Make-up of an individual’s unique sexual being:
- Physical
- Psychological
- Social
- Cultural
- Spiritual
Five features of sexuality:
- Sensuality
- Intimacy
- Sexual Identity
- Reproduction
- Sexualization
SENSUALITY: awareness and acceptance of our own body
- knowledge of anatomy & physiology
- understanding sexual response
- body image
- satisfaction of skin hunger
- attraction template
- fantasy
INTIMACY: experiencing emotional closeness to another
- caring
- sharing
- risk taking
- vulnerability
- self disclosure
SEXUAL IDENTITY: process of discovering who we are in terms of sexuality
- gender roles
- orientation
- self esteem& confidence level
- relationships with family &friends
- roles as child & adult
- perception of self as male/female
REPRODUCTION: values, attitudes & behaviors relating to reproduction
- contraception & fertility issues
- lifestyles
- STIs (including AIDS)
- anatomy &physiology
- morality issues
SEXUALIZATION: use of sexuality to influence, control or manipulate
- style of dress
- appearance & body language
- advertising
- movies, talk shows &media
- harassment & sexual assault
- paraphilias (voyeurism, exhibitionism…)
