The Differences and Similarities between Males and Females - Essay Example

? The Differences and Similarities between Males and Females al Affiliation Gender and sexuality studies are crucial areas that facilitate education and give awareness to people, on how to handle different sexes and understand their reactions to situations, both internally and physically, as exposed on the external features. Some people, especially the young people during puberty do not know how to react to certain situations. It hence becomes essential to know what they expect as they grow, and what defines how they respond to different occurrences. This paper discusses about the similarities and differences in the male and female sexes, which arise from their sexuality and responses, physical structures, and reproductive systems. Other differences can also occur in their attitudes and behaviors, as formed in their interactive settings and perceived psychologically; these however vary even among each gender. Much has been elaborated on the similarities and differences of the males and females in their sexual response during an arousal, biological functioning of the body, and the physical, structural formation of the sex. Keywords: Gender, Sex, Reproductive System, Male, Female, Electoral Tissues, Hyperventilation, Sexual Response, Sperms, Muscular, Blood Vessels, Sex Flux, Erection Introduction Humans have special abilities, which are determined by numerous factors right from birth, to development, till they form their own identities as mature people. When each person is born, the first features that define their physical identity are their sexual organs, which depict as to whether one is male or female. From that point, humans are brought up and socialized in particular ways that instill certain characters and model their behavior. Based on the sexuality and gender aspects, humans experience various situations, either differently or similarly to their opposite sexes. These factors can be realized by examining the broad range of both sexes’ behaviors, physical responses, and attitudes. Peoples sexuality and gender behaviors can therefore be studied, and allow people to know what to expect when dealing with the different genders and their reactions. However, some of the similarities and differences put across in the social setting remain to be a stereotype, because no evidence can prove their claims. Physical Structures Males have different physical sexual organs from the females. Based on the biological sex, which addresses the sexual and reproductive anatomy, males have external sexual organs (penis and testicles), while the females virginas are internally connected to the inner body of their lower abdomen. According to Sloan, external features on the male are the penis and the scrotum, while the clitoris and labia are for the females (2002). The differences in the reproductive system also occur from female ovulation and males’ ability to provide sperms. Females have the capacity to hold pregnancy after fertilization of ovum in the uterus, which lacks among the males. With age, as the human females develop, their mammary glands enlarge, and produce breast milk to feed the child when born. Unlike males, females receive monthly cycles (menstruation), where the lining of the uterus is shed and expelled from the body when a fertilized egg, fails to be implanted into the uterus (“The female,” n.d). Basically, the female reproductive system allows male penetration through the vagina to release the sperms, female production of the ova, and development of the fetus. On the general body formation, males have distinct features from the females. Although both have breasts, the males lack the capacity to function like for the females. Similarly, the male genitals have a single function in reproduction, which is to release the sperms; this makes females the only child bearers. According to Heidi, men have more body hair (especially on their chests), are considered to be taller on average, muscular, and heavier (more on the upper body) than the females, which makes them stronger (2007). In reproduction, the gender and genetic formation of the infants depends on the chromosomes of the parents, in humans the female's ova contain the X, while the male sperms have either the X or Y chromosomes. These biological differences within them dictate the formation of the ovaries or testes in the embryo. The features are visible during growth and development of a child from the womb, adolescence, puberty, and pregnancy periods in the case of the female gender. However, most of other internal, anatomical features, like the liver, heart, among others are similar in both sexes. Similarities in sexual responses For a young person experiencing sexual attractions, certain body changes and reactions to the situation could seriously affect them, if not aware of the sexual responses. While people might have first experienced the responses at varying ages, both the physical and psychological reactions are involved, which stimulate varying effects internally and externally to their bodies. Nipple enlargement is a common feature among the males and females, where the nipples erect, become hard and increase by diameter when sexually aroused. As a female, nipples begin increasing in puberty due to hormonal changes, in line with the breast enlargement to prepare them for child bearing. Apart from the sexual stimulation reasons, some women could experience it prior or during their menstruation. It is also common when pregnant. Muscle tension, and sex flush are always visible during stimulation, the latter arising from blood accumulation on the faces, forehead, and neck among other areas that cause darkening of skins (Bruess and Greenberg, 2009). These are experienced between the stimulation and orgasm phases of the sexual response process. At times, the sex glow could turn the skin reddish instead of darkening based on individual color differences. Internally, the blood flows towards the pelvic areas of males and females, and consequently to their sexual private genitals. The sexual excitement is accompanied by a rise in blood pressure, as the blood flows to their genitals and other areas to cause a rash. These affect their breathing when the excitement increases, such that they experience deep and rapid breathing (hyperventilation), followed by an effect of perspiration, and heart rate increase of up to 180 beats from the 72 normal resting pace during orgasm (Greenberg, Bruess and Conklin, 2011). The breathing rate begins rising gradually in the sexual stimulation and may increase to range of fifty breaths per minute, if the persons mange to reach orgasm phases. It is a common experience and people may find themselves in the situation, panting or sighing noisily. Differences in Sexual Responses The effect of the internal blood flow to male and female sexual organs causes the organs to react differently in preparation for sexual intercourse, the muscle tension, sex flush, breathing, and other minor activities also tend to vary in their occurrence. Taking an example of muscle contraction, males’ testicles get pulled upwards to the abdomen as the spermatic cord and scrotum muscles contract. The scrotum tissues change from smooth to thick when the skin pulls together. The muscle tension in females widens and lengthens their vaginas, which effectively contribute to the expansion of their cervix diameter to create enough space for the penis penetration (Greenberg, Bruess and Conklin, 2011). Prior to the muscle tension, the vaginal walls touch each other, but during the arousal, the tension makes the walls to draw away from one another (tenting effect). The blood flow into the male and female genitals cause them to increase in size; in the males, the blood fills the erectile tissues of the penis, which cause its erection. The pressure in the penis is said to double the blood in the main circulation, causing it to be large and hard. The female clitoris and inner lips (labia minora) swells when their tissues fill with blood, in turn making them very sensitive. As a result, the clitoral glans emerge from beneath the clitoral hood either fully or partially in the sexual arousal. Blood flow facilitates engorgement of the blood vessels, in turn causing the vaginal lubrication for comfortable intercourse. In men, the rhythmic contraction of the scrotum and muscles around the penis cause secretion of a lubricating fluid early in the arousal period, and effectively ejaculate at the climax of the sexual arousal. There is a variation in their orgasm experiences and how long it takes between the two sexes. Females are equipped to have repetitive orgasms within a short period, unlike men who are incapable in most cases (unless at puberty ages among few others); similarly, orgasm may follow several possible patterns (such as short and mild, or violent and extended) in females, while in males the pattern practically never varies (ejaculation has to follow orgasm and never the vice versa) (“The female response,” n.d). All the same, the psychosocial influences do not cause the responses within the different sexes to occur at the same time. Nipple erections appear earlier and tend to last for a short time in females than in males. Either of them could react faster than the other, such that one can reach or delay in one phase of the sexual response compared to the other. Based on their breathing and perspiration, while females can manage to have a repeated orgasm before hyperventilation, males have to wait for the hyperventilation in order to experience another orgasm or erection; at the climax of their sensation, females sweating occurs on their back, thighs, upper body on the chests, sometimes the head and neck, while males perspire on the their hands’ palms and soles of their feet (Greenberg, Bruess and Conklin, 2011). Other differences such as attitudes and behaviors that may vary between the genders are shaped in the development and interaction period from the socialization and as a psychological effect in their lives. However, people should be keen to avoid stereotypical differences established by the society, especially when it comes to female and male intelligence. Reference List The Female Reproductive System. (n.d). Retrieved from http://www.patient.co.uk/health/the-female-reproductive-system Sloan, E. (2002). Biology of women. 4th Ed. New York: Thompson Learning Greenberg, J. S., Bruess, C. E., and Conklin, S. R. (2011). Exploring the Dimensions of Human Sexuality. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett publishers Greenberg, J. S., and Bruess, C. E. (2009). Sexual Education: Theory and Practice. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett publishers The Female Response. (n.d). Retrieved from http://www.askdrkhaled.com/female%20sexual%20medicine/The%20Female%20Response.htm Heidi. (2007, March 19). Difference between Male And Female Structures (Mental And Physical). Retrieved from http://www.steadyhealth.com/articles/Difference_Between_Male_And_Female_Structures__Mental_And_Physical__a613.html Read More