Variations in Sexual Behavior - Essay Example

Variations in Sexual Behavior Sexual behavior is an integral part of the human life. Variations among the individuals are seen basing on various aspects. They may occur according to the gender difference as well as difference in age. Sometimes the variation may take place according to the racial roots. Even in a single family, members of the same age may have different sexual behaviors. This phenomenon is also associated with the psychological process or the biological potential of the human beings. So a deep understanding of the subject is needed to fathom it. Heterosexuality is the commonest phenomenon, which has numerous examples among the human beings whereas homosexuality is also not very rare. The two words ‘homosexuality’ and ‘heterosexuality’ did not find any places in the Oxford Dictionary until the beginning of the 20th century. This was because of the fact that sexual subjects have always been considered as social taboos and discussions regarding them were really uncommon. Moreover, homosexuality is still regarded as a perverted sexual approach in some parts of the world. Society is a major factor in sexual behavior. This topic is also the part of situational sexual behavior. (“Genetic Variations Impact Sexual Desire”, 2008) Sexual behavior among people in the developed countries can never be compared with that of the under developed lands. As for example an American’s approach towards the subject will greatly vary from that of an Asian. In the societies of developed countries, sex is no more a taboo and this is why people are free to discuss about it. Therefore the sexual behavior is also different among them. Now as for the Asian societies sex is still a taboo and people are submissive when it comes to sex. Now, the point regarding something being taboo is important because it controls the balance in the society. Too much of sexual freedom in the Western countries have increased the number of sexual crimes over there. Incidents of adolescent pregnancy have become major social issue in the United States of America. On the other hand, sexual torture on women in some parts of the Asian continent is also because of the male domination in the sexual field where women are taken as mere objects of entertainment. Proper education is needed for the better understanding between the two sexes and otherwise the perfect balance will never come into existence. (Katz, 1995) Social aspects have deep influence on the sexual behavior of women whereas it does not really matter in case of men. Ovarian function of a woman can even be influenced as a consequence of social environment. Regularity of the menstrual cycle among the women is also controlled by it. There have been a number of experiments on the chimpanzees, which have shown different results in the sexual behavior. The manners among almost all the apes are more or less the same. Even traces of homosexuality have been found among certain apes. It is also a matter to judge how often a woman comes into contact with a man. This influences menstrual cycle too. On the other hand a woman deprived from proper social place is surely to suffer from sexual irregularities. These irregularities may sometimes lead to psychological imbalance among them. (Machatschke, Wallner, and Dittami, 2006) It is often noticed that the sexual behavior of a person changes as he/she gets matured. Sexual behavior in a teen may not remain same when he/she grows up. Teenage is the time when the world of sexual feelings unfurls before a human being. This is why sexual inquisitiveness is a common characteristic of this period. Once grown up and have known all about it, their behavior is a subject to change. The time period when changes in body and mind because of hormonal activities take place is known as puberty. Once a human being crosses this period, he/she is taken as a matured person. (“All about Puberty”, 1995) Religion and ethnicity all are associated with this subject. Sexual behavior of a community depends largely on the things the members of the community believe. As a matter of fact, sexual behavior changes from a rural to an urban set up. Lifestyle variations are the main factors that work behind this. Moreover, as it has been stated before, educational background has also to do with it. Sexual behavior in an uneducated person will never be like an educated one. As far as the religious background is concerned, atheists and pious people have been noticed for different approaches towards sex. This happens because a pious person will always follow the religious doctrine maintained by his/her community, whereas a non-believer will not follow anything and his/her philosophy regarding sex is freer than the former. No one knows what is to be regarded as ‘normal’ in sexuality. Human sexual behavior is a subject of great variation. Sexual interests vary to a great extent from one person to another. Very often, these variations become critical social issues. The problematic situations take place out of the prominent differences of sexual beliefs among the various members in the society. In this century variations in sexual interests are regarded as different styles and fashions. They have also become parts of both the urban as well as rural life. Sometimes, when any sexual behavior seems to be unacceptable and inviting risks for the society, the person is arrested. There are various laws according to the indecent sexual behaviors of people throughout the world. As it has been stated before, homosexuality has added a new dimension to the study of sexual behavior in this century; there are movements for sexual rights in almost any country. Tolerance towards the sexual variations is becoming prominent in many countries because of these movements. Today, the idea of sexual minorities has become a major theory. It is true although heterosexuals acquire the lion’s share of the world population; homosexuals and bisexuals are also parts of our society. So just like we have categorized religious minorities and ethnic groups, sexual minorities are also to be taken into consideration. (“Variations in Sexual Behavior”, 1992) Genetic variation is another important factor that is responsible for the variations in sexual behaviors among people. Choosing sexual mates vary according to the genders. In most of the societies the male members are seen to be choosy about their female sexual partners, but there are examples telling the opposite cases too. Biological researches have established the fact that variations in the sexual choice or the authority to choose take place because of the genetic differences. Intensity in courtship and mating pace vary greatly from one person to another. There are some common factors, which cause these variations. (“Seasonal Variation in Sexual Behavior of All-male Rhesus Troops”, 2005) Variations in sexual behavior may also take place because of the difference in season and weather. As for the animals there is a certain mating period in every year whereas human beings do not have any such fixed time. But seasonal changes especially the changes in weather and temperature have been noticed as quite influential factors as far as sexual behavior is concerned. Moderate and comfortable temperature increases sexual urge in the mind and body of theirs. However, as found among the rhesus monkeys, seasonal changes influence sexual behavior in women more than men. Adolescent girls with STD (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) have been seen to change more rapidly than their normal and healthy counterparts. External agents like drugs and alcohol can heavily influence the sexual behavior of human beings. Alcoholic people suffer while having sexual intercourse and drugs can make them completely infertile. (Fortenberry, Orr, Zimet, and Blythe, 1997) Hence to conclude, sexual variation is a huge topic especially when human beings are the subjects of it. These variations have found new streams in the field of biological education. Some of the variations are accepted, both in the fields of science and society, while some others are not. It is the variations that make human beings more interesting than other creatures and create problems too. References 1. “All about Puberty”, (1995), Kidshealth, available at http://kidshealth.levinechildrenshospital.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/puberty.html (accessed on September 23, 2008) 2. Fortenberry, J.D. , Orr, D.P., Zimet, G.D. and M.J. Blythe (1997) Weekly and seasonal variation in sexual behaviors among adolescent women with sexually transmitted diseases, Journal of Adolescent Health, Jun;20(6):420-5 3. “Genetic Variations Impact Sexual Desire”, (2008), Visible Body, available at http://www.news-medical.net/?id=18151 (accessed on September 23, 2008) 4. Katz, J.N. (1995) “The Invention of Heterosexuality”, available at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/assault/context/katzhistory.html (accessed on September 23, 2008) 5. Machatschke, I.H., Wallner, B. and Dittami, J. (2006) “Impact of Social Environment on Female Chimpanzee Reproductive Circles”, available at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WGC-4JKRTWS-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=2a96530a2f1e11cb3653d5047b9d8865 (accessed on September 23, 2008) 6. “Seasonal Variation in Sexual Behavior of All-male Rhesus Troops”, (2005), Reproductive Biology, available at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/110487246/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 (accessed on September 23, 2008) 7. “Variations in Sexual Behavior” (1992), Magnus Hirschfield Archive for Sexology, available at: http://www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/ECE6/html/sexual_minorities.html (accessed on September 23, 2008) References 8. “Seasonal Variation in Sexual Behavior of All-male Rhesus Troops”, 2005, Reproductive Biology, available at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/110487246/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 (accessed on September 23, 2008) 9. “Impact of Social Environment on Female Chimpanzee Reproductive Circles”, 2006, Ivo H. Machatschke, Bernard Wallner, John Dittami, available at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WGC-4JKRTWS-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=2a96530a2f1e11cb3653d5047b9d8865 (accessed on September 23, 2008) 10. “The Invention of Heterosexuality”, Jonathan Ned Katz, 1995, available at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/assault/context/katzhistory.html (accessed on September 23, 2008) 11. “Genetic Variations Impact Sexual Desire”, 2008, Visible Body, available at http://www.news-medical.net/?id=18151 (accessed on September 23, 2008) 12. “All about Puberty”, 1995, Kidshealth, available at http://kidshealth.levinechildrenshospital.org/kid/grow/body_stuff/puberty.html (accessed on September 23, 2008) Read More