Sexuality

The term sexuality is used to refer many different things namely the human sexuality, sex in biology, plant sexuality, gender identity and even the sexual orientation.

The human sexuality refers to the erotic experience of the people articulate themselves as sexual beings. This broad subject covers the realization of the human as males and females and their capacity in having and responding to the erotic experiences.

There are cultural, philosophical, legal and political aspects which are covered under the term sexuality. Even the issues in theology, ethics, morality and spirituality are discussed under this umbrella term.

Sexuality Stages

The ability of the human being to reproduce and to carry out the sexual intercourse is discussed in the biological aspects of sexuality. Of the various issues that are dealt here, the issues related to gender, hormonal issues, neurological responses and the sexual dysfunction were dealt seriously. There are three stages in sexuality. The first stage is the desire which refers to the beginning stage where the interest for sex is kindled. The second stage is the excitement stage which refers to the arousal which leads to the sexual stimulation. The final stage is the peak of the sexual pleasure and it is referred to as orgasm. If there is a problem in any one of these stages that would be referred to as sexual problem.

Sexual benefits

According to studies, sex has got various benefits apart from childbirth and pregnancy. It helps in getting relieved from stress and acquiring more immunity power due to the increase in the immunoglobulin A. It also helps in reducing the risk of heart attack and prostate cancer.

Sigmund Freud studied the child sexuality seriously and brought to focus the Oedipus conflict which emphasize on having rejected and been labelled as obsolete. He examined the psychosexual development of the child. His research has revealed that children are curious about the sexual functions of their bodies. They have several basic questions like where babies come from, the differences in the anatomy of the male and the female. Children do engage in the genital play which is often mistaken for masturbation.

Sexuality also refers t the gender identity which the category of the gender as male or female and in certain cases being neither. This gender identity is acquired through birth and it is very difficult to change this identity. Every society has got a set of gender categories which serves as the basis for the social identity. The basic difference between the men and women is solely decided by the biological factors.

Questions:

• Who did the study on child sexuality and brought it into focus?
• Mention the three stages of sexuality?