Asexuality as a Human Sexuality Essay

Interesting essay which can be read here.

-Ashley

Identity Spectrum

-Ashley

 This article discusses:

Gender and Social Influence

• Gender Differences in Exerting Influence
• Factors Moderating Gender Differences in Influence

http://www.wellesley.edu/Psychology/Psych/Faculty/Carli/GenderAndSocialInfluence.pdf

Asexual Flag

Similar to the use of rainbow flags by the LGBTQ community, there is now a flag designed with asexuals in mind.  As explained here, the colour meanings are as follows:

Black: Asexuality
Grey: Grey-Sexuality/Demi-sexuality
White: Sexuality
Purple: Community

-Ashley

Facets of Asexuality

Relationships:

• Some asexual experience romantic feelings for others, some never do.
• Some asexuals may experience a physical attraction to their partner.
• Asexuals may still flirt, date, experience physical intimacy, marry, and even raise children

Attraction

• Asexuals may still identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, etc. based on to whom they are most attracted romantically.
• Asexual relationships are based primarily on the individuals attraction to their partner in a emotional and platonic way. 

Arousal

• Some asexuals experience sexual desires but no want to engage in sexual acts with others. Some may masturbate to relieve this desire. 

-Ashley

Quick Read on Asexuality

Found this Psychology Today article and thought I'd share!

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/living-single/200912/asexuals-who-are-they-and-why-are-they-important

-Ashley

Interview with Asexuality.org Founder

-Ashley

Defining Asexuality

Many have a very narrow view of what asexuality actually is. For many the title brings to mind visions of an individual who experiences no sexual arousal, no romantic interests, and a completely nonexistent desire for physical intimacy. While this may be true for some, it is important to realize that, the only true definition of asexuality is someone who does not experience sexual attraction.

One great resource for information on asexuality is AVEN (The Asexual Visibility and Education Network) which is a means for asexuals to find community, friendship, and information as well as informing the general public about the realities of the asexual life.

Click here to visit the AVEN website!

-Ashley

Relationship Stereotypes

There are a lot of presumptions about gender roles in a relationship (women are desperate for children , men hate commitment etc.). However a recent study has proven otherwise, with some of the collected results being mildly surprising.

http://www.sheknows.com/love-and-sex/articles/823919/gender-stereotypes-busted

-Asael

Gender Stereotypes in Sports

Gender stereotypes has been rampant amongst the sporting world for a long time, however in spite of this many men and women overcome the stigma that comes with playing a sport that is not "manly" or "delicate" enough everyday. The following paper depicts what the author perceives as the possible pros and cons of overcoming gender stereotypes within the world of sports.

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/local/scisoc/sports02/papers/apreston.html

-Asael

Feminist Harry Potter

-Asael

Men As Caregivers

In a marriage it is typically expected for a women to take care of her family, ranging form cleaning the house, making meals etc. The following article discusses how men who have experienced this kind of marriage for decades having to suddenly take over the role as caregiver after their respective spouses become diagnosed with Alzheimer's and the subtle differences on how men act as caregivers as opposed to women.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-02-14/news/ct-met-caregiver-valentine-20120214_1_male-caregivers-family-caregiver-alliance-alzheimer-s-association

-Asael

-Kati

Sign - GID

-Kati

Diagnostic Criteria for Gender Identity Disorder

This information was handed out to us in class today, since it addressed my subtopic I thought it would be great to put it up on our blog!

A.) A strong persistent cross-gender identification (not merely a desire for any perceived cultural advantages of being the other sex).  In children, the disturbance is manifested by four (or more) of the following:


1.  Repeatedly stated desire to be, or insistence that he or she is, the other sex.
2.  In boys, preference for cross-dressing or simulating female attire; in girls, insistence on wearing only stereotypical masculine clothing.
3.  Strong and persistent preferences for cross-sex roles in make believe play or persistent fantasies of being the other sex.
4.  Intense desire to participate in the stereotypical games and pastimes of the other sex.
5.  Strong preference for playmates of the other sex.


B.) Persistent discomfort with his or her sex or sense of inappropriateness in the gender role of that sex.

In children, the disturbance is manifested by any of the following:
In boys, assertion that his penis or testes are disgusting or will disappear or assertion that it would be better not to have a penis, or aversion toward rough-and-tumble play and rejection of male stereotypical toys, games, and activities.
In girls, rejection of urinating in a sitting position, assertion that she has or will grow a penis, or assertion that she does not want to grow breasts or menstruate, or marked aversion toward normative feminine clothing.

In adolescents and adults, the disturbance is manifested by symptoms such as preoccupation with getting rid of primary and secondary sex characteristics (e.g., request for hormones, surgery, or other procedures to physically alter sexual characteristics to simulate the other sex) or belief that he or she was born the wrong sex.

C.) The disturbance is not concurrent with physical intersex condition.

D.) The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.



Diagnostic Criteria for GID in the DSM-IV
-Kati

Facts About Youth

Gender Identity Disorder is sometimes referred to as transsexualism, which is a battle between a person's actual physical gender and that to which they actually identify.  The term was developed by Dr. Kenneth J. Zucker and is used to describe those who believe that they were born into the body of the wrong sex and gender.  Gender Identity Disorder (GID) is a mental disorder and is a persistent feeling of sever discomfort with one's own anatomical sex. 


 
Facts About Youth - Gender Identity Disorder
-Kati

This image illustrates a male about to undergo surgery to become a female.
-Kati