Sexual identity is said to be an individual's identity that mirrors their sexual perception. Everyone has a biological inclination that leads them to act a certain way, this is exact prior to being born. After which social and cultural factors causes changes in the way sexuality is oriented, in terms of heterosexual, bisexual, or homosexual tendencies. The combination of the components such as moral, religious, ethnic, occupational into a greater overall influence of developing the multi-dimensional construct of sexual identity. An individual's life, may or may not align with sexual orientation, biological sex or sexual behavior because sexual identity can change throughout a person’s lifetime.
Biological sexual identity, is sexual orientation that refers to the sex, which is male or female, of the erotic affections of spouses a person prefers. Sexual identity refers to the manner in which people see themselves as either male or female. This convinced personal identification corresponds with the physical appearance of the human body and the parental impressions seen in society. Gender identity even though it is different from sexual identity is somewhat similar, as gender separates the sexes as man or woman based on their expected behavior, while sex is performing the act that is biologically predisposed in everyone.
Studies done on mammals, points to the fact that inherent forces started by fertilization affects fundamental development in genitalia and other hormones. Which causes individuals to be either male or female and the respective behaviors, therefore it is the assumption that humans are of a similar nature. A study by Mandel, Hotvedt, and Green (1979) and Mandel and Hotvedt (1980), was done on the development of children grown in homes dominated by heterosexuality, homosexuality, and transsexuality. It was found that children raised by these individuals, when they entered adulthood, had a heterosexual orientation without conflict or homosexual interest.
Socially created sexual identity is sexuality influenced by an individual’s interactions in various family, community, cultural and societal activities. An individual’s identity is the psychological relationship he or she has to a specific social group structure, which allows them to form and convey their sexual identity. Studies have suggested that sexual identities are changeable, multidimensional, and personalized social edifices that reveals persons immediate perception and historical social groups. Past data proposes that sexual identity is shaped by persons, societies, and sociohistorical events, which makes it fluid. There are three stages of social sexuality, identity confusion, identity assumption, and identity commitment, respectively.
In the first stage people tend to be confused about their sexual orientation and becomes conflicted in trying to either, accept, redefine or repair it. The second stage, the assuming of various identities take over, as individuals try to avoid any questions or confrontations about their sexual orientation, in an effort to escape social stigma. Most times the choice of sexual orientation will cause individuals to conceal their choice or to integrate in a community that is in acceptance of their orientation. Sexual identity is a civil statement and not just in terms of the profoundly accepted heterosexuality but also ‘homosexual identity’ that has developed into ‘gay and lesbian identity,’ creating group cohesion and identity policies.
Subjective sexual identity – it can be argued that identity is the most subjective aspect of sexual orientation. When individuals fail to explore identity or have low levels of exploration, they tend to face isolated moments of confused sexual orientation. While individuals with increased awareness and understanding of sexual identity have demonstrated increased levels of well-being. Personalized sexual identity in many cases are largely embarked upon by individuals in search of intimacy and enhancement impulses. Persons in search of intimacy that is sex as an expression of love, tend to remain in the folds of biological predisposition, while persons motivated by sexual gratification, and tend to ignore sexual biology.
The sexual activity of individuals tends to follow six motivational reasons for sex. These include sexual gratification or pleasure, intimacy or bonding with spouses, pressure from peers or colleagues, fulfilling expectations of spouse or partner, and self-affirmation. Relationships develop intimately when individuals share their feeling, whether romantic or sexual. Many people become isolated and recoil from their potential for personal sexual development when faced with rejection. Therefore, allowing room for personal behaviors and the interpretation of others’ demonstrating their behaviors in sexual settings, which society illustrates by cultural habits, and personal views and feeds sexual orientation by suppressing the development of healthy identities.
The difference between, biological, socially created and subjective sexual identity are basic. The grounds of biological sexual identity rest on the human genetics of what makes each person a male or female, specifically the genitalia that through conception, is given to each person being born. On the other hand, a socially created sexual identities are influences from our family, community, culture and the global stimuli via the World Wide Web, television and other multimedia, which sway a person’s sexual orientation from the biological construction of which they are born. While a subjective sexual identity, is exactly what subjective means, it is a personal or individual choice or decision to accept a specific sexual orientation as one’s identity. However, I believe all three forms of sexual identity are related and cannot independently stand, especially as it regards the biological make of persons.
The line between gender and sexuality are to most people unclear, or are being used interchangeably. The biological makeup of individuals gives focus as to which roles to play that male or female, and society helps to shape the roles of being a man or woman. The subjectivity of sexual identity appears when the personal reasons for sex need fulfilment that is intimacy versus gratification. I accept as true that biological sexual identity is the correct theory because the distinctiveness that makes humans male or female are foremost. The social and subjective sexual identities are existent only because of influences from the society. The biological form and the innate natural instincts of humans lead them to the intended relations and bonding of heterosexuality. While, the culture and environs that persons are exposed to as well as the instincts to explore when necessary information was not dispersed leads to the attraction to same sex relations.
Works Cited
Anderson, Jami L. “Race, Gender, and Sexuality: Philosophical Issues of Identity and Justice.” Prentice Hall (2003). Web. 23 May, 2014 <http://philpapers.org/rec/ANDRGA>
Diamond, Milton. Ph.D. “Biological Aspects of Sexual Orientation and Identity.” In L. Diamant & R. McAnulty (Eds.), The Psychology of Sexual Orientation, Behavior and Identity: A Handbook. 29 Jan, 2011: 45-80. Specific Science for Sex and Society, University of Hawaii. Web. 23 May, 2014 <http://www.hawaii.edu/PCSS/biblio/articles/1961to1999/1995-biological-aspects.html>
Frable, Deborrah E.S. “Gender, racial, ethnic, sexual, and class identities.” Annual Review of Psychology Journal, 48 (1997): 139. Web. 23 May, 2014 <http://maxweber.hunter.cuny.edu/pub/eres/SOC217_PIMENTEL/frable.pdf>
