Sexuality In Adolescence

Sexuality and the development of a sexual selfhood is a development that can occur during adolescence. While this categorical event may be universal, how it is experienced is unique based on personal, social, and contextual reasons. This development arises from an intertwining of physiological and psychological processes and is tightly related to identity.

Historically, research on sexuality has been driven by a public health agenda, which is overshadowed by moral panic and bad outcomes of adolescent sexuality (i.e. STIs, unintended pregnancy, etc.). This perpetuated widespread abstinence policies in institutions in which adolescents were involved. This heteronormative and patriarchal society rested upon the assumption that women were gatekeepers of insatiable male sexuality and that frankly, boys will be boys.

Moreover, in the past, as supported by both Freud as well as Erikson, general public sentiment was that “anatomy is destiny.” It was thought that an individual’s anatomy determined their gendered behavior as human behavior was thought to be directly related to reproductive processes. Furthermore, this perspective prompted Erikson to conclude that sexual behavior and gender were unlearned (nature) and instinctual. Now, these perspectives have been critiqued from the standpoint that there is more freedom to self-select gender roles than was previously envisioned.

In addition, there has been a recent shift to realizing that “part of adolescence is the very broad task of navigating how to become a healthy sexual adult.” Sexuality is a healthy part of development and, rather than seeing it as wholly wrong, it is valuable to understand developmental perspectives and motivations that underlie this growth. In particular, Tolma...

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...evelopment, which will involve the development of a new identity and likely combat denial, discrimination, and bias.

In conclusion, the transition towards viewing the development of a sexual selfhood as normative is a step in the right direction. However, it is important to recognize that the trajectory towards development of sexuality is highly variable on culture, context, and personal preference as well as a host of other dependent variables. Position in society, cognitive development, as well as identity formation all have the propensity of being influenced by the development and realization of a sexual selfhood. Living in the limbo of a social construction can present unique developmental trajectories worthy of exploration and further research as to evolve theoretical platforms and revise practices employed in school systems and other adolescent institutions.