Understanding Human Sexuality
Gender is a Primary Factor of Human Sexuality
Biological gender or sex in humans is as simple as whether a person has a Y chromosome or not. Though some with Intersex or AIS conditions for example may not develop to appear as their biological gender.Psychological gender, however, is not as clear-cut and consists of a number of sub-factors such as Sexual Orientation and Gender Role. For any psychological factor most people would have a preference that matched their biological gender more than its opposite, with a lesser number having a preference that more matched the opposite to their biological gender.
The following graph illustrates how a psychological gender factor may exist in the wider population. It is to give an idea only as the actual plot of the graph would vary from one psychological factor to another.
The Culture of Human Sexuality is Constructed and Passed on
As humans, we appear to have evolved a desire to belong to and cooperate within a group and to compete with and discriminate against other groups as a survival mechanism in a competitive environment. Group power could be increased by keeping the group gene-line (blood-line) pure and increasing the numbers of the group. Any deviation from stereotypical male and female sexual behaviours and roles would be a disadvantage and potentially lead to the extinction of the group and it’s members. Using law and religion to coerce people into stereotypical heterosexual behaviour and gender roles could well have advantaged the group to increase its survival chances.Today with an adequately populated planet, an efficient technologically advanced culture and a global community, we no longer need to discourage deviation from traditional heterosexual behaviour. However law, religion and other forms of cultural transmission change very slowly and while sexual diversity is mainly hidden, many still view such deviation with prejudice and discrimination.
There is a Nature-Culture Sexuality Gap
Two major sexuality sub-dimensions subject to prejudice are “gender identity” and “sexual orientation”. Many people along these spectrums fall outside what is considered stereotypically “normal”. For them, there is a stressful gap between their innate sexuality and cultural acceptance of their sexuality.This gap is maintained in part by tradition and fear. Traditional culture is passed on to us by our parents, teachers, churches and law, and then we reinforce it between ourselves. Traditional culture changes very slowly unless it is causing enough of a problem to invoke revolutionary change. Fear of ostracism or persecution biases people toward outwardly expressing “normal” stereotypic sexual behaviour, even when this conflicts with their inner feelings. This adds to the impression of a society more sexually conservative than it really is.
Consider the victims of this nature-culture gap who may sacrifice decades of potential self-fulfilment before they finally do something about it: the closeted crossdresser who secretly “borrows” clothes and lives in fear of humiliation; the married bisexual man who cruises for a regular hit of gay sex; the bisexual woman who lives in fear of losing her best friend if her crush on her were read; the transsexual, who was born one gender and craves to live as the other so much.
The gap is closing, slowly
Homosexuality is no longer considered a mental illness or illegal and discrimination based on sexuality has been outlawed in many western countries. Many churches are more open to homosexuality and the media is portraying sexual diversity more favourably. The Internet with its connecting power and the safety of anonymity has allowed many people with a diverse range of sexualities to find each other, and feel less alone, and more accepted. There is little reason outside of radical traditional views to believe that this trend will not continue generation after generation as the sexuality dark ages fade into history.Not soon enough?
Although good news for many, some may not want to wait a few generations until they are comfortable living more as their true self.If you identify with this article and feel you would like explore your sexuality further without waiting decades, please contact me to discuss the options.
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