Development of Sexuality in Children and Adolescents�

WORKING FOR CHILD SAFETY AND GENDER EMPOWERMENT SINCE 2001

CREATING SAFE SPACES

Establish Session Values

What will make this class a safe space for everyone to talk, share and discuss freely? Talk about things that are close to our heart? Things that bother us to make us sad? How do we want others to behave? How will we behave? How can we make it easy for all of us to understand as well as enjoy these sessions together? Some values - based off behaving - that may support us in sharing and discussing openly are:

Listening to each other with respect

Speaking with respect for each other

Trust each other

Any other value on which we all want to mutually agree?

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Group Activity

Time for activity: 15 min

• Gr A - imagine you are all aged 6-9 year old
• Gr B - imagine you are all aged 10-14 year old
• Gr C - imagine you are all 15-18 year olds
• Gr D - imagine you are all 19-24 year olds
• Gr E - imagine you are all 65-70 year olds

Discuss and note the answers to these

25 minutes: Each group briefly presents these to the whole class�Popcorn round - participants share their takeaway from today’s session (optional)

Make groups of 5-6 persons - If there are more than 5 groups, the extra groups repeat the activity assigned to Gr A, B and so on.

1. What are your doubts regarding sex and sexuality at this age? What are you confused about? Or what about sex and sexuality makes you feel uncomfortable?
2. Whom would you ask these doubts?
3. Who would you prefer answered your doubts/ discussed this with you?

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

What is Sexual

What Does “Sexual” Really Mean?

The word “sexual” is often misunderstood as referring only to the desire to have sex.

Originates from Latin "sexus", from root "sec-" meaning "to divide" or "section".

Originally meant the division between male and female (biological sex).

Later became “sexualis” in Latin: “pertaining to the sexes” (e.g., sexual reproduction).

Over time, popular use narrowed the meaning to "sexual intercourse", often assumed to mean heterosexual sex.

Think of “sexual” the way we understand “visual”.

Sexual refers to any stimuli (visual, auditory, touch, smell, taste, thoughts)�that activate sexual areas in the brain.

This activation may lead to physical sensations, including:

Increased blood flow

Nerve sensitivity

Feelings of arousal or attraction

“Sexual” does not always mean wanting sex. It includes a wide range of natural responses and experiences, not limited to behavior or intercourse.

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

What is Sexuality

The World Health Organization defined sexuality as:

“A central aspect of being human throughout life that encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction. Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours,practices, roles and relationships. While sexuality can include all of these dimensions, not all of them are always experienced or expressed. Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, legal, historical, religious and spiritual factors” (2006).

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Humans as Sexual Beings - A Lifelong Journey

​

Humans are sexual beings from birth to death (womb to tomb), the capacity to perceive and respond to sexual stimuli is natural and lifelong.

Just like babies are visual beings (with vision developing over time), their sexual awareness also evolves as they grow.

Infants and young children may feel pleasure from touching their genitals, which is a normal part of body exploration.

However, they do not experience romantic or sexual attraction the way adolescents or adults do.

Puberty triggers changes in the brain and hormones that lead to:

Sexual attraction

Desire for intimacy

Curiosity about relationships

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Development of Sexual Orientation

Components which influence each other -self identification, sexual behavior, romantic attraction, and sexual attractions

Can be fluid and can change in one’s life span

Gender identity and sexual orientation - entwined to some extent, more so in sexual minorities

Self identification with a particular sexual orientation may not occur until in adolescence or early adulthood

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Attitude towards Sexuality during Childhood

List your feelings and beliefs you have or have heard of.

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Normative Development of Sexuality: 0-3 years

• In utero erections in male fetus; Self stimulation
• Touch and physical closeness
• Curiosity and interest in bodies- self and others
• Interest in nudity- No inherent sense of shame / dirtiness
• Aware of differences in genitals- know and begin identifying with a particular gender

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Normative Development of Sexuality: 3-6 years

• Intense interest in physical sensation
• Fascination with words denoting genitals and excretory functions
• Increased curiosity - playing doctor games
• Beginnings of peer sexuality explorations, including genital examination
• Imitate adult social and sexual behaviors
• Modesty- privacy
• Aware of marriage and understand living

together

• Children are capable of protosexual feelings
• Identifies with a particular gender

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Normative Development of Sexuality: 6-9 years

• Asks questions about genitals, breasts, intercourse,babies
• Plays house, simulating mother/father roles
• Self-stimulation of genitals; shows others his/her genitals in private locations; Single or infrequent occurrences of peeping/exposing
• Compares genitals with siblings and peers (close in age). Use of slang /“dirty” words for genitals / sexual behavior
• Plays socio-sex games with same-aged children involving touching and looking (e.g., truth or dare).
• Affectionate behavior with peers (e.g.,kissing, flirting -by older children), physical intimacy with trusted adults(parents/caregivers)
• Tease, call names, make sexual comments to or about opposite-sex peers

Source: Suvidha Manual

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Normative Development of Sexuality: 9-12 years

• Puberty begins and continues

​

​

​

​

• Seeks out information on sexuality- from media, books and internet.
• Becomes aware of different forms of sexual orientation
• Have heard about sex, rape, abuse and wants to know more
• Seeks privacy- keeping the doors locked
• Aware of own and other’s sexual orientation
• Shows sexual interest in peers of similar age (feelings of sexual attraction)

​

​

• Shows secondary sex characteristic (signs of puberty)- result in anxiety and confusion; need reassurance that changes are normal
• Menstruation and nocturnal emission
• Masturbates (in private) for pleasure and orgasm

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Normative Development of Sexuality: 12- 19 yrs

• Pubertal changes continue - Sexual desires and urges increase
• Increased need for privacy
• Watching porn to satisfy curiosity
• Masturbation

• Need for sexual touching/exploration with same or other genders: sitting close, deliberate brushing against peer or adult body.

• Experience increased interest in romantic and sexual relationships.
• As youth mature, they experience strong emotional attachments to romantic partners.

• These attractions and attachments may be intense, but short lived.

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Changes during Puberty

​

Physical

(Body)

​

9-17 years

• Height, weight, muscles
• Pimples
• Broader - shoulder, waist
• Voice change
• Body hair - facial hair, chest, underarms, pubic
• Breast development
• Menstruation, white discharge
• Nocturnal emissions

Upto 24 years

• Independence
• Forming own values
• Decision making
• Self identity, orientation
• Handling choices
• Peer influence
• Interpersonal behaviour

​

Emotional

(Feelings)

​

9-17 years

• Mood swings
• Increased sensitivity
• Stronger emotions
• Self-consciousness
• Increased interest in relationships
• Heightened stress or anxiety
• Confusion/uncertainty

​

​

Psychological

(Values)

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Maturation of the Brain

• Adolescence - brain is still under construction- structural changes
• Prefrontal cortex (PFC)- matures by 24-25 years of age
• Prefrontal cortex - responsible for executive functions and decision making

• Amygdala - seat of emotions, impulsive and instinctive behaviour
• Adolescents depend on amygdala for problem solving and decision as PFC is still developing
• Risk taking, impulsive behaviour

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Laws related to Adolescent Sexuality

• POCSO Act criminalizes sexual activity with minors. This includes consensual sexual activity among adolescents.
• In a case in 2017 (Independent Thought v. Union of India), SC ruled that sexual intercourse between a married couple, where the wife is below 18 years, constitutes rape.

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Development of Gender Identity

• Feels “sameness” with others of a certain gender
• Influenced by multitude of factors
• Gender identity begins to develop in early childhood
• Begin to identify themselves with a particular gender around 2-3 years of age
• By 6 years of age- modelling the behaviours, gender roles of the gender they identify with
• By 6-9 years of age- engage more with same sex and similar aged playmates
• Adolescents- mostly the gender identity developed is in accordance with their assigned sex and gender
• Persists into adulthood

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Development of Gender Variant Identity

• Gender identity does not conform with the physical sex characteristics or the assigned gender at birth.
• Consolidation of gender variant identity is believed to be influenced by -

​

​

​

• Prenatal androgen exposure - may affect gender role behaviour
• Gender dysphoria - underestimated
• Reprimanding, ridiculing, punishing or physically restraining children - cause confusion, anguish and anxiety for the child who may withdraw socially and emotionally
• Dearth of studies w.r.t people with intersex identity

• Onset of puberty with its physical and psychological changes
• Sexual activity and exploration with others
• Peer and family and other social interactions

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Development of Sexual Orientation

• Transgender and gender non-conforming people- influenced by biological, sociocultural and developmental factors.
• Cass Model of Identity Development Stages:

• Adolescent begins to acknowledge and accept themselves. They seek out information and persons with similar orientations from the LGBTQIA+ community.
• They compare their feelings and experiences with others, have relationships that confirm their identity and become more accepting of their orientation.

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Extra Readings

Research Paper on children's sexualities

​

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Sexuality

Sexuality is much more than sexual intercourse

Humans are sexual beings throughout their lifespan

​

Foundation of sexuality- At conception

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Slide 4

This PowerPoint is part of a project to prevent gender based violence. This project is supported by Ford Foundation.

​

CREATING SAFE SPACES 

enfoldindia.org

Slide 9

Thank You!

ENFOLD PROACTIVE HEALTH TRUST

+91 802552 0489  |  +91 99000 94251  |  enfoldindia.org

SURAKSHITH APP

Information, stories on personal safety for children.

​

BAL SURAKSHA APP

Information on answering children’s questions, managing child sexual abuse.

​

STRI SURAKSHA APP

On crimes against women, laws, interventions and healing techniques.

​

All Apps in 10 languages, free on android Developed with UNICEF and MeitY (CDAC Hyderabad)

CREATING SAFE SPACES