Sexual Orientation
Sexual
Identity
Sexual Attraction
Christians in the United States
continue to write and speak about sexual orientation and same-sex relationships
as if condoning or condemning same-sex relationships were the keys to Christian
identity.
The terms referring to human
sexuality can interfere with communication when people use the terms
inconsistently or imprecisely. In addition, new research changes our
understanding of human sexuality such that older terms may carry meanings that
are no longer substantiated by evidence.
I take a look at some terms and
cite a study to illustrate the complexity of sexuality. Given the confusion and
misinformation, I hope to return to the topic.
Sex
In the context of identity, sex refers to a
person’s biological status as male, female, or intersex. Intersex is a
biological state that includes an infrequent set of features linked to being
male or female. The common indicators of biological sex include external
genitalia, internal reproductive organs, sex chromosomes, and gonads.
Gender
People commonly use the words sex and gender as if they were interchangeable. Scientists use gender to refer to a
culturally defined set of attitudes, feelings, and behavior linked to
biological sex. Thus there are expectations about what it means to be a girl or
boy, woman or man. Clearly, in some cases, it will be important to clarify if a
person is referring to sex or gender.
Gender Identity
Gender Identity is the personal
sense of being male, female, or transgender. A person’s gender identity may or
may not match their biological sex.
Sexual Orientation
A consensus has developed that
the construct, sexual orientation, is multidimensional. Scientists argue about
the dimensions that compose the construct.
Three dimensions were proposed by
Laumann,
Gagnon, Michael and Michaels (1994). Each of the three can be viewed in
terms of a range of values rather than in terms of categories. The three
dimensions are Sexual Identity, Sexual Attraction, and Sexual Behavior.
Some people speak about sexual
orientation as if there are firm categories. Kinsey,
Pomeroy, Martin, and Gebhard (1953) referred to four types of sexual
orientation. These terms are in common use (homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual,
and asexual), although our understanding of sexuality has advanced in the last
few decades.
Sexual orientation can develop overtime
As youth gain an understanding of
their sexuality, they respond to questions suggesting that some of them change
their appraisal of their sexuality. Recent findings from a longitudinal study
by Rosaro, Schrimshaw, Hunter, and Braun (2006) are helpful.
- 90% of students identifying as gay or lesbian continued to report that identity
- The identification rate was lower for bisexual identity- 60 to 70% continued with that identity.
Transgender is a term that refers to people who experience a sense of gender identity that is different from other aspects of their sexuality such as their biological sex. Psychologists estimate about .5% of persons identify as transgender. People with the biological sex characteristics of a woman or man at birth may identify as transsexual if they identify as being of the opposite gender. A woman may use a recent term of transwoman and a man may use the term transman. Those who have sexual reassignment surgery usually just refer to themselves as a man or woman after the surgery.
Transgender includes people who cross-dress. Some persons prefer to cross-dress but do not report a desire to change their biological sex.
Transgender can include people who do not completely identify as male or female. Those who do not see themselves as fitting a category may call themselves, "genderqueer."
Sexual orientation and sexual variation is complex. People who identify as transgender may vary in their sexual orientation as straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or asexual. (APA resource) by author Eve Glicksman.
Research problems that affect our
understanding of sexuality
The way questions are phrased can
make a difference in how youth respond.
Youth respond based on their
personal experience and understanding, which can vary.
Some youth are unable or
unwilling to respond for different reasons including a lack of being sure about
their identity.
Some researchers include only
limited aspects of sexuality e.g., identity as gay or lesbian, which may not
yield accurate data when other relevant aspects of sexuality such as attraction
and sexual activity or behavior are ignored.
A Survey of Three Dimensions
2013 by Gisela Priebe and Carl
Goran Svedin
I included this survey because the
researchers looked at three dimensions of sexual identity in a large sample of
3,432 Swedish High School seniors. The measurements help identify current thinking
about sexual orientation and related concepts.
1. Sexual identity. The available choices included heterosexual,
homosexual (lesbian, gay) bisexual, unsure and None of these.
2. Sexual attraction was assessed in two ways. Emotional Attraction was assessed by asking students to use a
5-point scale rating their attraction to other and same sex persons from No
attraction = 1 to Strong attraction = 5.
The other aspect of sexual
attraction was Romantic Attraction.
This was phrased by asking if the students had ever been in love with a man/boy
or woman/girl.
3. Sexual behavior. The researchers asked 6 questions to identify
actual behavior of the students. They were asked about oral and anal sex and
vaginal intercourse. As you can see, the researchers were able to classify type
of sexual experience and relate that to other aspects of sexuality.
Selected Survey Results
Most students responded to the
items.
The results are complex because
many options were available to understand human sexuality. Overall, 24
categories could be formed.
Those who identified as biologically
male or female were different in their responses. As in previous studies,
female sexuality was more complex. They varied more on the three dimensions
than did male students.
The researchers note that a
number of the students had not yet been in love (8%) or had sex (26%). This can
influence how students answer questions about sexuality.
Heterosexual identity was most
closely linked to romantic attraction and sexual behavior.
Homosexual or bisexual identity
was mostly closely linked to emotional attraction.
An unsure identity was linked to
different types of emotional attraction. Most of those reporting unsure
reported bisexual emotional attraction.
Those reporting an asexual
identity were 1.4 % of the sample. As the authors note, the number may not be
stable given the life experience of the youth.
See the article if you are
interested in more details.
Thinking about Sexual Orientation, Sexual Identity
and Sexual
Attraction
People who work with youth and
have a reason or occasion to discuss sexuality will do well to better
understand the complexity of human sexuality.
How people ask questions about
sexuality can make a difference in the answers given.
Youth may answer the same question
in different ways over time because experience and understanding can make a
difference.
There are variations in sexuality
among those we perceive to be in the majority-- that is, those with a heterosexual
identity.
Sexual minorities are a diverse
group of persons. Relying on stereotypes will interfere with understanding a
person’s sexual identity.
People refer to sexual
orientation, sexual attraction, and sexual behavior in different ways. It’s
important to clarify what people mean.
As the study authors note, they
did not ask about kissing and sexual touch as a part of sexual behavior. These
sexual activities are a part of sexual identity formation.
Sexual abuse is common and it is
also linked to sexual identity formation. But sexual abuse cannot be identified
as a cause in a strict cause-effect relationship.
The way in which people express
their sexuality and gender identity depends on a complex interplay between
genetic factors, biological status, and life experiences. Research does not
offer sufficient evidence to explain the variations in human sexuality. The
extant evidence does not support an exclusive role for biology or environmental
factors, or personal choice when it comes to variations in human sexuality.
References
Priebe, G., & Svedin, C.
(2013). Operationalization of Three Dimensions of Sexual Orientation in a
National Survey of Late Adolescents. Journal
Of Sex Research, 50(8), 727-738.
doi:10.1080/00224499.2012.713147
Rosario, M., Schrimshaw, E. W.,
Hunter, J., & Braun, L. (2006). Sexual identity development among lesbian,
gay, and bisexual youths: Consistency and change over time. Journal Of Sex Research,
43(1), 46-58. doi:10.1080/00224490609552298
Click on intext links for other references
Resources
LGBT Issues
Transgender Identity
Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity
Read more about sexuality, morality, and Christian cultures in A
House Divided available from the publisher PICKWICK and
other stores e.g., AMAZON
Resources
LGBT Issues
Transgender Identity
Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity
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