Sexuality

Sexuality is an integral part of each person and it is present throughout their life, and it is an essential part of their identity and personality. It encompasses sex, gender identities, gender roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy, and reproduction. Sexuality starts to develop during childhood and it is discovered through masturbation, which is the stimulation of their genitals.

Because the sexual dimension interweaves people, humans do not have a sexuality, instead, they are sexual beings. Therefore, human sexuality is the ‘the way in which we experience and express ourselves as sexual beings’. (Rathus et al., 2005).

According to the World Health Organization, ‘sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, and relationships. While sexuality can include all of these dimensions, not all of them are always experienced or expressed.’ In addition, the interaction of different factors influence sexuality; these include biological, psychological, social, political, cultural, ethical, legal, historical, religious, and spiritual factors.

Because sexuality is multidimensional, understanding it requires the inclusion of different perspectives and ideas. It is inclusive and diverse by definition. It is not only manifested in the sexual act; rather, the sexual self influences other spheres of human behaviour. 

Human sexuality functions independently from reproduction and is guided by a series of motivations, including the search for pleasure. Sex, sexual intercourse or the sexual act are a form of communication between people which occurs through pleasure and desire. It must always take place based on a mutual agreement of respect. 

In many cultures, expressions of sexuality—and specifically of genitality—are still considered an enigma, a mystery, taboo, or a sin, and also a source of power, discrimination, and control. The negative understanding of sexuality is limited to an approach which centres on aspects related to reproduction and the risk of disease transmission. These prevail over aspects pertaining to pleasure. This perspective has conditioned and limited people’s sexual expressions.

Finally, in terms of the institutional sphere, humanistic and liberating sexual policies are necessary, to encourage women’s autonomy and respect for diversity.