Literatures showed that there are three ways of which sexuality is defined. One, sexuality pertains to the totality of who the person is; second, sexuality is constructed through the interaction of an individual with the different social groups in the society; and lastly, sexuality can be understood through the relationships of which the person is engaged in.
In the search for a definition of sexuality, I concur with Richards, Tepper, Whipple and Komisaruk (1997) that the description of one of their study-participants aptly captures the meaning of sexuality:
It is a tremendous core of who I am. Everything else comes out of that. How I think and feel about my body, my physical body. How I would define myself as a woman. How I am in …show more content…
In a sense the said discourse echoes the working definition of sexuality by the World Health Organization (2006):
Sexuality is a central aspect of being human throughout life and encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction. Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviors, practices, roles and relationships. While sexuality can include all of these dimensions, not all of them are always experienced or expressed. Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, ethical, legal, historical, religious and spiritual factors. …show more content…
Smita Pamar (in WHO, 2006, p. 6) reported that “sexuality includes different dimensions of relationships, whether they are sexual or not, the degree of control and agency over sexuality, whether the sexual activities involve violence and coercion, but also a sense of self-worth , self-esteem, pleasure and desire.” Sexuality is part of romantic relationships (Zeiss & Kasl-Godley,2001). Romantic relationship is when someone is in love and physically intimate with somebody (Cramer, 2003). A good romantic relationship contributes to a person’s self-concept, self-esteem, as well as mental and physical health. The quality of romantic relationship contributes to the happiness of an individual (Demir, 2008). Intimacy, as well as, companionship may be the possible reason as to why romantic relationship is a source of happiness for some
In the search for a definition of sexuality, I concur with Richards, Tepper, Whipple and Komisaruk (1997) that the description of one of their study-participants aptly captures the meaning of sexuality:
It is a tremendous core of who I am. Everything else comes out of that. How I think and feel about my body, my physical body. How I would define myself as a woman. How I am in …show more content…
In a sense the said discourse echoes the working definition of sexuality by the World Health Organization (2006):
Sexuality is a central aspect of being human throughout life and encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction. Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviors, practices, roles and relationships. While sexuality can include all of these dimensions, not all of them are always experienced or expressed. Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, ethical, legal, historical, religious and spiritual factors. …show more content…
Smita Pamar (in WHO, 2006, p. 6) reported that “sexuality includes different dimensions of relationships, whether they are sexual or not, the degree of control and agency over sexuality, whether the sexual activities involve violence and coercion, but also a sense of self-worth , self-esteem, pleasure and desire.” Sexuality is part of romantic relationships (Zeiss & Kasl-Godley,2001). Romantic relationship is when someone is in love and physically intimate with somebody (Cramer, 2003). A good romantic relationship contributes to a person’s self-concept, self-esteem, as well as mental and physical health. The quality of romantic relationship contributes to the happiness of an individual (Demir, 2008). Intimacy, as well as, companionship may be the possible reason as to why romantic relationship is a source of happiness for some