Social Influences on Sexuality

1. “Particularly for girls, there is
pressure coming from two
opposite ends: the pressure
to “lose it” and the pressure
to lose it “in the right way.” I
don‟t think guys feel that
“right way” bit as much.

2.  Child-rearing practices
 Government policy
 Religion
 Media images
 Pharmaceutical companies
 Drug advertisements
 Violence
 Sexual abuse
 Stereotypes

3.  A virgin is defined as someone who has
not had sexual intercourse
 As women we face the opinions that we
should save ourselves for marriage
 On the other hand, teen girls often face
the idea that „everyone is having sex‟

4.  The media portrays different stereotypes
having to do with sexuality, which
include:
› African-American: hypersexual when young;
asexual when older
› Latina: tight revealing clothing
› Muslim: clothing that covers them head to
toe
› Lesbians: aggressive man-haters
› Bisexuals: promiscuous

5.  Our comfort level when it comes to our
sexuality can often be crippled by the
way that we view ourselves
 The media is telling us we are supposed
to look a certain way, which can often
times make us feel uncomfortable with
out bodies
 This often times limits us, even if our
partner enjoys our body

6. A power struggle in a  You feel you should have sex
relationship, even if not
acknowledged, can lead when your partner wants to
to some of the following  You feel you should have
feelings:
orgasms to validate your
partner
 You feel you shouldn‟t ask
for what you want
 You feel you shouldn‟t use
protection if it interferes with
your partners pleasure
 If you have a male
partner, you feel you should
help him orgasm to relieve
his sexual tensions
 If you have a male
partner, you feel you should
take care of the birth
control, unless he doesn‟t
want you taking birth control

7.  Sexual abuse is a  For someone who
tragic matter, and has experienced
may be something sexual abuse, they
that a person has to may need to show
live with for their there partner how to
entire life take things slower so
 Being in a they can warm up
relationship with  You may have to
someone who start with sensual
experienced a form conversations or
of sexual abuse may touching your
mean being sensitive partner gently
and caring to the
situation

8.  Often times, religion has an impact on
our sexuality
 Some religions preach sexual purity until
marriage
 Some religions to not support same sex
relationships
 These views can often hold people back
from truly understanding their own
sexuality

9.  Celibacy can be defined as someone
who chooses to withhold from have
sex, and sometimes even masturbation
 Some people choose celibacy for
religious reasons, for the chance at
distance or solitude, or even because
they just do not want to have sex

10.  Asexuality is not a sudden decline in
sexual interest or attraction, but instead it
is the lack of interest in any form of sex
 It is a sexual orientation, not a choice
 One woman states: “I love the human
form and can regard individuals as works
of art and find people aesthetically
pleasing, but I don‟t ever want to come
into sexual contact with even the most
beautiful of people

11.  I do not have an opinion either way on
this chapter because it is stating facts
and not giving opinions. I learned a lot
about sexuality that I had never thought
about before. It is interesting how many
different aspects of our lives truly impact
how we view our sexuality.

12.  Do you think there is a double standard
for men and women when it comes to
sex? Why? (Is is because of society? The
media? How we are raised? Etc?)