Session -4 Sex, Sexuality and Gender

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Session -4Sex, Sexuality and Gender
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Learning Objectives

• Understanding Human Anatomy and concepts sexual
  pleasure
• Difference between Sex Sexuality and Gender
• Norms that influence sexual behavior in
  relationships
• Risk and vulnerability to HIV as an outcome
  sexual behavior.

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• Sex refers to the physiological attributes that
  identify a person as male or female
• Type of genital organs (penis, testicles, vagina,
  uterus, breasts)
• Type of predominant hormones circulating in the
  body (e.g., estrogen, testosterone)
• Ability to produce sperm or ova (eggs)
• Ability to give birth and breastfeed children
• Gender refers to Economic, social and cultural
  attributes and opportunities associated with
  being male/ masculine or female/ feminine in a
  particular social setting at a particular point
  in time.

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Femininity and Masculinity

• Femininity
• Qualities and characteristics considered
  appropriate for women/girls
• Masculinity
• Qualities and characteristics considered
  appropriate for men/boys

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Manifestation of Gender Differences

• Gender Roles
• what women and men do/ expected to do
• Gender Relations
• relation of power between men and women, women
  and women and men and men.
• Gender Identity
• how people perceive their own gender- whether
  they think of themselves as a man, a woman, both
  or as a different gender

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Sexuality

• A comprehensive term which includes social roles,
  personality, gender and sexual identity, biology,
  sexual behavior, relationships, thoughts and
  feelings of an individual and the expressions of
  which are influenced by social, ethical,
  economic, spiritual, cultural and moral concerns

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Key Elements of Sexuality

• Includes thoughts, attitudes and feelings along
  with sexual acts and behaviors
• Positive expression- enhances well-being, health
  and the quality of life
• Negative expressions- diminishes peoples dignity
  and self-worth, and cause long-term harm
• Strong social control through social norms,
  values and laws
• Social understanding considers mens experiences
  and needs and ignores, negates and devalues those
  of women.

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Sexual Behaviors and Practices
Type of Behavior Characteristics
Abstinence Retaining from any sexual stimulation
Petting Stimulating other by touching
Masturbation Self stimulation by touching/rubbing ones own genitals
Mutual Masturbation Two stimulate own and each others by touching/rubbing
Vaginal/sexual intercourse Erect penis penetrating vagina and ejaculation of semen after orgasm
Anal Sex Penetration of penis into partners anus
Orogenital Using mouth/ tongue to stimulate penis
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Sexual health

• A component of sexuality
• Womens and mens ability to enjoy and express
  their sexuality, free from risk of sexually
  transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancy,
  coercion, violence and discrimination.
• Enhances life, personal relations and the
  expression of ones sexual identity.
• Enhances pleasure, communication and
  relationships.

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Sexuality and gender - Vulnerability to HIV

• Physiological Vulnerability is more for female
• Unequal and Poor Access to and Control over
  Resources
• Difficulties in Promoting Consistent Safer Sex
  Measures
• Unequal power balances in sexual relations
• Sexuality norms reduces chances for being
  informed

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Summary

• This session covers issues relating to gender,
  sex and sexuality in the context of HIV.
• Gender and sexuality are two important
  determinants of an individuals vulnerability to
  HIV.
• Working with stigmatized and marginalized groups
  the counsellor/ANMs should hold a gender
  sensitive approach. They should also be
  comfortable discussing and counselling on such
  issues.