Health Medical Homework Help

1. Sexual Orientation

A. Answer the question: (Minimum 200 words)
Savin-Williams presents three different ways of defining sexual orientation (sexual/romantic attraction, sexual behavior, and sexual identity) and points out that there is often inconsistency among these three considerations. What are the implications of this inconsistency for our understanding of the origins of sexual orientation? If you were a researcher how would you define sexual orientation? Why?

Resources:
Reading: Klien Scale of Sexual Orientation Grid (Word)
Reading: Savin-Williams, R. C. (2006). Who’s Gay? Does It Matter? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 15(1), 40-44. (PDF)
Video: TED iO Tillett Wright: Fifty shades of gay (18 mins) http://www.ted.com/talks/io_tillett_wright_fifty_shades_of_gay.html

B. Reply these answers:
1. Sexual orientation has been one of the first observations we seek when greeting someone. As mentioned in both articles and the video, all came to the same implications about defining same-sex gender roles or even the opposite sex is what we all tend to pay attention at first. Many of the times, many people object to accept anything new within the spectrum between gay and straight. As mentioned in iO Tillett Wright Ted Talk mentions, within this spectrum is known as the grey area and there can be many levels to define our sexual orientation. In this case, it can lead to various implications on how we define ourselves as to one specific sexual orientation. Within these different ways of defining sexual orientation such as romantically, our sexual behavior, and sexual identity can reflect our perspective on how we define ourselves and to others. Many times, we can get confused about how we feel and can fear the outcome to present to society. As mentioned in the video, she also speaks about how we place everyone in a box and asks questions to create a personal ten-second resume in our mind of the other person, to have an idea of who they are. These questions can reflect on the personal judgments from their curiosity if there not dangerous, abnormal or simply place them in a box. These judgments can isolate many people from the LGBTQ community to truly express who they are as a human being. It can restrict them from being free and feeling accepted as they are. In many states, can legally fire you when expressing your homosexuality. Our sexual identity is part of who we are and just because we share a romantic attraction to the same sex can implicate as a negative aspect to society. These judgments can create a division on our sexual behavior in society and build fear in many communities. The implications of this inconsistency for the understanding of these origins of sexual orientation fall into a spectrum of not only one orientation but a variety that defines us of who we are. Personally, if I were a researcher I would define sexual orientation as a personal choice and should be accepted by society from every community. To freely express who you are can demonstrate true happiness and can change the limitations to many lives in society.

2. Empirical distinctions that define sexual orientation are hardly made so the matter is uncertain when measuring between the constructs and significance of these differences. Savin-Williams divides the definition of sexual orientation into three components; sexual/romantic attraction, sexual behavior, and sexual identity, with inconsistencies existing amongst the three.
As iO Tillett Wright pointed out, the LGBTQ spectrum exists mainly in a grey area. Because most people do not identify as 100% gay or straight, majority exist in this grey area of sexuality. As complex individuals, we exist in multiplicity; there is not really a way to measure the gay essentially making it near impossible to assign an identifying percentage to how gay or straight we are. Labels are evolving and often changing because at times, sexual identification in a way limits and does not apprehend the myriad of sexual and romantic feelings. The generality of homoesexuality varies greatly.
If I was a researcher, I would define sexual orientation in regards to same-sex arousal and attraction. As mentioned before, sexual identification sometimes does not adequately capture the diversity of sexual and romantic feelings. Behavior does not serve as an indicator for the identification as gay, as sexual behavior is subjective. In addition, both identification and behavior can be deceived and influenced by variables, such as society. Essentially, social factors can inhibit what society perceives as sexual identification and behavior to be.

2. When should we start talking to kids about sex?

A. Answer the question: (Minimum 200 words)
At what age should we start the conversation about sex?
What should be discussed at different age ranges? At 2 years? 5 years? 9 years? 12 years? 18 years?
Who should be providing the majority of education – schools or parents? If schools, what should/should not be addressed?

Videos:
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Sex Education”: https://youtu.be/L0jQz6jqQS0
“The Birds and the Bees Explained”: https://youtu.be/a3MyLt6l5n0