MODULE
2. UNFOLDING THE BIOLOGICAL SELF
“Don’t judge the book by its cover”.
It’s easy for other people to judge or define us by looking at our physical
appearance. We can’t avoid that nowadays. We are defined based on the outside
but not deep within. People can easily remember us by recalling of some of our
features but not because of what we have inside or where we came from. For now,
physical attributes are more considered by others on how they define us. As we
talk about the BIOLOGICAL SELF, we realize that what we see outside doesn’t define
what really in the inside or our PHYSICAL SELF.Our
height, weight, skin color, and other physical characteristics did not show up
in our lives randomly. Instead, it is done genetic transformation and
biological development through heredity.
Heredity. If you have a brown skin
color then maybe it’s your mother’s skin color. You have a curly hair, seems
like you got it from your dad. That’s how heredity is done. One trait of a
parent can be transmitted to its offspring and when these traits are formed into
specific information, these are called gene, or heredity’s basic unit. The
23rd chromosome in our body is what we called sex chromosome or the one
that identify us from being a female or male. As years go by, we develop in
ourselves maturation or the phase wherein completion of growth of genetic
characteristics occur. This is also the stage that we unfold or discover the
traits we get from our parents. It may lead into physical changes as we enter
adolescence.
**so thank your parents if you
really have those good and amazing genes**
Our physical self is not only
affected by our physical features but also the effect of our environment. In
one’s life development, he/she is exposed in an environment that may influence
him/her in shaping her physical self. Those kinds of influences may come from
our social network, societal expectations, and cultural practices. Family
is our first social group. We are molded inside our home. We are taught how to
act based on our age and we are taught to be responsible in taking care of our
own body. As we stay inside our houses, practices our passed unto us like
hygiene or what food we usually eat. As we enter adolescence, we became
more conscious on our weight, facial features and other physical features. In
order to break our consciousness, we engage ourselves to those activities that
make us more attractive and acceptable due to peer pressure. One more thing
that affects one’s physical beauty is how contemporary media portray ideal body
goals for men and women. They portray more slim and muscular bodies to convince
audience to involve their selves in a healthy lifestyle.
In achieving physical well-being,
there are circumstances that we focus on our physical beauty and forget other
things that may help us in having a better physical self. We should take note that
in order for us to achieve a deserving physical self, we should remember;
first, healthy eating. We should eat right amount of foods and good
combinations of food to sustain our healthy diet. Embracing a healthy lifestyle,
as we target a healthy lifestyle we should forget vices such drinking, smoking
and other unhealthy habits. We should discipline ourselves if we really want
that healthy lifestyle. We should engage our bodies in physical activities such
as running, going to the gym or doing sports. These activities help us to gain
a stronger immune system. We should maintain proper hygiene. Our hygiene
reflects our personality and it helps us to feel good about ourselves. Lastly, be
confident; we can go out without our make up on or nice outfits because
our best get up is by having that confident that no one can take away from you.
Our confidence is our main weapon to others that who doesn’t accept for who we
are.
**start being healthy now ;)**
Second part of this module talks
about one’s SEXUAL SELF. This one distinguish the physical
attributes such us our sex organs. Also, in this part talks about the
development of secondary sexual characteristics wherein the physiological
responses and, beliefs and behavior associated with sex are triggered. This
happen commonly during the adolescence stage of a person. In this stage, one’s
sex curiosity is highly exposed due to the influence of biological and
socio-cultural factors that is why most confusion about their gender
orientation happens during this stage.
Our sex is given during birth. It is
the viral part of our identity. We defined as men and women with our respective
sexual genitals (penis for males and vagina for females). At some point in
puberty, we observe changes in our human body as well as actions or feelings.
This is where secondary sexual characteristics enter. Common changes for men
are: growth of facial and bodily hair, appearance of Adam’s apple, and
deepening of voice. Here in our country, we practice circumcision four young
men as they enter puberty stage. On the other hand, menstruation for women
occurs. Alongside with these happenings are physical developments in their
body. Also, discharge of hormones for young men (testosterone) and women
(estrogen) occur and it triggers changes in their respective reproductive
system. In this stage also, male are starting to produce sperm while female are
to produce eggs. This is the stage where young men and women are triggered to
do things that satisfy their sexual needs. In connection with this, humans
should be responsible enough with this action because it may result in various
life responsibilities such as teenage pregnancy or worse, sexually transmitted
disease.
As years go by, one’s gender
orientation may change. It can be due to the environment where he/she moves. As
said, “gender is an identity that is learned and embraced by an
individual.” Gender is affixed on societal beliefs and norms. Gender of a
person can be personal or due to social construct. Sometimes, gender is affixed
by societal beliefs and norms, that’s how social construct does. With social
construct, gender includes the produced personality traits, attitudes,
behaviors and values of a person. The mentioned roles are said to be social
expectations from men and women individually. Men are expected to be strong and
be the dominant while women are usually seen to be submissive and demure.
Let’s admit the fact that nowadays,
teenagers do sex with their respective partners by claiming the usual reason or
lines such as “they love each other”, “they are ready to be committed to each
other” or even “they trust each other and you know what they’re doing”. But in
my perspective, that’s not enough. You don’t do sex because you trust your
partner and you know what you are doing. Doing sex should undergo a deep and
serious thinking because the result after can either be a nice one or not most
especially if the young couple will not really take it carefully or simple to
say, didn’t use protection at all. If the latter happen, one thing is for sure
can happen, pregnancy. Pregnancy is not a joke; young women carrying and
responsible for a life of little one. Having a kid is equal to a big
responsibility by the parents because they are expected to cover all the
expenses need for the baby.
**So just one piece of advice to those couple,
especially those who are in college. Don’t do it. Not now.
There’s a right time for that you know ;) That’s not even the foundation of a
one serious and committed relationship**
Other than pregnancy, there’s
another consequence that a person may suffer if he/she carelessly or
impulsively do sexual intercourse and that’s the risk of acquiring sexually-transmitted
diseases (STDs). Since it is transmitted, it is a long term suffering
in one’s body because disease like this is passed through exchange of body
fluids or genital fluids. The most talked-about transmitted disease is the acquired
immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). This disease is caused by human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS can be transmitted mostly between
broken skin, wounds and HIV-infected blood or blood contaminated body fluids.
These diseases are treatable and can be cure but if they are not untreated it
can affect the body’s immune system. It will make the body system weaker and
weaker every day, worst, it can lead to death. So to tell you in a simple way
how does a person acquire STDs, it can be done if a person is engage in several
sex with multiple partners. As I said earlier, irresponsible sexual behavior
may lead to unexpected consequences and may bring a big impact in one person’s
life.
There’s a way on preventing such
problems, how? By making responsible decisions. First, one should respect
one’s body because this shows how you value and determine one’s worth.
One should not let his/her body control him/her over. We should not be carried
away by our emotions especially when involving sexuality. That’s what we call maturity
in thoughts and deeds. We should know our self-value and self-worth in
doing such things like this. We should hold to our personal beliefs and
principles. We should be guided by one’s personal beliefs and core
values. Sexual pleasure can be give a so-damn-nice-feeling during the
moment but we should look at what could it bring us in the future. Be future-oriented.
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