Sexuality is a term we immediately associate with sex, but have you ever imagined everything that human sexuality really encompasses?
Sexuality is divided into three main interdependent aspects: biological, psychological and social.
- These three fundamental aspects of sexuality cannot be considered in isolation.
- As they would lose their meaning.
- Their biopsychosocial unity implies a configuration of sexuality that promotes the development of personality.
“Sexuality has much more wealth and complexity than one imagines, simply because it is the capacity of a being as rich and complex as human beings. “
? Julian Fernandez of Quero?
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines what constitutes human sexuality:
“The integration of the somatic, emotional, intellectual and social elements of the sexual being that, through positively enriching forms, improve people, communication and love. “
Given these essential factors in human sexuality, we can analyze the implications of each of them:
Perhaps the biological aspect was the one that was most taken into account when creating a concept of sexuality, in particular genital appearance, as a sexual organ par excellence.
It is a very reductionist vision that does not consider the body pattern as a unit, the integration of the whole body, within sexuality, allows us to understand that we are sexual beings, from the moment we were born until we die, this means that children, adolescents, adults and the elderly have sexuality.
When you refer only to the biological part of sexuality you focus on sexual reproduction, through the genitals, and aimed at reproduction, the biological aspect of sexuality can expand and thus give it greater meaning when related to other factors involved:
“Our bodies must be learned, and it is only through a complete body pattern that we can accomplish this task. Is particularizing the body, indicating only certain functions, denying the pleasure of knowing and communicating properly with others?”
This dimension of sexuality has to do with our erotic side, through learned behaviors and the acquisition of various customs and rites, that is, in all cultures there are beliefs about sexuality that vary according to the historical context and influence how we act.
Our political, religious and cultural influences somehow regulate the norms of what is appropriate and what is not. This leads to many sexual limitations through what is considered “normal”.
As social beings we are, many of the fears we have are related to not feeling rejected, isolated and different, for this we observe and transmit messages of communication that we have been able to internalize transforming them into values and standards of behavior. .
The way in which a particular population experiences its sexuality is the result of its socialization, but knowing that these behaviors and attitudes that we have already internalized, without questioning them, can help us adapt or modify them according to knowledge and develop our own personality.
This means breaking with the limits and mistakes that have been instituted in our socialization process to live sexuality as a positive thing, which is different for each person, so it would be better, instead, to talk about sexuality.
Sex education in this regard has a lot to say. Through knowledge, it opens the process of consciousness so that each individual is free to decide and choose a way to live and enjoy their own sexuality.
The involvement and integration of body scheme, the experience of the body (biological) and socialization, that is; how we should act the psychological dimension was born. The psychological factor involved in sexuality is characterized by thoughts, fantasies, attitudes and trends.
The psychological aspect is involved in sexuality, in relation to how we feel for ourselves and others, it also takes into account emotions, feelings, pleasure, beliefs, the result of experiences and the acquisition of knowledge.
In the development of our personality, from our birth, we acquire a unique vision of how to live and live sexuality, this meaning for us is always variable, being different at every stage of our life, that is why we have previously clarified the concept of sexuality.
We feel different from each other and the emotions that awaken us are different, even if the situation is the same, so each person has a different way of feeling the pleasure, because what makes some people happy can cause discontent in others.
Perceiving this aspect involves knowing what it feels like and what you want; take responsibility for sharing it, or not, in relationships with others.
With the analysis of the three aspects involved in the concept of sexuality, we can conclude that:
? Sexuality is present in all phases of our lives, since we are sexual beings from birth to death, it is not something static, but dynamic, that changes as much as we do.
? The information and knowledge we acquire, from the outside to the sexual sphere, influences our own knowledge of ourselves and also the interaction we have with others.
? There is an exclusive sexuality for all people that determines how they experience pleasure, but there are as many sexualities as individuals, each with their peculiarities, which are determined by personality, knowledge and individual experience. Understanding this, can we get rid of what’s considered normal?and thus take sexuality our way, without fear and without guilt, exploring and valued our sexuality.
“Sexuality is not what we believe, it is not what we have been told. Isn’t there one, but several sexualities?
? Albert Rams?
Bibliography used:
-Coronado, R. (2014). Concept of sexuality. Granada: Al Andalus Institute of Sexology (unpublished).
-Quero, J. F. (1996). Practical guide to male sexuality: keys to getting to know it better. Current topics.