Sexual Attitude Shaping My Sexual

Sexual Attitude

Shaping My Sexual Attitudes and Values

There are many factors that contribute to the shaping of one's sexual values, beliefs, attitudes, and perspectives, and all of these contribute to the sexual expression, interaction, and overall sexuality of each individual. Learning about sex through social and sex education programs, talking with friends, the influence of media, and the values and attitudes that are passed down from parents and other family members as well as other culturally and/or ethnically specific values all contribute to personal concepts and attitudes towards sex. My own values have been significantly shaped by certain of these factors, while others are of somewhat less importance though still present in my own personal experience. The following paragraphs will provide a brief overview of the influences on my sexual attitudes and values.

One of the biggest influences on the development of my sexual attitudes and values was my upbringing, and the combined efforts of my parents and my cultural background. My parents have been happily married for almost three decades and have explicitly and implicitly instructed me on the importance of being monogamous. Coming from a fairly religious background as well, monogamy and the idea of "purity" somehow being associated with virginity seems all but inescapable. Throughout my adolescence, certain models of "good" and "bad" behavior and sexuality would be brought to my attention by my parents or discussed in religious context, mentioned in sermons, etc., and all of these experiences greatly influenced my developing attitudes on sexuality. The media's influence during this time was also quite strong, but rather than seeing the media's images of overt sexuality as preferable my views developed -- with assistance -- as a direct reaction against such media messages. That is, popular media presented a view of sexuality that was entirely different from what my parents and cultural background suggested was proper, and these media images served not to temper my own views but rather to reinforce them.

As I grew older and my friends began experimenting with and discussing sexual behavior, my attitudes began to shift. While I still highly value monogamy and a sense of faithfulness as well as the "purity" that comes with having only one loving partner -- while I still see sex and sexual acts as something more than merely physical, that is -- I also no longer believe that sex is sinful or as degrading as it is made to seem in certain Christian contexts. It was the influence of my social group that led me to believe this, as I believe my friends are good, kind, and decent human beings regardless of what their attitude towards sex is or what their sexual practices are, and I also found that an acceptance of human nature was more in keeping with my religious views than the condemnation of certain ultimately harmless behaviors if they are engaged in by knowledgeable and consenting adults. My friends' real world experiences, in other words, tempered the beliefs that had been ingrained in me by rote instruction and indoctrination. In this way, my parents, my culture, and my peers were the strongest influence on my developing attitudes towards sexuality and the values and beliefs I still hold when it comes to sex itself.