SEXUAL BEHAVIOR DURING INFANCY & CHILDHOOD

- Infant Sexuality

• research is dependent on observation by others

• pleasurable genital stimulation

• many otheractivities produce sensual pleasuring in infants

- Childhood Sexuality

• research is mostly dependent on adult recall

• kissing & hugging:

• deprivation may decrease intimate relationships, increase violence

• childhood masturbation
• most common sexual expression
• boys more likely to learn from others; girls learn in private
• parental reactions

• avoid negative reactions
• mention the potential for pleasure
• encourage & respect privacy

• sex-play with peers
• other sex

• same sex

• 8-9 years: reproduction questions

• 10-11 years: body changes ? self-consciousness

PHYSICAL CHANGES OF ADOLESCENCE

• Puberty
• reproductive organs mature
• onset between 8 to 14 years; 2 years earlier in girls
• triggered by release of gonadotropins

• Secondary sex characteristics
• both sexes: pubic hair, growth spurt, genitals enlarge, axillary hair, oil-secretion

• females

• males

• Primary sex characteristics
• females: thicker vaginal walls, larger uterus, vaginal secretions;

• males; larger prostate & seminal vesicles;

• Social changes: temporary more homosocial (same sex interaction)

SEXUAL BEHAVIOR DURING ADOLESCENCE

- The double standard

• Males
• focus of sexuality = conquest

• Females
• focus of sexuality = relationship

• dilemma;

- Masturbation

• increase in frequency

- Petting

• kissing, holding, touching,

• oral-genital activity
• relatively safe, pleasurable

• learning about sexual intimacy & partner responsiveness

• more common at this age than in the past

• narrowing gender gap:

- Sexual intercourse

• incidence of adolescent coitus

• reasons for adolescent coitus
• acceleration of puberty
• curiosity

• affection of a partner

• peer pressure

• effect of AIDS on teenage sexual behavior
• most do not believe that they are at risk

• adolescent "personal fable" =

• condoms viewed more as BC than as STD protection;

- Homosexuality

• experimental or transitory same-sex sexual contact is not uncommon

• some gays & lesbians do begin to define their homosexuality now

ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY

• Negative consequences
• impacts mother’s physical health
• impacts baby’s physical health

• impacts education

• impacts financial standing

• impacts quality of parenting

• impacts child’s physical, cognitive, emotional health

• Use of contraceptives
• teens less likely to use BC correctly or consistently

• level of sexual activity is no higher than in other countries

• Strategies for reducing teen pregnancy
• free, low-cost, confidential contraceptive services

• compulsory national sex-education

• focus on shared responsibility for BC

• relax governmental restrictions

• consider stricter enforcement of statutory rape charges

• Answering children’s questions
• start early

• if uncomfortable, share this

• make answers direct

• acknowledge that sex is pleasurable

• indicate openness

• Initiating conversations when children don’t ask questions
• child will not know how or when to ask about menarche, first ejaculations or nocturnal orgasms
• children prefer their parents as their source of sexual information

• use children’s books

• sex education does not increase sexual activity, but does increase safer activity

• School-based sex education
• most parents support such programs

• few programs are comprehensive

• research shows that programs do not increase sexual experimentation nor restraint

ANDROGYNOUS CHILD-BEARING & SEXUALITY (to minimize the influence of gender-role expectations)

-How-tos

• reinforce nurturing & emotional expression in boys; assertiveness in girls

• encourage gender neutral play

• model gender-role flexibility