Transcript Components of Sexuality - Ms. Kay's Health Class

Components of Sexuality
What is Sexuality?
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Sexuality is made up of many
components, such as culture, ethnicity,
gender, and personality traits.
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4 Major components
- biological sex
- gender identity
- gender expression
- sexual orientation
What is biological sex?
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The “sexual parts” you are
born with!
Includes hormone levels,
chromosomes, secondary
sex characteristics, external
genitalia, and internal
reproductive structures
What is gender identity?
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The gender people
believe themselves to
be in their hearts and
minds
How they feel in
terms of male and
female and how they
choose to show that
to others
What is gender expression?
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Everything we do that communicates our
sex/gender to others
Expressed in clothing, hair styles,
mannerisms, way of speaking, roles we
take in interactions, social sex roles, etc.
What is sexual orientation?
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An enduring pattern of
emotional, romantic,
and/or sexual attractions
to men, women, or both
sexes
Types of sexual orientation:
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heterosexual/straight: attraction to people of
the opposite gender
homosexual/gay/lesbian: attraction to people
of the same gender
bisexual: attraction to people of either gender
Is Sexual Orientation a Choice?
Beliefs of Medical
Associations:
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“Sexual orientation involves a
complex mixture of biology,
psychology, and
environmental factors”
Genes and hormonal factors
may play a role
Sexual orientation is not
simply chosen
Other beliefs:
Individuals can
choose who they
are attracted to
What is it like for gay teens?
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Expected to be straight/heterosexual
Feel different from peers when friends start
talking about romantic feelings, dating, sex
May feel like they have to pretend to be
heterosexual in order to fit in
Fears of prejudice,
rejection, etc.
Many experience
acceptance and comfort
What is transgender?
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When biological sex
and gender identity do
not match
Caused by a hormone
imbalance in the
womb
Brain is given the
wrong gender imprint
Knowledge Check

Identify which component of
sexuality is being defined in each of
the next slides.
What term is being described?
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Everything we do that communicates
our sex/gender to others
Gender Expression
What term is being described?

The sex organs that we are born with
Biological Sex
What term is being described?
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How we feel in our hearts and minds
about whether we are male or
female
Gender Identity
What term is being described?

A enduring romantic and physical
attraction toward a particular gender
Sexual Orientation
What term is being described?

When biological sex and gender
identity do not match
Transgender
Accepting Differences
Part 2
Introducing New Students to HMS
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Think about:
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Interests that these
people have in common
with you
Someone you would be
friends with
Someone you would be
interested in dating
Rob
Good sense of humor
Zoe
Performs in plays
Zack
Very tall
Has 4 brothers
Carmen
Rob
Born with male
body parts:
• Biological sex?
• Male
Sees himself as a man and
expresses himself through
clothing, etc. as a man:
• Gender identity/expression?
• Male
Attracted to males:
• Sexual orientation?
• Homosexual/gay
Zoe
Born with male
body parts:
• Biological sex?
• Male
Sees herself as a woman
and expresses herself
through clothing, etc. as a
woman:
• Gender identity/expression?
• Female
Term that describes
mismatch between
biological sex and gender
identity?
• Transgender
Attracted to males:
• Sexual orientation?
• Heterosexual
Zach
Born with male
body parts:
• Biological sex?
• Male
Sees himself as a man and
expresses himself through
clothing, etc. as a man:
• Gender identity/expression?
• Male
Attracted to females:
• Sexual orientation?
• Straight/heterosexual
Carmen
Born with female
body parts:
• Biological sex?
• Female
Sees herself as a woman
and expresses herself
through clothing, etc. as a
woman:
• Gender identity/expression?
• Female
Attracted to females:
• Sexual orientation?
• Lesbian/gay/homosexual
Critical Thinking Questions
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What concerns might Rob and Carmen have
as students in this school?
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How might Zoe feel coming to school each
day?
What can you do to make these students feel
more comfortable at school?
Think Before You Speak
That’s so gay!
In Closing
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Look beyond the labels that society puts on
people.
Take time to discover commonalties and
celebrate differences.
No one is just athletic, just intelligent, just
funny, just Latino or just Jewish. Likewise, no
one is just lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.