TOPIC: Sexuality: meaning and expressions of sexuality, Sources and utilization of sexuality related information e.g. internet and home videos.
Sub Topic 1:
Meaning and expressions of sexuality
Sexuality is defined as the things people think, feel, and do that are related to their sexual desire. Terms related to sexuality include:
(a) Sex: This refers to male or female. It also refers to the physical activity that two people do together to produce babies or for pleasure.
(b) Sexual feeling: This refers to the attraction between male and female.
(c) Sexual intercourse: To have sex with someone
The adolescent boys and girls having reached the stage of puberty, the sex organs, like other parts of the body, are maturing. In girls for example, the breasts are developing to attract the boys. In the boys, the voice is broken and the sexual organs are developing and active. Other body glands are also developing to influence changes in the behaviour of the adolescent boys and girls.
Ways of expressing sexuality by boys and girls
The adolescent boys and girls express sexuality through their behaviour towards the opposite sex. The ways both boys and girls show their sexual thoughts, emotions and attitudes are similar in some aspects, but sometimes vary.
Expression of sexuality by adolescent girls
The adolescent girls express sexuality towards the opposite sex through the following actions:
(a)
Dressing: Adolescent girls like attractive fashion. They always want to appeal to the boys’ maturity and interest, not usually in words, but through the mode of dressing. The mode of dressing may take the following forms:
(i) Girls prefer attractive, current, popular and fashionable dresses.
(ii) The colour of the dresses is usually bright to identify the presence of the adolescent girls within a group.
(iii) Earrings, bangles, shoes and rings are worn by girls to make them look beautiful and also a way of expressing their emotions.
(b)
Use of cosmetics and deodorants: Adolescent girls make use of sweet-smelling deodorants that can attract the attention of the adolescent boys. The cosmetics are usually applied on the nails, lips, eyelids and eyelashes, etc.
(c)
Hair style: There are different hair styles available for the adolescent females that make look attractive to the opposite sex. Such hair styles include, perming, braiding, weaving with various attachments.
(d)
Bathing and mouth care: The body of the adolescent is still developing and so the rate of perspiration (sweating) is high and it frequently brings out body odour. Girls usually find it necessary to bath frequently to remove bad odour from the body.
(e)
Laundry: This is the process of washing, drying and ironing clothes neatly before wearing. Girls like being attractive to the opposite sex by keeping their dresses clean all the time to avoid bad odour.
(f)
Skin care: Females with smooth skin are more easily attracted to the adolescent males than those with rough skin, pimples, rashes and sores. Therefore girls express their desires in the opposite sex by keeping their skin free from pimples, boils, rashes and sores.
(g)
Greetings, looks, and smiles: Girls have their own characteristic way of expressing their feelings for the opposite sex without actually talking. They have special looks or facial expression towards attracting boys. For instance, they greet with smiles and inviting looks.
(h)
Preference for course of study in higher institution: Adolescent girls are easily attached to the opposite sex who is studying more lucrative and challenging courses such as Medicine, Accountancy, banking and Finance, Engineering, Pharmacy, Architecture, law, etc in the institutions of higher learning.
Expression of sexuality by adolescent boys
The boys express sexuality towards the opposite sex through the following ways:
(a) Body care: Adolescent boys express their emotions towards their female counterparts by taking special care of their body parts such as their hair, face, finger nails and toe nails.
(b) Dressing: The adolescent boys dress in an attract fashion to express their interest in the opposite sex. They like wearing latest clothing like jeans, attractive belts, polo shirts, and fashionable shoes and sandals.
(c) Hobby: Some boys use their hobbies as a means of attracting the opposite sex. They use skills in photography, music and art work. For example, creative art work and beautiful photographs of the girls may be presented to them on their birthdays, graduations days, etc.
(d) Recreation and sports activities: When boys excel in some recreation and sporting activities, their female counterparts are usually attracted by their performance e.g. football.
Evaluation:
(1) Define sexuality.
(2) Explain three ways by which a girl can express sexuality.
(3) Explain three ways by which a boy can attract the opposite sex to himself.
Sub-Topic 2:
Sources and utilization of sexuality related information
Boys and girls obtain information on sexuality through the following:
(i) Friends or associates: Most boys and girls are students and they move together in groups, sharing information and stories about sexuality.
(ii) Radio and Television: A lot of information can be obtained from radio and television through programmes that relate to sexuality. Such programmes may include drama, video clips, advertisements, debates, stories, radio talks and interviews.
(III) Magazines: Magazines and other periodicals contain pictures, stories, write-ups and advertisements which can serve as sources of information on sexuality.
(iv) Literature: Students can get information on sexuality from novels written on adventures.
(v) Internet-mail and mobile phones: These are new technologies that make use of the computer. They can provide young boys and girls a variety of information on sexuality.
(vi) Music: Boys and girls value the type of music that appeal to them especially songs that present their feelings towards the opposite sex.
Effects of sexual expression and information on adolescents
Sexual expression and utilization of information by adolescent boys and girls have the following effects on their lifestyles:
(i) It brings about early boy-girl relationship
(ii) It can lead the adolescent boys and girls to early marriage which they are not prepared for.
(iii) It brings about early exposure to sexual relationship
(iv) It leads to unwise spending and lack of planning for the future
(v) It can cause ill health to the adolescent boys and girls through sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV/AIDS.
(vi) Improper information on sexuality can affect the education of the adolescent boys and girls if not well handled. This is because it can lead to truancy, lying and other anti-social behaviours in them.
(vii) It can cause boys’ and girls’ disobedience to parents’ instructions. This may affect the future career and entire life of the adolescents.
Educating adolescents on sexuality
Adolescent boys and girls can be educated through the following ways:
(i) Sex education should be introduced to the adolescents as early as possible.
(ii) They should be prevented from the habit of keeping pictures of female or male who appear naked or in different sexual postures.
(iii) Both boys and girls should be discouraged from watching films and videos which are sexually immoral.
(iv) Adolescent boys and girls should be educated on how to use the internet, e-mail, face book and mobile phones to obtain educative and academic information.
(v) Boys and girls should be discouraged from over-drinking, smoking and keeping late nights in parties and night clubs.
(vi) Parents should not allow or support intimate relationship between boys and girls who are not old enough or ready to go into marriage.
(vii) Adolescent boys and girls should be educated against drug abuse and its effects on the individual.
Evaluation:
(1) Which of these is Not an effect of early expression of sexuality
(a) Early marriage (b)Dropping out of school (c) Excellence in sports (d) Unwanted pregnancy
(2) Mention three sources of information on sexuality
Assignment:
Identify various ways by which adolescence can be educated on how to use sexual education.