Friday, June 13, 2008

The many facets of human sexuality

Musa, a reporter and LGBTI advocate working at BTM, gave a presentation earlier today to workers of the Department of Transportation on Sexual tolerance and gender issues in the work place.  Yesterday, she asked me to help her with the presentation.  

Being an advocate and reporter on LGBTI issues Musa knew the topic very well she needed help with the technical aspects of power point as well as an objective view of her presentation. Over the years (especially while at Parsons) I have given plenty of presentations, power point and otherwise, so I can say that I know what makes a good presentation as well as how to engage an audience, and I was happy to help.

Many of Musa's slides where very dense and some covered more than one topic at a time.  We worked, thining out the density and bringing her points into clear focus.  In the process I learned a few things from the presentation.  Sexuality is more complex than man/women straight/gay, in fact their is a rainbow of gray separating these distinctions.  Musa defined the parameters for this rainbow by identifying 6 aspects of human sexuality:  
  1. Biological sex: This one seems straight forward at first, people are born as either males or females.  This infact isn't always the case.  Many people are born intersex, this can mean they have a physical or chemical (hormonal) combination of both sexes. These combinations can be in varying degrees adding a wide gray spectrum to the classic black and white perspective.
  2. Gender: Before sitting down with Musa I had assumed that gender and biological sex were essentially the same thing.  The definition Musa gave drew a clear distinction.  Gender is influenced by social norms, the expected social behavior for of a person.  
  3. Sexual Orientation:   Sexual orientation includes: heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual. This is a topic that has been discussed in the US's culture for over a decade; it is now widely understood that sexual orientation is influenced by nature as well as a persons choice.  This is not the case in Africa.
  4. Sexual Identity: Sexual identity is influenced by sexual orientation and practice but is also independent of both.  Because of social norms and perceptions many people who practice one form of sexuality will identify differently.  This was a new concept for me. I was introduced the the concept of MSM and WSW.  Musa taught me why an individual might adopt these terms instead of homosexual or Bisexual.  It adds a layer of choice for the individual and puts them in control of how they view themselves and how they are perceived by others.  
  5. Sexual Behavior: Is independent of sexual orientation and identity.  It refers to how an individual might conduct themselves when they are denied contact with the opposite sex.  This is a common occurrence in prisons, boarding schools, and mining communities.
  6. Sexual Practice: there are some sexual practices that are associated with certain sexual orientation but are practiced by both.
When looked at through this multi faceted lens sexuality become complex.  We are complex beings, rarely does a black and white description fit the bill.  The only simple label that can be applied to all of us is that of human.  

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