Is Human Sexuality Inborn or Socially Constructed?

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Is human sexuality inborn or socially constructed? Introduction Sexuality is a complex topic to discuss. The difficulty arises when determining whether sexuality is inborn or socially constructed. The world today is at crossroads to determine whether sexuality is a natural issue or an environment influenced issue (Nurture). We have many pressure groups lobbying governments to accept all form of sexuality as a natural issue on one hand, while the religious movements on the other hand are also pressuring governments to not recognize any form of sexuality other than that which is believed to be conventional sexuality (attraction to the opposite sex). There are various aspects that are to be taken into consideration, which will be observed and analyzed in this essay. I will interject my own analysis of the evidence and ideas, which I believe to be most valid in determining the nature/nurture debate of sexuality. Social construction of sex, gender, and sexuality I believe it is very important to understand the social construction of sex, gender and sexuality. Most people cannot differentiate the difference between sex and gender. Nelson states that sex is what we refer to as being male or female, the biological differences such as chromosomes and sexual reproductive organs. Gender is affiliated to behavioral traits such as being feminine and masculine that is usually defined by society or culture (1-2). When individuals are categorized by society both sex and gender are being considered: men who partake traditional male activities are seen as a masculine and women who partake in traditional female roles are seen as feminine. With that being said it is clear that society believes that there are only two sexes, a male who is said to have a penis and a female who has a vagina. Sex is also understood by chromosomes; if an individual is categorized as female it is
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