Sexuality and Sexual Orientation

Gender affects sexuality simply by virtue of the fact that if an individual is male he will most likely have male hormones surging through his system and male body parts, although if the individual is female, she will most likely have female hormones surging through her system and female body parts. These differences affect sexual functioning as well (Santrock, 2008). There is additionally a difference in chromosomal arrangement, and this determines, for the most part, an individual's gender.

Both genders may have various expectations about sexuality and sex, its function in ordinary life, and its importance (McCabe, Tanner, & Heiman, 2010). Research suggests there is confusion regarding the meaning of terms related to sexuality and sexual orientation (McCabe, Tanner, & Heiman, 2010). Often these terms are colored by gender expectations and cultural affiliation (McCabe, Tanner, & Heiman, 2010). The social role theory claims that the fundamental differences stem from role differences with men taking the more aggressive powerful roles and women playing the role of the domestic goddess. Freud's psychoanalytic gender theory proposed children develop their sexuality by relating to the same sex parent's characteristics, although contemporary developmentalists believe otherwise (Santrock, 2008). The social cognitive theory claims children develop their sexuality from observation, imitation, and adopting the idea that they are one sex or the other (Santrock, 2008).

Sexuality and sexual orientation are affected by culture (Santrock, 2008). Considerations for normal apply to sexuality just as they do for other aspects of life. If individuals live in a culture with a particular tendency toward sex or sexual orientation, this creates a norm according to which, most individuals will adhere. As with any human behavior, individuals who comply with the norms have an easier time fitting in. Expectations about sex and sexuality have changed over the last several decades: sex has been separated from marriage and procreation, and homosexuality, at least conventional homosexuality, is more widely acceptable and its own cultural sexuality is less constrained than it once was (Jackson & Scott, 2010).

Age affects sexuality although it is not too clear to me how age affects sexual orientation. Sexual performance may be deficient in old age, and this may affect self-perception in regard to sexuality. Older adults may not have the same interest or preoccupation with their sexuality because they have found other aspects of life to be more salient. Declining levels of hormones affects both men and women and may cause a decline in sexual drive (Santrock, 2008).

References

Jackson, S., & Scott, S. (2010). Chapter 8, Concluding thoughts on ordinary sexuality. In Theorizing Sexuality (pp. 161-166). Maidenhead, Berkshire, England: McGraw-Hill/Open University Press.

McCabe, J., Tanner, A., & Heiman, J. (2010). The impact of gender expectations on meanings of sex and sexuality: Results from a cognitive interview study. Sex Roles, 62(3/4), 252–263.

Santrock, J. W. (2008). A topical approach to life-span development (3rd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.