Human Sexuality
Human Sexuality
Human Sexuality
Introduction
Personal reflection
Before this course, issues on sexuality did seem important. I took the issues as
only worth of being experienced but not to be discussed. I took sexual identity
and feeling as given but not based on rational decision s. My sexual decisions
were not well evaluated; I relied on impulsive emotions to make such decisions. I
did not have a plane of reference to gauge my sexual decisions. Today, as I
reflect on my earlier experience I see the course as liberating for giving me
knowledge to base my sexual decisions on. Gender and sexuality seemed
synonymous and seemed to have just been acquired and which a person had no
influence. Today I can reflect on influence of these forces to my identity and all
other aspects of my life. Love and attraction were just clichés whose meaning
seemed to be obvious. Issues relationship and romance seemed to be obvious
and negative experiences from relationships seemed to be just an element of
bad lack (Nevid, J.S. et al., 2005, 67). Today, due to the principle acquired in the
course, I have understanding of these issues and also on their influence on my
relationship. Today I understand how love intimacy start, develop and how they
can be maintained. Today the forces of sexuality do not just influence me without
knowledge but I understand every element of sexual experience and mould them
to the right direction.
I have always appreciated the use of value system making ethical decisions.
However, I could not have imagined how critical thinking could be applied in
making sexual decisions. I considered decisions made on sexuality to be based
on emotions and feelings that could not be based to reason. I also saw value
systems and sexuality to be incompatible and in competition. The course has
brought light to this issue. I have come to realize that value systems and critical
thinking are compatible with sexual decisions and in fact, should always be used
in such decisions. Indeed, sex is a need; however expressing one’s sexuality is
based on personal choice (Diamond, J., 1997, p87). The decisions are not just
based by the biological nature of human but rational decisions should be used.
Before, I did not apply a lot of thoughts to my decisions but left them to instinct of
conscience. I did not closely relate ethics with sexuality only basing May
decisions on my conscience.
Every individual has value systems that influence their decisions. From the
course, I have been able to appreciate value systems of other people.
Knowledge of their value system helps me to understand the rationale through
which they make sexual decisions. This however does not make me to be
swayed but have helped me to respect my value systems. Also this knowledge
has allowed me to be tolerant of other people’s sexual decisions. Although I may
strongly believe in sex as reserved for marriage, I have no problem with other
people who hold contrary opinions. I am now able to respect their decisions but
at the same time respect my decision ns even more. In making sexual decisions,
I now have very strong tools: value systems and critical thinking.
Romantic novels, magazines and movies were the main base of my knowledge
on sexuality. Critical thinking has given me a tool to critically analyze the ideas
presented before taking applying them. Critical thinking has given me the skills to
ask questions that would lead to a better conclusion.
Environment and history has great influence on the perspective that we have on
sexuality. Each person live in a certain environment interacting with other people
in the environment, thus one have to be influenced by the perspectives held by
other people. The value systems, culture and other aspects of life are acquired
from the environment. Historical perspective e in very important in analyzing the
perspective on sexuality held today (Nevid, J.S. et al., 2005, p78). To me,
evaluating historical perspective helps to analyze whether the perspective on
sexuality that I hold today is really mine or acquired other perspectives. Review
of historical perspective help to appreciate the influence of culture and religion to
attitude on sexuality and sexual behavior (Sharon, M. V. & Simon, L., 2006,
p123). As the course progressed, influence of various cultures to my sexuality
was evaluated. This enabled me to identify the cultures that have influenced my
perspective on sexuality in a bigger way.
Gender identity
For a long time now, I have been in relationships. If I compare the relationships
to a game, then love and attraction were the moist important element in the
game. I have fallen in love in various time; engaging in intimacy and various
decisions on relationship. From the course, I can now appreciate the opposite
attraction as postulated by science. Indeed I am attracted to individuals of
opposite sex who share so me qualities with me and that we have common
interest.
Conclusion
Reference List