Sexuality is a topic that remains controversial in today’s society. There are many differing opinions on how open or private one should be about sex and relationships. The attitude people have towards their sexuality depends on the culture they are surrounded with as well as the social factors in their environment. These factors play an important role in how one discusses sex and terms used to describe oneself as a sexual being. The following examines my personal views towards sexuality and sexual terms based on my upbringing, religious views, education, and peer relationships. One large influence that shapes someone’s sexual attitude and opinions is family. The household one is raised in teaches moral beliefs, rules, and what is accepted
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However, I began to realize that not everyone held the same traditional views as myself. As I entered a public high school I quickly learned there were other views about sexuality, which I was unfamiliar with. During my freshman year in school, all students were taught sexual education. These classes gave a scientific approach to sex, explaining the male and female anatomy as well as preventative cares against STI’s and diseases. Most of the language was used in a formal sense using words such as breasts, vagina, penis and testicles however, being a class of teenagers many jokes and other terms were thrown around the classroom. The class also promoted the use of contraceptives stating that it is ok to have sex as long as it is “safe sex” and every person was taught the different types of contraceptives such as condoms, diaphragms, or birth control pills “The widespread acceptance of contraceptives and the subsequent availability of legal abortion by Supreme Court mandate in 1973 permitted sexuality to be separated from procreation” (Crooks and Bauer, 2014: p 18). This opened my views to understanding a more liberal approach to sex and the terms used around adolescents to describe the male and female genitalia. I began to use some of the slang terms and become more open to discussing sex and intercourse with my friends and peers. I still believed in abstinence and that sexual relationships were designed in the context of marriage however, I learned it was helpful to discuss the sexual parts of my body with friends and understand how the female body worked from a health
However, I began to realize that not everyone held the same traditional views as myself. As I entered a public high school I quickly learned there were other views about sexuality, which I was unfamiliar with. During my freshman year in school, all students were taught sexual education. These classes gave a scientific approach to sex, explaining the male and female anatomy as well as preventative cares against STI’s and diseases. Most of the language was used in a formal sense using words such as breasts, vagina, penis and testicles however, being a class of teenagers many jokes and other terms were thrown around the classroom. The class also promoted the use of contraceptives stating that it is ok to have sex as long as it is “safe sex” and every person was taught the different types of contraceptives such as condoms, diaphragms, or birth control pills “The widespread acceptance of contraceptives and the subsequent availability of legal abortion by Supreme Court mandate in 1973 permitted sexuality to be separated from procreation” (Crooks and Bauer, 2014: p 18). This opened my views to understanding a more liberal approach to sex and the terms used around adolescents to describe the male and female genitalia. I began to use some of the slang terms and become more open to discussing sex and intercourse with my friends and peers. I still believed in abstinence and that sexual relationships were designed in the context of marriage however, I learned it was helpful to discuss the sexual parts of my body with friends and understand how the female body worked from a health