VMBO Year 2 · HAVO/VWO Years 2–3 · Reproduction and sexuality · Section 4.5

Sexuality

Sex and gender

Sex refers to biological characteristics, including reproductive anatomy, chromosomes and hormones. Gender concerns identities, roles and expectations associated with being a man, woman or another gender, and is influenced partly by culture.

Gender identity is someone's internal sense of gender. Gender expression is how someone presents themselves. Sexual orientation concerns attraction and is a separate concept, not a component that determines gender identity.

• Cisgender: Gender identity corresponds with sex assigned at birth.
• Gender dysphoria: Distress that may arise from an incongruence between gender identity and sex-related characteristics or assigned gender. Not every transgender person experiences it.
• Transgender: Gender identity differs from sex assigned at birth; medical treatment is not a requirement for this identity.
• Non-binary: Gender identity is not exclusively male or female.

Sexual orientation

Orientation describes patterns of sexual and/or romantic attraction:

• Heterosexual: Attraction to a different gender.
• Homosexual: Attraction to the same gender; a woman attracted to women may describe herself as lesbian.
• Bisexual: Attraction to more than one gender.
• Asexual: Little or no sexual attraction; experiences vary and romantic attraction may still occur.
• Pansexual: Attraction in which gender is not a determining factor.

LGBTQIA+

LGBTQIA+ is an umbrella abbreviation including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex and asexual people, and other identities. The rainbow flag symbolises diversity.

Dutch resources such as Iedereen is anders, Genderpraatjes and Jong&Out offer information or support for young people.

Sexuality

Sexuality includes thoughts, feelings and behaviour involving attraction, sexual interest, pleasure and intimacy. It can be associated with:

• Reproduction: Having children.
• Pleasure: Enjoyment and positive sensation.
• Intimacy: Closeness and connection.

Intimate contact can range from kissing and touching to intercourse. It should involve mutual consent, respect, trust and freedom from pressure. No one has to take part in sexual activity.

Orgasm and sexual activity

An orgasm is a peak of sexual sensation that may involve rhythmic muscle contractions. In people with a penis, it often occurs with ejaculation, but these are distinct processes.

• Intercourse: In this reproductive context, penis-in-vagina sex.
• Masturbation: Stimulating one's own body for sexual pleasure; it may or may not lead to orgasm.
• Oral sex: Sexual contact involving the mouth and genitals.

People of different sexes, genders and orientations may experience sexuality in different ways.

Online sexual content

Sexting means exchanging sexual messages or images. Digital material can be copied and shared beyond the original context, so privacy and consent are important.

Sharing intimate images without permission can cause serious harm. Sexual images involving minors raise additional safeguarding and legal concerns. If an image is shared or someone applies pressure, a trusted adult or support service can help.

Pornography

Pornography is content intended to cause sexual arousal. It is often staged or edited and may give unrealistic messages about bodies, relationships and sex. Some content also presents unequal or disrespectful behaviour.