - men who are emotionally and sexually attracted to men. people. We also have our own "babaylan" or 'catalonan",
Bisexual - man or woman who are emotionally and sexually precolonial priests who are mostly females but some are males who
attracted to men or women. lived their lives as female priests.
Transgender - when your gender identity (how you feel) is The word transgender is also used as an umbrella term, this means
different from your physical sex (male/female). Queer used by that there are to refer many identities under this term. 1raISsexuais,
people who celebrate all gender identities, can also mean someone For example, is often used in the medical field to people whose
who do not want to be restricted as Lesbian, Gay, or Bi. gender identity is different from their biological sex and they may
Intersex-people who were born with sex genitals or chromosome change their body, so it resembles how they feel about their gender
patterns that do not fit the typical male or female body. identity. A biologically male person may feel like she is a woman
Asexual Ally - asexual are people who do not tee but it does not since she was just a child and in adulthood, she may choose to have
mean that they do not engage in or Allies are straight or a "hormonal replacement therapy or sex reassignment surgery'".
heterosexual people who are fight Medical advancements have helped transgender people live a full
Plus+- the plus sign refers to all sexualities that do not fit in the life; however, it can be a long, want difficult, and expensive
LGBTQ who do not feel sexual attraction to anyone, O engage in process.
romantic or sexual relationships sexual people who are fighting for Other sexualities under the transgender umbrella term includes:
LGBT rights. Spectrum. FTM-female to male, a person whose biological sex is female and
Knowledge on the human sexuality is still evolving so there many has transitioned to living his life as a male;
terms tae PoPo P Here are a few more to help us become more MTF - male to female, a person whose biological sex is male and
inclusive: has transitioned to living her life as a female;
 Androgynous - people whose gender expression (their Crossdressing - some people want to dress as the opposite gender
physical appearance may or may not be distinctly male or from time to time, however, unlike the transsexual, they are
female. comfortable identifying with their biological sex;
 Gender - you’re internal sense of being masculine or feminine Drag kings and queens - these are people who dress as the
or neither. opposite gender for entertainment which they do out of passion or
 Gender identity - how you feel, man, women, or neither. for work; and
 Gender expression- how you express your sense of being male Gender queer - these are people who feel like their gender does
or female or neither, maybe through hairstyle, clothes, etc. not fit the gender binary view that is limited to the male or female
 Sexual orientation- your emotional and sexual attraction to a category because they feel that these are too restrictive.
person. The Transitioning Process
 Sex assigned at birth - your given sex when were born based When a person realizes that he or she may be a transgender, a
on your sex organ. psychologist can guide the person through the transition especially
 Cisgender - when your gender identity matches with the sex when a person wants to go through permanent changes like sex
you are assigned at birth. reassignment surgery. In some countries, transitioning is covered
 Non-binary - people who do not feel like a boy or a girl; they by their medical insurance, and they get support from their
may feel like they are both or neither, so sometimes they use employers and families which is very crucial during transitioning
the pronouns they, them, and theirs. There are many other because it takes years to fully transition.
terms that we have not accused here but these are the basics of There are transgender people who cannot have or do not want to
the ABC's of the LGBTQIA+. have hormonal replacement therapy or sex reassignment surgery
Understanding Transgenderism because of personal, economic, or cultural reasons and that is okay.
Society attaches a lot of meanings to our biological sex or physical Transitioning to another gender is a very challenging process for
sex. Parents unknowingly set up a gender-based pattern of raising many transgender people because of the social stigma,
their children upon knowing the biological sex of their babies. Pink discrimination, medical cost, accessibility of medical treatment and
for girls and blue for boys is a reflection of our heteronormative support, oppressive laws in each country, and the threat of violence
culture wherein we expect females to be feminine and males to be from prejudiced people.
masculine. Some countries allow for transgender people to change their legal
This limited view on sexuality makes it harder for those who do not gender from male to female or female to male. This recognition is a
fit in the box of masculinity and femininity, like the lesbians, gays, product of decades of collective effort of the transgender
and bisexuals. However, it makes it so much more difficult for the community and the LGBTQ+ community. However, Philippines
transgender people, those who feel like they were born in the still ack the laws and the medical capacity to support transgender
Wrong body or given the wrong biological sex. people in living their full potential.
Who is a transgender The proper use of pronouns, he or she, should be observed when
The APA defines transgender as "an umbrella term for persons talking to a transgender person to show respect as a decent human
whose gender identity gender expression, or behavior does not being. Often, when a person is clearly presenting herself as a
conform to that typically associated with the sex to which they were female by the way they dress and carry themselves, it is safe to
assigned at birth." assume that they want to use "she" and "her". The same goes for the
This means that a transgender person does not feel comfortable in transgender men who is clearly presenting himself as a man, you
their biological sex like a person who is born male but feels like a may use "him or "her". However, it is always a good practice to ask
female, and a person who is born female may feel like he is male. them for their preferred pronoun instead of assuming but do so in a
This "feeling' or gender identity is not something that changes polite way.
through time, but is a feeling that they have since childhood. This MEN AND MASCULINITIES
creates a problem tor a heteronormative society wherein everyone Introduction
is expected and forced to fit in the boxes of male masculinity and Since 19709, studies on different aspects of manhood (from men in
female femininity. the labor market to men in the family and violent men, etc.) were
However, history tells us that in different cultures across the world made. By the 20th century, the number of these studies increased
and in different times in our history, there are people who lived dramatically
A growing body of literature theorizing men and masculinities the power that Some men have over other men and that men have
focuses on a variety of topics including men's violence, fatherhood, over women.
pornography, men's crimes, female masculinity, male femininity, Hegemonic masculinity was understood as the pattern of practice
etc. These studies arose despite the clear dominance of men over that allowed men's dominance over women to continue. Hegemonic
global economic and political power. Men make up a large majority masculinity embodied the currently most honored way of being a
of corporate executives, top professionals, and holders of public man as it required all other men to position themselves in relation
office. Worldwide, men held 93% of cabinet-level posts in 1996 to it and it ideologically legitimated the global subordination of
and most top positions in international agencies (Gierycz 1999). women to men.
Essentialist views of gender are still popular and are constant Men who received the benefits of patriarchy without enacting a
however, they are increasingly under challenge, not only in biology strong version of masculine dominance could be regarded as
but also in everyday life. The rise of the women's liberation showing a complicit masculinity. Hegemony did not mean
movement. and many feminisms Popular and are constantly violence, although it could be supported by force; it meant
reinforced in the media nat have followed on from it, produced a ascendancy achieved through culture, institutions, and persuasion.
massive disturbance in the gender sy u people's assumptions about Hegemonic masculinity in Western society hinges on
gender. Large numbers of men now acknowledge that their position heterosexuality, economic autonomy, being able to provide for
is under challenge, that what they once took for granted about must one's family, being rational, being successful, keeping one's
be re-thought, making men’s studies and masculinity became emotions in check, and above all, not doing anything considered
popular. feminine. Hegemonic male norms stress values such as courage,
Men's Rights Lobby aggression, autonomy, mastery, technological skill, adventure,
One of the main founding texts of this lobby is by Warren Farrell, toughness in mind and body.
in his work, The Myth of Male Power: Why are Men the Moreover, hegemonic masculinity 1s hegemonic not just in relation
Disposable Sex? (1994). According to him: "Men are now the to other masculinities, but in relation to the gender order as a
gender victims as a result of feminism having gone too far, with whole. It is an expression of the privilege men collectively have
men having increased responsibilities but few rights around issues over women.
to marriage, divorce, child custody and access to children." Modern The hierarchy of masculinities is an expression of the unequal
legislation is seen to be overprotective Or women interests, shares in that privilege held by different groups of men. Thus, some
resulting in discrimination against men at a time when they are masculinities are deemed as higher than the others, as well as
under increasing threat within a rapidly rapid changing society. higher than other forms of gender.
Still, some researchers argue that these pro-male movements were 2. Collective Masculinities
only a reaction to feminism-an attempt to accuse women and Gender structures of a society define particular patterns of conduct
feminists or creating problems encounter in society. of individual aseither masculine or "feminine. These patterns also
MASCULINITY THEMES exist at collectively level in institutions, such as corporations,
Masculinity is a social, cultural, and historical construct dependent armies and even schools. Masculinities are also defined collectively
on and related to other factors such as class, ethnicity, sexuality, in the workplace and in informal groups like street gangs.
age, and disability. Researches on men's studies and masculinity Masculinity also exists impersonally in culture. Video games, for
established common themes which strengthened and developed this example, curate stereotyped images of violent masculinity. Cinema
evolving concepts. and TV Shows portray stereotypes to masculinity such as
1. Multiple Masculinity abandoning father, disgruntled student, abusive partner, and the
Accordingly, there is no one pattern of masculinity that is found drug convict In sports, an aggressive kind of masculinity is created
everywhere. Different cultures and different periods of history, organizationally by its structure, pattern of competition, system of
construct masculinity differently. Some cultures make heroes of training, and hierarchy of levels and rewards.
soldiers and regard violence as the ultimate test of masculinity. Masculinities and well-being
Others cultures look at soldiering with disdain and regard violence Research confirms a strong association between rigid norms about
as contemptible. Some countries regard homosexual sex as what it means to be a man and men's negative health practices and
incompatible with true masculinity. Others countries think that no vulnerabilities (Barker et al. 2011).
person can be a real man without having had homosexual Men are unlikely to talk about their worries and more likely to
relationships. The meaning of masculinity in working-class life is drink and engage in other destructive behaviors when stressed.
different from the meaning in middle-class life and same goes These findings echo the evidence in the literature that conforming
among the very rich and the very poor. It is even possible that more to stoic and rigid notions of masculinity contributes to suicidal
than one kind of masculinity can be found within a given cultural behavior and depression (Möller-Leimkühler 2003; Emslie et al.
setting and within a specific class. This only shows that 2006).
masculinities cannot be delimited to a sole definition or description Culturally dominant forms of masculinity, which often urge men to
as various countries, culture, and levels in life view this concept practice strict emotional control, serve as barriers to health- and
differently. help-seeking behavior, or encourage some men to engage in
1. Hierarchy and hegemony typically, some masculinities are practices detrimental to their own health and that of their families.
more revered than others. Others may be dishonored Evidence confirms that death and disability rates related to alcohol
marginalized, i.e., the masculinities of disempowered ethnic and substance abuse are considerably higher for men than for
minorities. Others are even exemplary, taken as symbolizing women, making substance abuse and addiction predominantly male
admired traits, i.e., the masculinities of sporting heroes. phenomena worldwide (Pyne et al. 2002; WHO 2004).
homosexual masculinities in modern Western culture. Others The requirement of physical strength appears to be a nearly
are even socially The form of masculinity which is culturally universal component of a dominant masculinity (Katz 1999). The
dominant in a given setting 1s called "hegemonic masculinity". physical version of hegemonic masculinity has been promoted by
"Hegemonic" signifies a position of cultural authority and globalization via film, toys, and other goods (Katz 2003).
leadership but not total dominance as other forms of masculinity Katz points out the unrealistic evolution of action figures' biceps, in
persist alon8side. Hegemonic masculinity embodies popular heroes, many cases depicted as larger than the dolls' heads. Katz even notes
role models, and fictional characters According to Kimmel (1997), that these toys reinforce the association of masculinity with
hegemonic masculinity: contains within it the image of the 'man' in violence, even if this violence is sometimes heroic.
power, a man with power and a man of power. We equate manhood Family formation, fathering, caregiving, and domestic roles
with being strong, successful, capable, reliable, in control 1he very Domestic roles are closely associated with women as carrying them
dentitions of manhood we have developed in our culture maintain out can involve a loss of face for men. Great deal was heard about
increases in women's labor force participation in recent decades but Caring masculinities can be seen as masculine identities that
less about men's caregiving and domestic roles. exclude domination an embrace the affective, relational, emotional,
Research, however, shows that men are, on average, not greatly and interdependent qualities of care; a critical form of men's
increasing their role in household work and unpaid care (Barker engagement in gender equality because doing care work requires
and Pawlak 201). Lest do they know, men are missing out in not men to rests hegemonic masculinity and to adopt values and
engaging more in their domestic and family roles. It has been characteristics of care that are antithetical to hegemonic masculinity
shown that being involved in the lives of their children brings (Elliot 2016).
psychological and health benefits to men (Dykstra and Keizer So, besides the commitnet to care work and gender equality, caring
20o09). Research on child development demonstrates lasting masculinities entail a mindful refusal hegemonic masculinity and
benefits to children of their fathers' involvement, in terms of their inherent prerogatives(privileges, domination, power), as well as of
confidence and school performance (Ruhm 200o; Sarkadi et al. the plural manefestations of “complicit masculinity” that it assumes
Bremberg 2008). (Abiom, 2010).
However, it was said that men may contribute to the "domestic Men who approximate this form of masculinity are viewed as a
enterprise" in other important ways, including through providing form of “ new man” (Edley and wetherell, 1999; Smith 2016;
financial support, accompanying children to activities outside of Singliton and Majer, 2004).
school or home (National Center on Fathers and Families 2002;
Brown and Chevannes 1998).
Better-educated men are more likely to put more time into domestic
roles and caregiving (Hernandez 1996; Garcia and Oliveira 2004;
Barker and Verani 2008). Men's schooling may have expanded
their sense of norms and weakened stereotypes through their
exposure to broader ideas and more diverse people.
Masculinities and alcohol and drug use
More men drink than women; and men drink more than women
(Room et al. 2002). Studies show that men were more likely to
drink than women, drank alcohol in greater quantity and more
frequently than women, and were more likely to face alcohol-
related health and social problems than women (Wilsack et al.
2000).
In many settings, men's drinking encourages solidarity and
stimulates courage. It is a Key peer group ritual as well as being a
recreational activity (Coombs & Globetti, 1986). When men
become drunk, fights and homicides are rationalized (Pange, 1998),
and women ae encouraged to tolerate men's drunkenness as a
natural part to their being men (Caetano, 1984.
Drug use and drug dealing can serve as ways of constructing a
powerfully masculine identity (Collision 1996).
Protest Masculinity
Protest Masculinity is a form of marginalized masculinity which
picks up themes of hegemonic masculinity in the society at large
but reworks them in a context of poverty (Connel 2005). In other
words, it is akin to hegemonic masculinity but in socially-deprived
contexts.
Protest masculinity refers to describe instances of extreme forms of
sex-typed behavior on the part of some males. Key to the concept
of protest masculinity are high levels of physical aggression. The
protest masculinity profile is also proposed as including
destructiveness, low tolerance for delay of gratification, crime,
drinking, and similar dispositions (Braude 1990).
Protest masculinity is often a product of narcissism built from deep
feelings of powerlessness and insecurity. Connell compares it to a
"tense, freaky façade, making a claim to power where there are no
real resources for power" (Connell 1995).
Caring Masculinity
The emergence of caring masculinities in many parts of the world
has been assessed in several reports since the early 2000s, all of
them highlighting the virtuous impact of this reshape in male
identities and practices for gender equality improvements in
societies (Connell 2003; Norwegian Ministry for Children and
Equality 2009; Scambor et al. 201 Levtov et al. 2015; Heilman et
al. 2017; Santos et al. 2016; Wall et al. 2017).
After decades of women demanding equal rights and opportunities
and for the end ot male domination and its harmful costs in their
lives, caring masculinities arise as a strong ally against hegemonic
masculinity.
The concept of caring masculinity proposes that men are able to
adopt what is viewed a traditionally feminine characteristics (i.e.
emotional expression, sensitivity, domestication interdependence,
caring, etc) without departing from or rejecting masculinity (Ellio
2015; Miller 2011).