Sexuality in Childhood and Adolescence - Research Paper Example

? Section/# Child Sexual Development: A Personal Discussion and Analysis of Life in Saudi Arabia One of the more interesting aspects of human psychology and physiological development is that it is oftentimes defined and constrained by different people and/or cultures. What is meant by this is that even though definitive measurements and stages of psychological development exist within science, cultures and/4 particular worldviews seek to differentiate and impacts upon the way in which this development ultimately takes place. Whereas this might be understood in a solely negative and non-evolutionary context, the fact of the matter is that human psychological development was not understood until the past few centuries. Conversely, some of humanities earliest attempts at science and philosophy were naturally religious and social in origin. As a direct function of this, it becomes clearly obvious that the extent to which culture and religion impacts upon a society with regards to defining appropriate mores of psychological development are not by nature inherently good or bad; rather, they merely exhibited an outdated and oftentimes faulty form of defining and constraining human development and behavior. One of the most sensitive forms of human development and behavior that can be discussed is with regards to sexual development. Due to the litany of different approaches, both liberal and exceedingly conservative, that exist concerning sexual development, it comes as no surprise that the level of deviation that exists between cultures the scientific communities, and different religious perspectives is extraordinarily broad. Accordingly, the following analysis will seek to underline and discuss some of the ways in which child sexual development and maturity is viewed within the culture and religion of the Middle East and Saudi Arabia; a culture to which this author belongs. Through such an analysis, and more appropriate definition of sexual development within the Arab world, and Saudi Arabia specifically, well help the reader to come to a more profound understanding of why many of the cultural norms and mores of this region have a pervasive and long-lasting impact with regards the way in which sexuality and development is viewed by these stakeholders. Firstly, it must be understood that Islam has had a profound impact upon the culture of Saudi Arabia and the means by which individuals approach issues concerning sexuality and the permissiveness of certain activities with regards to childhood development. Even a cursory review of child sexual development from a scientific perspective lends one to understand that it is both common and even acceptable for children to explore their own bodies and varying forms of pleasure as the sexual stages of psychological development occur (Hossain, 2012). In cultures around the world, this has often been seen as a form of impropriety and discouraged by the parents. However, within the past several decades, psychologists and scientists have come to the understanding that is a normal state of human development and as such should not be punished or discouraged by the parent/caretaker. Rather, in order for helping sexual development to occur, the child must feel comfortable with a level of exploration and freedom of their own body. Even though these situations may prove to be uncomfortable for the parent/caretaker, realizing that these serve as fundamental elements of healthy development is a key step in promoting the overall development of the child in question. Harkening back to the issue of Islam and the way in which Islamic moral values denote proper child rearing and development, such a level of exploration is neither permissible nor allowed. Rather, the parent is encouraged, by the Islamic tradition, to punish and/or restrain the child from any such “impure” activities (Cervantes-Altamirano, 2013). However, even though this analysis has thus far been centric upon the infant and toddler stage of sexual development, childhood sexual development is not constraints to the stages. Rather, it extends all the way to adulthood and impacts upon the way in which make selection and the propensity or desire to seek out a partner is evidenced. It is perhaps at this juncture that the constraining influence of cultural and religious traditions within Saudi Arabia most of negatively impact upon the degree to which child sexual development occurs naturally. As a result of pervasive traditional moral values, children within Saudi Arabia began to be segregated around the age of seven years old. Prior to this time, playing between these is allowed and as long as no physical contact occurs of an inappropriate nature, there are no issues whatsoever. However, once the child begins to exhibit secondary sexual attributes, the cultural norms and traditions of Saudi Arabia dictate that a level of segregation between the sexes must necessarily take place. As a function of enforcing this, parents and caretakers are encouraged to not allow their children to be in mixed company whatsoever. Although it is true that close relatives of the opposite sex are allowed to mingle, street play or other forms of engagement between opposite sexes is not allowed and/or highly discouraged (Luan, 2013). This of course has a negative impact upon the rate and extent to which child sexual development can occur. Due to the fact that boys and girls are cloistered from one another, even further elements of mystery and suspense surround the opposite sex. From a personal experience, it must be said that childhood sexual development was a topic of keen interest and discussion among my classmates and those other young girls with whom I spent time. Although it is quite common for young girls to spend a great deal of time talking and laughing about boys, the mystery surrounding this segregation, even though it was common and expected, allowed for a level of misunderstanding that pervaded, and continues to pervade, society. Whereas it is difficult to criticize one’s own culture, it must be realized that the approach that the traditional Saudi moral values take with regards to childhood sexual development are on the whole harmful with regards to the healthful development of the child in question. Rather than blaming Islam for this overly strict adherence to cultural and traditional norms, it must be understood that Islam does not have any specific dictates regarding mixed company for children. Although premarital sex is necessarily frowned upon regardless of the interpretation of Islam that is taken, the Saudi Arabia model has put forward a cultural and regional specific model of interaction that has done a great deal of harm with regards to the equality of the sexes and whether or not childhood sexual development can occur in a healthy manner. Due to the fact that childhood sexual development is not merely constraining to the period of childhood, it must be understood as one of the most formative and important aspects of development that takes place within the life of an individual. One need look no further than the many individuals within the world that point to a specific case of from a or pervasive the issue within their early childhood sexual development to understand the importance of this particular stage (Dialmy, 2010). As a means of ameliorating the issue that is been discussed above, is the belief of this author that the best approach would be to reconsider some of the strict moral dictates that differentiates Saudi society based upon whether one is male or whether one is female. Although a degree of sexual equality is another issue entirely, a baseline of healthful societal interaction would necessarily conclude an approach that places an emphasis upon appropriate levels of acceptance with regards to childhood sexual development. Recent research has indicated that children as early as just a few months of age are able to discern facial expressions and understand their implied in. As such, a child and even an early age can be traumatized by the reaction that a parent might be with regards to the touching a private parts or whether or not a given action that they might be engaged in is deemed as offensive or infuriating to the parent or caretaker involved. Naturally, from an individual that is accustomed to such societal norms, seeking to pinpoint specifically what is wrong with them and what can be affected as a means of promoting a more hopeful level of development in the future is a difficult task. However, as a direct result of the information that is been presented within the course of the semester, it has been possible for the stakeholders to realize that many of the aspects of Saudi Arabia culture are incorrectly did differentiated as a means of promoting a further level of healthful development. However, to the credit of the society, as compared to the Western world, teenage pregnancy rates, HIV infection rates, and a litany of other sexually transmitted diseases are markedly lower as a direct result of the fact that Saudi Arabia retains such a strict and traditional interpretation of Islam and cultural norms. Although it is not the understanding of this particular student that the restrictions on seemingly natural behavior are necessarily a positive aspects of Saudi Arabia’s approach, it cannot be ignored that it does have several applicable benefits that had herein been denoted. However, as compared to many other countries in the least, Saudi Arabia could very well continue to employ many of Islam’s basic tenants concerning sexuality and permissible behavior without restricting the level and extent to which mixed company can be enjoyed by adolescents and/or the degree and extent to which parental/caretaker disapproval is exhibited towards natural stages of sexual development. References Cervantes-Altamirano, E. (2013). Islamic Feminism and the Challenges of Gender, Sexuality and LGBTQ Rights in Contemporary Islam. International Journal Of Religion & Spirituality In Society, 2(3), 76-85. Dialmy, A. (2010). Sexuality and Islam. European Journal Of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care, 15(3), 160-168. doi:10.3109/13625181003793339 Hossain, A. (2012). Beyond Emasculation: Being Muslim and Becoming Hijra in South Asia. Asian Studies Review, 36(4), 495-513. doi:10.1080/10357823.2012.739994 Luan, T. (2013). Sex in the Arab World. Reason, 44(3), 42-48. Read More