Adolescent sexuality is the sexual development, feelings, and behavior of children going throughadolescence. It involves several different aspects, including exposure to sex, experimenting, discovering gender identity, and forming romantic relationships. Around twelve years of age, adolescents begin exploring their sexuality. Both boys and girls experiment sexually, such as masturbating. Some adolescents will even engage in sexual acts with others. However, adolescents lack emotional and cognitive maturity, so sexually active adolescents could put themselves at risk for unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Parents should, therefore, talk to their children about sex at an early age.
Overview
Sexuality is a major part of adolescent development. As an adolescent hits puberty and begins to mature, he or she will be exposed to sex and will begin experimenting. Adolescents are exposed to sex through the Internet, television, and entertainers and other celebrities. Between the ages of twelve and fifteen, adolescents become curious about their sexuality and begin experimenting. Boys around this age generally show more interest in sex than girls. Usually at twelve or thirteen, adolescents begin reading about sex and viewing sexual images. Such material may include information about sex, drawings in books, and pornographic images and videos. They may find this material in anatomy books, in adult magazines, on television, and on the Internet. Adolescents of this age may also begin peeping, or secretly observing someone naked or removing his or her clothes. Typically, adolescents who engage in any of these activities try to avoid getting caught or deny the activities.
Masturbation plays a significant role in adolescents’ sexual experimentation, especially for boys. They may experience frequent erections, and some may occur spontaneously. This can be attributed to the chemical and hormonal changes of puberty, or the set of changes an adolescent undergoes as he or she develops sexually. Boys often experiment with their erections, frequently engaging in
masturbation
, which is the stimulation of one’s own genitals, usually to achieve orgasm. Adolescent girls may experience spontaneous vaginal secretions, either because of sexual arousal or because of hormonal fluctuations during their menstrual cycle. Girls also engage in masturbation, but because girls are generally less aware of their sexual arousal than boys, girls typically do not masturbate as frequently as boys.
Gender identity and sexual orientation also play a role in adolescent sexuality.
Gender identity
refers to what gender an adolescent considers him- or herself to be. An adolescent may consider him- or herself to be masculine, feminine, or both, which is called
transgendered
. Similarly, sexual orientation constitutes what gender an adolescent is attracted to physically, emotionally, sexually, and romantically. An adolescent may be attracted to the opposite gender (heterosexual), the same gender (homosexual), or both genders (bisexual).
When adolescents turn fourteen or fifteen, they typically become interested in romantic relationships. They may seek a partner with whom to have such a relationship. These relationships may be short-term or long-term.
At about fifteen or sixteen years of age, girls begin to explore the moral and physical consequences of sex. They may grow concerned about a teen pregnancy. They may also ask themselves what sexual activities are acceptable and under what circumstances sex is okay. Boys around this age are not as concerned about these issues.
Many adolescents between sixteen and eighteen years of age will experience an increase in sexual activity. This may be in the form of masturbation or sexual acts with a partner. The frequency and intensity of this sexual activity may increase. During this time, adolescents also typically seek long-term, committed relationships.
At nineteen to twenty-two years of age, adolescents may show an interest in casual dating and casual sexual encounters. Others may be more interested in committed, monogamous relationships. Adolescents around these ages will generally make wise decisions regarding sex because their emotional and cognitive maturity has improved.
Typically, however, adolescents do not have the necessary emotional and cognitive maturity to make wise decisions regarding sexual activity. Furthermore, they are unable to handle the possible consequences of sex. For instance, many adolescents do not realize the gravity of unprotected sex and may engage in this activity, exposing themselves to an unwanted pregnancy and STDs. Adolescents may also have the misconception that other forms of sexual intercourse, such as oral or anal sex, are safer than penile-vaginal intercourse. These adolescents, however, are still at risk for STDs or even pregnancy.
Because of these risk factors, parents should discuss sex and sexuality with their adolescent children. However, the discussion about sex is often difficult for both parents and adolescents. Parents may have difficulty bringing up the subject, and adolescents may feel embarrassed talking about sex with their parents. Despite the uncomfortable nature of the sex talk, it is an important part of an adolescent’s sexual development. Parents should begin talking to their child about sex before he or she hits puberty. This would likely make the parents and adolescent more comfortable talking about sex as the child grows. Parents should share factual information about sex with their child. In particular, they should explain the consequences of having sex and the dangers of unprotected sex, including the possibility of pregnancy and contracting STDs. Parents should also address any questions their child may have regarding sex. Other topics parents should discuss with their child include peer pressure and media pressure associated with sex, values and morals with regard to sex, and sexual orientation.
Ferrell, Keith. “Adolescent Sexuality: Talk the Talk before They Walk the Walk.” Healthy Children. American Academy of Pediatrics. Winter 2008. Web. 22 Sept. 2014. <http://www.healthychildren.org/Documents/Healthy-Children-Magazine/HealthyChildren-08winter.pdf>
Oswalt, Angela. “The Development of Adolescent Sexuality.” Seven Counties Services. Seven Counties Services. Web. 22 Sept. 2014. <http://sevencounties.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=41180&cn=1310>
Oswalt, Angela. “The Development of Sexual Orientation.” Seven Counties Services. Seven Counties Services. Web. 22 Sept. 2014. <http://sevencounties.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=41179&cn=1310>
Oswalt, Angela. “Middle to Late Adolescence (Ages 15 to 22): The Age of Romance.” Seven Counties Services. Seven Counties Services. Web. 22 Sept. 2014. <http://sevencounties.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=41181&cn=1310>
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