What is Sexuality?
Sexual health, or one’s sexuality, is a complex concept that refers to more than just a person’s sexual behavior or identity. It includes sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, physical attraction, emotional attraction, and sexual fantasies. Sexuality encompasses not only our physical desires and needs, but also our emotional expectations and wishes, our cultural and social experiences, and our spiritual beliefs. Sexuality is an essential part of being human and it is important to feel comfortable in and to know one’s own body, identity, and orientation.
Exploring Sexuality
Exploring our sexuality may take on many forms. It can be simply having conversations with family, partners, and friends around topics such as identity, attraction, physical intimacy, intimacy boundaries and safety, pleasure, and consent. It can also mean exploring our sexual desires and interests, such as different sexual activities, using sex toys, reading about sex, and more. Exploring our sexuality is essential for understanding our bodies and feelings, creating healthy relationships, gaining confidence, and building self-esteem.
The Benefits of Understanding Sexuality
Having a clear understanding of our sexuality can have many positive benefits. These include:
• A greater understanding of ourselves and validation of our unique way of being in the world.
• Increased ability to make informed decisions around sex and relationships.
• An increase in communication skills, openness, and trust in relationships.
• A deeper appreciation and understanding of different sexualities and genders.
• Openness and acceptance of different sexual orientations and gender identities.
• A decrease in sexual related stigma and shame.
By understanding and exploring our own sexuality, we can also become more open and accepting of the different sexualities, genders, and orientations that exist in the world. Doing so can help us create a more inclusive and understanding environment when it comes to sex, relationships, and identity.