Sexual Identity Development

Adolescence is a dynamically evolving theoretical construct informed through physiologic, psychosocial, temporal, and cultural lenses. The most readily recognized hallmark of adolescence is the pubertal metamorphosis or chest rating the visible transformation of a “child” into an “adult. Development occurs both within the individual and through interactions with the environment. At the stage of adolescences, it’s hard for teenagers to figure out their sexual identity because girls menstruate cycle begins, the level of adult hormones increases, the pubic hairs begin to grow, development of sex interest increase, and one begins to wonder who they really are. The process of accepting one’s sexual orientation is particularly difficult for adolescents who identify as LGBTQIA and face that is not necessarily accepting of anything outside traditional expectation of

This paper examines the social aspects of the sexual identity in America, illustrating how sexual identities have progressed, evolved, and transformed. Social categories have been created as a tool used for social divide and control, inadvertently creating stereotypical facts and discriminatory opinions on sexes; while also helping create social and welcoming communities, whose goals are to diminish ideals such as those. Concluding, this paper will have explained the dichotomous categories of different sexualities and the divides within them. The already established sexual divide leaves no room for those stuck in the in between of today's society, especially one as progressive as America’s. Derived from the examples giving, this paper argues

Fassinger’s Model is influenced by racial and ethnic identity development models as well as gender identity development models. The theory offers a more inclusive perspective of various individuals in their sexual orientation identity formation (McCarn & Fassinger, 1996). Fassinger’s Model was developed in an attempt to address the critiques of previously existing models. Fassinger’s model differs from other preexisting models in that the authors clearly distinguish between the two processes of personal development and group membership of same-sex sexual orientation (Evans et. al, 2010). In contrast to other models, this model uses phases versus stages, in order to provide flexibility and to demonstrate that

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community has never received as much attention as they are right now. Much of this attention is stemming from this population struggling to obtain the same rights given to the remainder of the population. The LGBT community faces many challenges in their personal system, social environment, and then in the public system. In working with the LGBT population, the social worker needs to examine how the individual views themselves, not only through sexual identity, but as an individual. We need to look at the prejudices and condemnation they have encountered which may have led to further uncertainty or confusion.

The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community is among the subculture groups that are stigmatized by the U.S. society. They are deviant of the heterosexual norm. Society labels sexualities, which expressions of sexuality it values or stigmatizes. The meanings of sexuality change over time in different contexts, which reveals the sexuality as defined by the society. Sexuality is defined as “the ways we experience and express ourselves as sexual beings”. Sexuality is more than sexual behaviors, it encompasses socially constructed meanings of sex and gender, which includes the culturally specific norms, beliefs, traditions and taboos that are related to sex. For an instance sex between an adult and a child is considered a taboo in the U.S. If sexuality is socially constructed, so are sexual identities. What makes a man “gay” or “straight”? Is a straight guy who slept

During this time the LGBTQ generally weighs the advantages, disadvantages and risks, recognizing what they have to lose or gain. Acceptance by others at this point is crucial to developing a positive self-esteem and self-concept. Acceptance by others usually paves the way to tell more people as the LGBTQ finds acceptance for who they are. Rejection will validate the negative feeling that the LGBTQ started out with, further injuring their self-esteem and causing them to return to internalizing their identity as seen in the pre-coming out phase (2). Because acceptance is necessary to the development of a healthy self-concept, it is important for the LGBTQ to cautiously choose whom they will disclose their identity to.

Picture an African American High School student who is struggling with their sexuality identity. He is experiencing anxieties from high-achieving parents, which both attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities. His father was the star player on the football team and served in the military. His mother is a partner in a prestigious law firm. In addition, his older brother won the Heisman trophy, and his sister just landed a job working at the Whitehouse. Needless to say his parents, has high expectations for their children. He is currently a B average student, and is working hard to bring his grades up. Also, the transition from middle school to high school has added additional stress to this student’s life. We can conclude this

little literature on bisexual nature, so they were more likely to be “unsure” of their

Levy (2009) discussed another important influence on the path toward developing a sense of identity, sexual identity. Levy (2009) points out that most stage models focus on what is considered typical development. Robbins et al. (2012) report that an unsuccessful identify development could result in confusion and a sense of inferiority. It could be easily assumed that individuals who do not identify as heterosexual would struggle to successfully resolve their identity. Adolescence is well known to be a time when young adults start to sexually explore and establish their path in life. The political climate the last year and a half speak to the struggles that individual face when they do not identify as heteronormative. Stifling one’s sense of identity to meet the expectations of society could play a major role in developing a sense of identity.

The term homosexual was not even officially part of the English language until the 1950’s (Levy, 2009). Homosexuality may not be accepted into one’s society or household, leading a teenager to feel highly insecure about their sexual identity. Feelings of confusion may be difficult for some teens to discuss because of fear that others will reject them. Some people may withhold these feelings for many years and possibly for the rest of their lives. A theorist named Vivian Cass created a model of development that depicts the stages one goes through when they become aware of same-sex behaviors and eventually accept their homosexual identity. This theory suggests that a person goes through six stages which include identity confusion, identity comparison, identity tolerance, identity acceptance, identity pride, and identity synthesis (Levy, 2009). The theory also emphasizes the importance of one’s interpersonal environment during this process. The stability and change in this process is highly influenced by the congruence or incongruence that occurs in one’s interpersonal environment (Levy, 2009).

Are issues of diversity represented fairly, realistically and accurately or problematically in Australian schools in regards to issues of gender, sexuality and sexual identity.

Some of the researchers found that the boys have more adjusted problems while some of the researchers found that girls faces. Promptly taking after separation, Kaye found that both young men and young ladies demonstrated poorer execution on accomplishment tests contrasted with kids from in place families. Then again, by the fifth year taking after separation, young men's evaluations and accomplishment tests were antagonistically influenced, while young ladies' were most certainly not. Additionally, Hetherington et al found that, promptly taking after the separation, young men and young ladies encountered some interruption in play circumstances,

Various studies recognize a deficit of information related to lesbian, gay, and bisexual young adults with even less information related to transgender individuals (Muller & Hartman, 1998; Ryan, Russell, Huebner, Diaz, & Sanchez, 2010; Tharinger & Wells, 2000). LGBT individuals seeking social support from others to gain understanding of themselves and their own development may become discouraged in their endeavors. Many family members and medical professionals lack sufficient knowledge in sexual orientation and/or identity development, believing LGBT identification as a result of external influences or just a “phase”

The everlasting discussions and debates about the LGBTIQ group has gotten more popular as awareness is given to the variations of sexual orientation and gender identity. According to The Free Dictionary, LGBTIQ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer/ Questioning, which represents the group of people with sexual orientations or gender identities different from the heterosexual or cisgender majority. The reasons of this anomaly have been explained and accepted by many scientists that it is not a choice but rather a biological and unchangeable feature from birth.[1] The irrational fear of, aversion to, or

The sexual orientation identity development is a theoretical model that conceptualized the resolution of internal conflict related to the formation of individual sexual identity. For sexual minority people, it is commonly known as the coming-out process (Bilodeau & Renn 2005). There have been many different models elaborated to explain such process. All of them share similar stages: awareness, crisis, and acceptance (Loiacano 1989). When individuals become aware of their queer feelings and attraction, they try to block these homosexual feelings by constantly denying and minimizing them. This mechanism of defense leaves negative sequelae in their overall psychosocial well-being (Bilodeau & Renn 2005). Individuals tend to pass by a