Sexual Health PaperInstructions

Throughout the semester, you have learned about several theories and practices related to human sexuality and sexual health. This assignment will give you an opportunity to apply some of those major concepts, theoretical perspectives, and empirical findings. In completing this assignment, you will hone your critical thinking skills, recognizing and applying psychological principles, and communicating your understanding of individual, community, and organizational life experiences to a general audience.

Task:

This assignment will enable you to critically analyze the sexual health of a fictional character in popular culture - television, films or literature.

Step 1:

Select a fictional TV, movie, or literary character who will serve as a case study and analyze their sexual health, based on the criteria below. Haley James (Bethany Joy Lenz) from the TV series One Tree Hill

Step 2:

Review the SIECUS guidelines for sexual health (below):

LIFE BEHAVIORS OF A SEXUALLY HEALTHY ADULT

A sexually healthy adult will:

In human development

• Appreciate one's own body.
• Seek further information about reproduction as needed.
• Affirm that human development includes sexual development that may or may not include reproduction or genital sexual experience.
• Interact with all genders in respectful and appropriate ways.
• Affirm one's own sexual orientation and respect the sexual orientation of others.

In relationships

• View family as a valuable source of support.
• Express love and intimacy in appropriate ways.
• Develop and maintain meaningful relationships.
• Avoid exploitative or manipulative relationships.
• Make informed choices about family options and relationships.
• Exhibit skills that enhance personal relationships.
• Understand how cultural heritage affects ideas about family, interpersonal relationships, and ethics.

In personal skills

• Identify and live according to one's own values.
• Take responsibility for one's own behavior.
• Practice effective decision-making.
• Communicate effectively with family, peers, and partners.

In sexual behavior

• Enjoy and express one's sexuality throughout life.
• Express one's sexuality in ways that are congruent with one's values.
• Enjoy sexual feelings without necessarily acting on them.

Discriminate between life-enhancing sexual behaviors and those that are harmful to self and/or others.

• Express one's sexuality while respecting the rights of others.
• Seek new information to enhance one's sexuality.
• Engage in sexual relationships that are consensual, non-exploitative, honest, pleasurable, and protected against disease and unintended pregnancy.

In sexual health

• Use contraception effectively to avoid unintended pregnancy.
• Prevent sexual abuse.
• Act consistent with one's own values in dealing with an unintended pregnancy.
• Seek early prenatal care.
• Avoid contracting or transmitting an STD, including HIV.
• Practice health-promoting behaviors, such as regular check-ups, breast and testicular self-exam, and early identification of potential problems.

In society and culture

• Demonstrate respect for people with different sexual values.
• Exercise democratic responsibility to influence legislation dealing with sexual issues.
• Assess the impact of family, cultural, religious, media, and societal messages on one's thoughts, feelings, values, and behaviors related to sexuality.
• Promote the rights of all people to accurate sexuality information.
• Avoid behaviors that exhibit prejudice and bigotry.
• Reject stereotypes about the sexuality of diverse populations.
• Educate others about sexuality.

Source: SIECUS (2004). Guidelines for comprehensive sexuality education: Kindergarten -12th Grade, 3rd Ed. New York, NY: SIECUS.

Step 3:

For each one of the criteria from the SIECUS list, determine whether the character displays that behavior and think of an example from the film, book, or television show that illustrates your determination regarding that criterion. You must discuss at least one aspect from each of the six categories on the SIECUS list.