Sexual Literacy Research (Sexual Orientation) Paper

Sexual Literacy (Sexual Orientation) - Research Paper Example Although, social factors like parenting styles and childhood experiences are maximally focused by various sections including social scientists, media, and common people, the role of biological or physiological factors assumes prominence based on number of researches. The article titled Prenatal Endocrine influences on Sexual Orientation and on Sexually Differentiated Childhood Behavior, written by Melissa Hines, and a book titled Gay, Straight and the Reason Why, written by Simon LeVay, focuses on this role of biological factors. So, this report analyses the above mentioned article and the book about sexual orientation to develop a plausible biological-based scientific explanation for the development of diverse sexual orientations in humans. LeVay in his book extensively covers topics regarding the factors responsible for sexual orientation. It includes prenatal neuro-hormonal effects, gender related brain organization in humans, cultural, psychological, and genetic influences (LeVay, 2011). Prenatal neuro-hormonal effects focus on how fetus can be exposed to hormones during pregnancy thereby influencing their sexual orientation (McCarthy, De Vries & Forger, 2009). According to researches, organization of the brain in males and females can also sway sexual orientation (Manning, 2002). When individuals face or exposed to certain cultural aspects, they are shown to exhibit homosexual or heterosexual behavior (Zucker, 2002). If certain experiences from childhood have a psychological impact, individuals’ sexual orientation can be influenced (Bem, 1996). Apart from these causes, LeVay (2011) focuses on how genetics can also influence the sexual orientation. He claims prenatal and hormonal factors as the most important determinants for one’s sexual orientation (LeVay, 2011). Similarly, the article claims evidences for