Abstract
The sexuality conversation is critical for the parents and children of all ages. To the adolescents, this discussion is important since it is at the center of their growth and development. During adolescence, the teenagers' experience difference physical and emotional changes that affect their sexuality. The sexuality for the adolescents can be divided into four main areas, the physical development, romantic relationships, sexual identity, and their sexual behavior. Each of these areas presents a different aspect towards sexuality that the teenagers need to know about for them to make informed decisions on what is happening to them or later in their life. It is, therefore, important to keep the conversation going about the sexuality of the adolescents.
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Introduction
Sexuality is a critical subject in humanity. During the growth and development of children, sexuality becomes an important aspect of their lives. It, therefore, becomes necessary to openly address these issues involving sexual development, the sexual desire, and how the children develop their sexual identity. However, to many parents and guardians, the discussion of their childrens sexuality is an uncomfortable subject. Peer counselors are tasked with the need discuss with parents and their children about the human sexuality. One of the groups that should understand their sexuality is the adolescents. Adolescents are at the center of the sexual conversation since they are the stage in their life where puberty begins. Puberty sees their bodies maturing at a fast rate and some of the development can sometimes become confusing for the teenagers. As a result, it is important to talk to the teenagers about their sexuality due to the changes that are experienced to their bodies during puberty. This paper discusses the sexuality of teenagers.
Physical Development
Most people hold the belief that any sexual conversation that happens to children should begin after the offset of puberty. Puberty is the period in adolescents where body and sexual maturation starts. It is after the offset of puberty that many of these people start exploring their sexuality. Parents and the guardians at this time feel obliged to step in and discuss the issue of sexuality with their adolescents. However, sometimes it is often too late. For the adolescents, it is essential to encourage a god wellbeing and healthy sexuality which includes being in acceptance that human beings are sexual beings. There is, therefore, a need for the adolescents to understand what is happening to their body so as to help them emotionally handle their future sexuality. Communication is the best approach ensure that the adolescents grow while having a positive attitude towards their sexuality. This can aid them in making important health decisions in the future and help them enjoy their growth and development.
The basic changes that occur in an adolescent during puberty include changes in the reproductive system of the adolescents. These changes are both physical and emotional in that the maturation also bring huge hormonal changes within the body of the teenagers. To most people, puberty starts at around 12, but begins at around 6 or seven and continues till adolescence. Hormones during this growth are excreted for both genders: testosterone for boys and estrogen for the girls. From these body and emotional changes, comes the development of sexual feelings and attraction between the teens. Attractions mean that the teens start developing a liking for each other and wanting to develop intimacy with the people they develop a liking for, even if not involving any sexual arousal. These form the basic changes that happen during puberty.
Apart from the primary changes that occur to the teens, secondary changes also occur as a result of the hormonal release in the body. When comparing how these secondary changes occur in both boys and girls, the changes seem to occur in an opposite spectrum. Girls are the ones who first show exterior anatomical changes as compared to boys whose changes are mainly hormonal changes that lead to internal changes. For girls, the growth of the spurt is the first sign of the puberty offset. They also change in height. Girls experience the growth of their breasts as well as growth of hair in their pubic areas and on their armpits. Hips also widen for an easier childbirth. Girls experience their first menstrual cycle during this period. In general terms, girls have a better reaction to these changes occurring in their bodies if they are prepared in a good way on the onset of the puberty. This is in contrast to those who have not been prepared for puberty who find it difficult to deal with these changes that happen to them. For boys, the onset of puberty usually happens without any events that are visible to the public at first. The reproductive parts such as the testes, penis, and prostate begin to grow. The voices of the boys also deepen while hair is grown in their armpits and pubic areas. As the case for girls, boys who are well prepared for the changes of their bodies consider these changes to be positive as opposed to those who are not prepared for what is happening.
Romantic Relationships
One of the common feelings associated with sexuality for the adolescents is romantic relationships. Research has enabled the basic understanding of romantic relationships between boys and girls. According to Schalet, despite the depiction of teenagers as being driven by hormonal surges and being sex-crazed, the teenagers have an interest in developing lasting relationships with each other as they together explore the huge world of sexuality. It is therefore not always about engaging in sexual contact. Even at an early adolescent age, it is critical to most of these teenagers that they engage in romantic relationships and explore dating. It is important that these teens explore dating and have these interpersonal connections since it can lead to some of the most crucial development on their part. Furman adds that that about 50% of all the teens who were having romantic patients by the age of 16 spent most of their time with their partners than they did with their families. This shows that these interpersonal connections in ensuring that they learn how to deal with their feelings of attraction.
Additionally, spending much time with their partners can also equip the teenagers with an emotional literacy. What this means is that the teenagers develop a foundation by which they can understand their sexual intentions, and behaviors, and can be able to learn what motivates them. It is the belief of many theorists that having teenage relationships is a crucial part of the teenagers lives are they can learn what happens and how to engage in relationships in future. Meier & Allen give an example of the US where there is a significant delay in marriages. In such a case, the teenagers do not enter marriages without the know-how of what happens or are expected of them in such cases. This experience that they start to get in the marriages is progressive on that which they continue to get since from their teenage years. It is, therefore, necessary to appreciate the changes that bring about sexuality in the forms of physical and emotional attraction to the teenagers.
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Sexual Identity
Consequently, due to the development that occurs in their bodies and the hormonal changes, teenagers feel the need to form their sexual identity. With the change, comes sexual desires the need, and the hope for sexual fulfillment. It is during this time that most people develop a concrete sexual identity. It is the notion of the society that people begin their life as being heterosexuals. If this class does not fit their sexual desires, then they move to other sexual umbrellas. This change is important for the teenagers since it is at this stage that some of them begin experiencing a feel of experimentation and exploration as well as begin to question their sexual identity. It is, therefore, important to discuss the issue of sexual identity especially of the classes considered as sexual minorities. It can become emotional since some parts of our society discriminate against transgenders, gays, bisexuals and lesbians. It can be discouraging for adolescents experiencing these feelings and feeling that such attractions are abnormal. As a result, it is important that the teenagers understand that these feelings are normal and acceptable in the society.
Sexual Behavior
Lastly, sexual behavior is another issue surrounding the sexuality of the teenagers. The approach taken by the teenagers to the issue of sexual behavior is excitement, curiosity, and to some, anxiety. These approaches are mostly due to the feedback that they have received from those whom they consider close to them. Positive feedback means that these teenagers are willing to show readiness and maturity emotionally. Additionally, it means that the teenagers are ready and have every intention of protecting themselves with all unintended instances such as sexually transmitted diseases or even pregnancies. The feelings that the teenagers feel are actuated by first beginning to connect with other persons intimately and can proceed to sex, and masturbation. It is important for the adolescents to understand the risks that engaging in sexual behavior can have and this can ensure that the teenagers protect themselves accordingly.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the issue of sexuality in adolescents is an issue that needs to be discussed wholesomely. The adolescents need to understand sexuality to be able to make informed decisions about their life. Additionally, by understanding their sexuality, adolescents can be able to protect themselves from any issues related to their sexual behavior. These are some of the reasons necessitating the talk on sexuality. It has been noted that for the teens who have little or no awareness of what is happening to them can lead to a negative attitude towards the changes happening to them.
