Biology in Sexual Orientation Discussion

Biology in Sexual Orientation Discussion

Biology in Sexual Orientation Discussion

Adolescents continuously experience changes to their bodies that do not occur overnight, but with this process of change there is a sexual maturity which occurs over a span of several years (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). Involved with this sexual maturity the roles of biology, culture, socialization, and age will impact a person’s sexual orientation.

Biology in Sexual Orientation

Biology in sexual orientation is determined normally when a child is born differentiating between a baby being male or female, based on physicians visualization (Lev, 2004). However sexual orientation through a biological lens is not so cut and dry, but actually quite complex. The complexity involves contributing factors which involve “genetics, hormones, morphological, chromosomal, gonadal, biochemical, and anatomical” which affect our bodies and the way our brains signals us to act as a male or a female (Lev, 2004). I am reminded of how adults determine what their child plays with when it comes to their gender roles, cars and trucks for boys while dolls are only for girls.

The sexual orientation of a child is determined during conception but what causes the differentiation is the presence of masculine hormones produce gonads allowing the genitalia to be external (Lev, 2004). The female will not have the presence of male hormones allowing female gonads to dominate and produce internal genitalia (Lev, 2004). The debate regarding sexual orientation as either a choice or this is the way I was born plays a significant role in the biological sense of a person’s life.

On one hand if someone says they were born heterosexual, but then say being a homosexual is a choice there is a major disconnect that is placing judgment instead of biological facts on a group of people because they are unlike the majority. Personally it does not have to so complex with trying to understand if someone is born straight or gay, but the simplicity should be we were born to love.

Culture and Socialization in Sexual Orientation

Culture and socialization engage parents and children in different ways, and I do not think many cultures realize the significant role it plays in sexual orientation. Cultures that promote sexual activity in their young people may be unheard of, but I think it is because adults understand the dynamics behind being sexually active. The relationships between boys and girls is allowed up to a certain age, and then adults begin to act weird by not allowing their child to continue playing with the friend they played with for years.

Many cultures influence their children’s sexual orientation by showing examples teaching boys how to behave like men, and girls how to behave like ladies (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). Times are changing and society has begun to accept people for who they are and not what everyone says they should be. The struggle is still present and we have a long way to go, but we are not where we used to be. I overheard a mother express herself to a friend about her son’s sexual orientation and what I heard made a lot of sense. The son let his mom know he was gay which she accepted and actually told him she already knew he was from a small age. The mom did not have a problem with her son’s sexual orientation, but her fear is the way society will treat her son who she loves dearly.

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Just like parents are aware of the responsibilities becoming sexually active entail, this mom knew the persecution and judgment her son will face because he is gay. Support him no matter what would have been my advice to this mom, but again I overheard a conversation, and I remained quiet. In many cultures girls are expected to babysit, cook, or clean; while boys play rough house with their father’s. Children normally are taught gender differences by their parents or the environment that they live in teaches them how boys act versus how girls should act (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015).

Biology in Sexual Orientation Discussion