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Female Sexuality: Piecing Together the Enigma and Clarifying Myths Understanding our sexuality is such an important part of being human. Seeking out information to not only clarify but correct myths and piece together the sexual puzzle is essential if we, as females, want to live full, happy, and healthy lives. The purpose of this paper is to explore many issues surrounding female sexuality. In the first part of the book, I plan on discussing the differing perspectives of sexuality along with defining what the term actually means. In order to do so, many dimensions of sexuality will be explained. These dimensions include: biological, psychosocial, behavioral, clinical and cultural. Historical perspectives are then discussed. Throughout history there have been many people who have contributed to issues surrounding sexuality and are important to note. Sigmund Freud was one of the first, who demonstrated the importance of sexuality in human lives. Havelock Ellis was another pioneer in the area of sexuality, who attempted to explain psychological causes of sexual problems. Alfred Kinsey, upon discovering the apparent lack of information on human sexual behavior, set out to collect information using questionnaires to get direct feedback from people. Masters and Johnson, a M.D. and behavioral scientist respectively, observed and recorded physical details of human sexual arousal. Their work has really helped to change contemporary thinking on sexuality. Also, Shere Hite conducted a nationwide survey for females from a wide range of ages, asking many questions regarding their sexuality. In continuing, I will delve into the issue of sexual responsibility and its historical roles. History, had assigned males the role of sexual responsibility, while females have been given the role of sexual acceptors. Upon explaining the double standards established back during the Industrial Revolution, I will present a timeline. Included in this, will be the light shed on sexuality in the 1950’s, as more information was discovered by researchers such as Kinsey, historical roles began to change. Then I will discuss what has been happening in the last decade. The next section covered, will be of the stages of sexuality, beginning with childhood. Here, I will go over the physical dimensions of sexual arousal in young infants, along with the importance of closeness and touch in the early stages of life. Also covered will be the importance of educating children on sex. I will then discuss adolescence. In early adolescence, the double standard becomes more apparent, and passivity plays a major role in young females. As puberty sets in, physical changes take place such as breast development, pubic hair growth, the female body changes shape, and menstruation begins. Additionally, there a psychosexual aspects covered that include the increase in occurrence of fantasies and sexual dreams. At this time, masturbation usually begins, and adolescence attempt to become more independent from their parents. Adulthood is the time of life when important life choices are being made and perspectives on sex changes. As middle adulthood sets in, there are physiological changes that occur for women such as menopause and sexual burnout. Psychological changes also occur which may include mid-life crises. And during late adulthood, I contradict the common ignorant thought; sex is for the young and beautiful. Orgasm is the next topic I will discuss, explaining what exactly it is, or at least thought to be, such as the vaginal orgasm and the clitoral orgasm. There has been controversy over the two, and I will explain the reasons behind them such as women lacking understanding of the anatomy of their bodies, along with the phallocentric view of orgasm. I will also explain the G-spot, along with when the term originated, and where the spot supposedly is, although it has yet to be scientifically proven. Also, I suggest that perhaps this spot is more phallocentric than anatomical. Furthermore, along this topic, includes the technology used to create orgasms. I will explain the history of instruments used by physicians to cure women’s “hysteria”, which was thought to have two sources: female masturbation was thought to be unchaste; the failure of intercourse to produce orgasms regularly in women. The original vibrator was used by physicians to aid in curing this “disease”. During the 1920’s, vibrators began to disappear from doctor’s offices. However, in the 1960’s, they reemerged as sex aids. Finally, I will touch on masturbation, and how our culture does not accept masturbation as a natural process (especially for women). Using The Hite Report, I will illustrate women’s feelings and thoughts about masturbation, further contradicting society’s view. Sexuality: Different Views Sexual perspectives are not the same for every person. Both internal and external forces that have molded our views of sexuality have affected each one of us. These forces range from personal experiences to cultural and social effects. Although all people do share in common the existence of sexual feelings, attitudes, and beliefs, every person’s perspective differs. Therefore, it is important to recognize the many views to help paint a detailed picture of sexuality that can help us in so many ways. Awareness and recognition enhance our ability to not only deal with and prevent problems that may arise in our lives such as impotence, sexually transmitted diseases, and sexual harassment, but also help educate our children, and most importantly, helping to fully develop our intimate relationships and increasing our sexual satisfaction. In order to broaden our understanding of sexuality, we can divide up sexuality into different studies from biological, psychological, behavioral, clinical, and cultural perspectives, keeping in mind that learning about sexuality is really the study of human nature. (Johnson, Kolodny, and Masters, 1985, p.3) Everyone knows what sexuality is, don’t they? So, what is the definition of sexuality? According to the American Heritage Dictionary, on page 626, sexuality is defined as “The condition of being characterized and distinguished by sex.” Now that really does not give us a clear understanding of the word. A woman by the name of Webster once wrote: “I’m not sure if I used to know what ‘sexuality’ meant and forgot, or whether the meanings of the word have become so varied that nobody knows what anyone is talking about. Or have the norms, which informed the meaning, been so radically shaken that new meanings must be identified and put into language that reflects new realities? Maybe we never really knew what it meant, and some of us just pretended that we did.” (Daniluk, 1998, p.6) Many writers have attempted to explain what they think sexuality means. Sigmund Freud came up with his own interpretation of the word when he wrote, “One would certainly think that there could be no doubt about what is to be understood by the term ‘sexual’. First and foremost, of course, it means the ‘improper,’ that which must not be mentioned.” (Johnson,, Kolodny, and Masters, 1985, p.4) On another extreme, sexuality has been expressed a bit rawly than the past two remarks when Miller wrote, “ ‘ Francie, you bloody fucker,’ I used to say, ‘you’ve got the morals of a clam.’ ‘But you like me don’t you?’ she’d answer. ‘Men like to fuck, and so do women. It doesn’t harm anybody and it doesn’t mean you have to love everyone you fuck, does it?’” (p.4) Other writers have attempted to define sexuality by emphasizing the physical expression if interpersonal intimacy, along with relational components. (Daniluk, 1998, p.7) Looking over these definitions, sexuality appears to be more about what each woman defines as sexual, rather than what some textbook, scientist, philosopher, or writer states. Sexuality is defined by its meaning of the experience to each individual woman. This might help to explain why the term is so difficult to truly understand. Since there is no single answer regarding the definition of sexuality, exploring the dimensions of sexuality may help us to better understand the term. Sexuality’s biological dimensions include but are not limited to our physical sexual development, from conception to birth and our ability to reproduce according to Johnson, Kolodny and Masters, (p. 7) Additionally, biological factors affect the human sexual desire, functioning, and even satisfaction. These forces may even affect behavior, causing females to respond less aggressively than males. Furthermore, when individuals feel “turned on”, there are specific biological events that take place such as a faster pulse, one’s face may turn red, sexual organs respond, and even a feeling of warmth may envelop a person. (p. 7) Psychosocial is another dimension of sexuality, which explains sexual development in people and helps to identify sexual problems. (p. 8) Basically, this dimension includes what we feel, behave, and think about contact with others. From birth on, we all interact with different individuals and groups that help shape and mold our sense of gender identity. Many of our perceptions on sexuality are based on what others have told us and been exemplified for us, giving basic guidelines on what to do, and what not to do. In the behavioral dimension, we go one step further from observing the biological and psychosocial dimensions, in that the focus becomes not only what people do regarding sexual behavior, but also how and why they do it. (p. 8,9) In this dimension, the actual activity, or behavior is what is observed. When examining these areas, we all need to remember that we can not base what others do on our own ideas of “normal” simply because that is what we do. Every person is unique and carries their own experiences and values, therefore, there is no such thing as “normal” simply because you or I do something that we believe should be thought of as such. The clinical dimension, attempts to identify and resolve sexual problems that cause people to fall short of experiencing sexual satisfaction. Such problems may include feelings of depression, anxiety, guilt, or even such physical ailments as the flu, breaking a leg, or using drugs. The clinical dimension looks to overcome and find solutions to these types of problems. According to Johnson, Kolodny, and Masters, over the past two decades, there have been two key changes that have contributed to the success of this area; a more complete understanding of the many dimensions of sexuality, and the science of sexology, which is the study devoted to sex. (p. 9) Finally, the cultural dimension is an important part of sexuality that must be recognized. Each culture varies on sexuality perspectives. (p.10) In America, for example, our culture is accepting of being more open sexually. Just turn on the television and watch five minutes of the Jerry Springer Show and it will be obvious what is being suggested. In other cultures, such as in India, it is less acceptable to express sexuality openly. Each culture hold differing morals, which many times, tie into religious traditions. However, having morals does not necessarily mean one must be religious. The point is, each culture carries different feeling regarding sexuality, and different levels of acceptable and not acceptable behaviors. Sexuality: Historical Perspectives Throughout history there have been many people that have contributed to the issues surrounding sexuality. Notably, one of these pioneers was Sigmund Freud (1856-1939). Freud was a Viennese physician, who was able to demonstrate the importance of sexuality to human lives. (p. 18) His contributions were, and still are considered genius for his ability to construct his original discoveries into an organized and persuasive theory. “Freud believed that sexuality was both the primary force in the motivation of all human behavior and the principal cause of all forms of neurosis, a mild form of mental disorder in which anxiety is prominent and coping skills are distorted although a sense of reality is maintained.” (Johnson, Kolodny, and Masters, p. 18) He created many concepts related to sexuality such as the Oedipal Complex which basically states that male children are attracted to their mothers, therefore causing a distorted mixture of feelings toward the father such as love and hate, all at the same time. Additionally, Freud had the notion that girls felt something call penis envy, in which they were jealous and had feeling of inadequacy toward the lack of a penis. (18) Although today, many of these theories have been dismissed, Freud’s theory of an elaborate mental process called psychoanalysis, is still used much of the time. Psychoanalysis is a technique that uses free association, dream interpretation, and analysis of feelings and behavior to investigate mental disorders. ( The American Heritage Dictionary, 1983, p.555) Around the same time of Freud, an English physician by the name of Henry Havelock Ellis (1859-1939) also wrote a book about psychological causes (rather than physical causes) of sexual problems. The book was titled Studies in the Psychology of Sex (1897-1919) and addressed the common occurrence of masturbation in both sexes at all ages, and was against the Victorian notion that “good” girls and women had no sexual desire. (Johnson, Kolodny, and Masters, 1985, pg. 19) This book caused great controversy and was banned for a number of years. Alfred Kinsey (1894-1956), was a zoologist at Indiana University, who when asked to teach a college course, was stunned by the lack of scientific data on human sexual behavior. (p. 20) So what Kinsey set out to do, was administer questionnaires to students directly, regarding their sexual history in the hopes that these questionnaires would bring about detailed information in order to assist in learning about human sexual behavior.
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