Glossary

This glossary is for teacher information only. Much of the information listed is not included in the learning activities in this curriculum support resource.

Terms

A B C D E F G H I L M N O P Q R S T U V

A

Abstinence

Restraint from some or all aspects of sexual activity.

Adolescence

The period in human life between puberty and adulthood.

AIDS

Stands for: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. The medical condition in which the body’s immune system is severely weakened and unable to fight certain infections that are usually rare or mild among healthy people. AIDS is also classified as a set of illnesses which affect people with advanced HIV. Someone can only get AIDS if they are HIV positive. Check out the WA AIDS Council’s website [www.waaids.com] for more info.

Areola

The area around the breast nipple which is usually pinkish or brownish.

Assertiveness

The ability to express one’s needs and rights, positive and negative thoughts and emotions, while still remaining respectful of the rights of others. Assertiveness is the skill required in preventing and managing conflict, negotiating, decision-making and taking action, using protective behaviours, collaborating and cooperating, and responding to teasing, anger and bullying.

B

Bartholin's glands

Mucous glands located on the membrane between the urethral and vaginal openings.

BBV

A blood-borne virus. BBVs can be passed from person to person by the interchange of blood.

Bisexual

Refers to a person who has sexual and romantic feelings for more than one gender and who identify with these feelings.

Body art

A way of using the human body as a way of artistic expression. Body art includes piercing, tattooing, painting or scarring.

Body image

The perception that a person has of their physical and emotional self, which includes the thoughts and feelings that result from this perception.

C

Cervix

The neck of the uterus, forming a passage between a woman’s vagina and her uterus.

Circumcision

Surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis.

Clitoris

A small, sensitive erectile part of the female’s genitals.

Conception

The process of becoming pregnant involving the fertilisation of a female’s ovum with a male sperm.

Condom

A condom is a form of contraception. A male condom is a thin sheath made from latex or polyurethane that covers the erect penis and works by stopping sexual fluids passing between two people during sexual activity. A female condom is a plastic pouch that fits inside a woman's vagina to stop sexual fluids passing between two people during sexual activity.

Consent

Giving consent means that everyone involved can clearly and freely agree to the sexual activities that are or will occur. If everyone is not willing or not able to give consent (such as if someone is asleep or under the influence of drugs or alcohol) then the sexual activity would be assault and would be against the law. A person must be over the age of 16 to provide consent to engage in any sexual activities.

Contraception

A way to prevent pregnancy. There are different methods of contraception for both men and women.

Contraceptive pill

A form of contraception that contains either the hormone progesterone or a combination of progesterone and oestrogen. 'The Pill' works to avoid a pregnancy by temporarily preventing ovulation, thinning the lining of the womb and thickening cervical discharge to prevent sperm from entering the womb.

Coping skills

The strategies that people use to manage and reduce stress during difficult situations. The ways in which people cope vary from person to person and may include writing down your feelings, spending time alone or talking to someone you trust.

Cowper’s glands

Small glands that secrete drops of alkalising fluid into the urethra.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is the use of technology to bully a person or group. Bullying is repeated behaviour with the intent to harm others. Cyberbullying may include sending abusive text messages or emails, posting unkind or threatening messages, excluding others online or inappropriate image tagging.

Cyberstalking

The repeated use of a means of electronic communication such as email or instant message, to frighten or harass someone.

D

Digital footprint/ digital reputation

The body of data that exists as a result of actions and communications online that can be traced back to an individual.

Discrimination

The practice of unfairly treating a person or group differently from other people and groups. Discrimination can occur on the grounds of gender, race, age, sexuality, etc.

Diversity

Recognition that each individual is different and unique. Diversity can apply to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, physical traits and abilities, and socioeconomic status, among other things.

Drug

Any substance (excluding food, water and oxygen) that, when taken into the body, alters its function physically or psychologically.

E

Ejaculation

The expulsion of semen from the urethra.

Embryo

The developing infant during the first two months of conception.

Emergency contraception

Refers to methods of contraception that can be used to prevent unwanted pregnancy in the first few days after intercourse. It is intended for emergency use after unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure.

Emotional health

The ability to recognise, understand and effectively manage emotions and use this knowledge when thinking, feeling and acting.

Endometrium

The inside layer of the uterus composed of mucous-like tissue.

Epididymis

A coiled tube lying over the testes in which sperm mature.

F

Foetus

The developing infant during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

G

Gender

How a person, thinks, acts, dresses and speaks which distinguishes them as masculine or feminine. A person’s gender can be masculine, feminine and/or androgynous. Gender refers to 'the economic, social and cultural attributes and opportunities associated with being male or female in a particular social setting at a particular point in time' (World Health Organization. Transforming Health Systems: Gender and Rights in Reproductive Health. A Training Curriculum for Health Programme Managers. Geneva, 2001).

Gender diverse

Used to describe people who fall outside the typical range of femininity and masculinity with regard to gender identity and/or physical sex characteristics and don't conform to gender expectations. This includes transgender, transsexual, gender-queer, cross-dressing, drag-performing, and androgynous people.

Gender identity

The self-awareness of being male or female. Our sense of ourself in regards to our gender, gender role, masculinity and/or femininity. The most common gender identities are male and female, however there are many others in the gender diverse community such as genderqueer, trans man, trans woman, transgender, trans*, boi, sistergirl, brotherboy, FTM / F2M (female to male), MTF / M2F (male to female) etc.

Gender role

The way we behave under the expectations society has for a person’s self expression, behaviour and appearance based on their biological sex. 'The social expectations arising from conceptions surrounding gender and the behavioural expression of these, including forms of speech, mannerisms, demeanour, dress and gesture. Masculine and feminine ideas are often deemed to be mutually exclusive, and in some societies the role behaviours may be polarized.' Jary, D. and J. Jary. Collins Dictionary of Sociology. 3rd Ed. Glasgow: Harper-Collins Publishers, 2000.

Genitals

The external sexual reproductive organs; the penis and vulva.

Ground rules

A set of 'rules' established by the class at the outset of sexual health and relationships education to promote a safe and respectful environment in the classroom.

H

Harm minimisation

A strategy that aims to lower the risks and harmful consequences associated with drug use and other high-risk behaviours, rather than simple promoting abstinence.

Health literacy

Having the knowledge to find, understand and use the information about our own health and health care from sources such as websites to make healthier and safer decisions.

Hepatitis

An inflammation of the liver. There are a number of hepatitis viruses which all cause inflammation and damage to the liver. Hepatitis A, B and C are the most common.

Heterosexual

Sometimes called 'being straight', this refers to people whose sexual and romantic feelings are primarily for the opposite sex, and who identify with these feelings.

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the virus which causes AIDS.

Homophobia

Pertains to a single individual's or society's misunderstanding, fear, ignorance of or prejudice against gay, lesbian and/or bisexual people. Homophobia is also used as an umbrella term to include any form of discrimination or prejudice against LGBTIQQ people.

Homosexual

People who's sexual and romantic feelings are primarily for the same sex, and who identify with these feelings. People who feel this way will often identify as being Gay or Lesbian.

Hormones

Internally produced chemicals that regulate many different bodily functions and behaviours.

Hymen

A mucous membrane that may partly cover the entrance to the vagina.

I

Implanon

A small plastic rod that is inserted under the skin of a females arm which releases the hormone progesterone to prevent pregnancy

Infection

A disease in a part of a person's body that is caused by a bacteria or a virus.

Intersex

A term relating to a range of physical traits or variations that lie between ideals of male and female. Intersex people are born with physical, hormonal or genetic features that are neither wholly female or wholly male or a combination of male and female or neither male or female. Historically the term 'hermaphrodite' was used.

L

Labia majora

Two folds of skin, covered with hair and forming a pad of fatty tissues on the pubic bone.

Labia minora

Two folds of skin, within the labia majora.

LGBTIQQ

Stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, Queer, Otherwise diverse in their sexuality and/or gender or Questioning their sexuality and/or gender.

M

Masturbation

The self sexual stimulation of ones genitals to gain sexual arousal or other sexual pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm.

Menstruation

The monthly vaginal discharge of blood and the lining of the uterus.

Monoculture

A single, homogenous culture without diversity.

MSM

Refers to Men who have Sex with Men. This is an inclusive term that includes gay and bisexual men, but most importantly, includes men who do not identify as being gay, bisexual or homosexual, but who have homosexual sex.

N

Nocturnal emission

Ejaculation of semen during sleep; a wet dream.

O

Ovaries

A female reproductive organ in which ova or eggs are produced. The ovaries are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus.

Ovulation

The release of an egg from the ovaries for fertilisation.

P

Pap smear

A method for testing for cervical cancer.

Peer pressure

Influence from a person's peer group.

Penis

The organ of the male reproductive system through which semen passes out of the body during sexual intercourse. The penis is also an organ of urination.

Period

A term commonly used instead of menstruation. Its origins arise from the days of the menstrual flow.

Placenta

Organ through which the foetus in the uterus receives nourishment and rids itself of waste.

Pornography

Pornography is any material (either pictures, text or video or a combination) that is sexually explicit and is primarily designed to produce sexual arousal among viewers.

Prostate

Gland at the base of the bladder providing seminal fluid.

Protective behaviours

The development of personal safety skills that can be used by children, young people and adults to keep them safe and work towards reducing violence and abuse in the community.

Protective interruption

A strategy to prevent a child disclosing in front of other students and providing them with the opportunity to disclose in a safe and confidential manner.

Puberty

The period in early adolescence when a child becomes sexually mature.

Puberty kit

A collection of products used to educate students about puberty and personal hygiene. The products may include deodorant, menstruation supplies, soap, razors.

Q

Question box

A method used in sexual health education for students to ask questions in an anonymous manner which they would not otherwise ask in an open classroom environment. Students write their questions on a piece of paper and put them in a box/hat/pillowcase or other object which can then be answered by the teacher during the next class.

R

Reproductive health

A state of physical, mental and social wellbeing in all matters relating to the reproductive system, at any stage of life.

Respectful relationships

Refers to the condition of all people in a particular relationship being able to feel safe, have the ability to make their own choices, being able to say no or change their mind without any negative consequences, feeling valued and accepted, and having the ability to compromise and communicate effectively.

S

Scrotum

The sac behind the penis that contains the testicles.

Semen

The whitish, cream ejaculate fluid containing sperm.

Sex

(1) The biological/physiological body formation of a person which determines people as male and female. (2) Can refer to sexual activity or sexual intercourse, but may also be used to describe some other form of sexual activity and behaviour.

Sexting

Sexting is the digital recording of nude or sexually suggestive or explicit images and their distribution by mobile phone messaging or through social networking.

Sexual assault

A term used to describe crimes of a sexual nature relating to the lack of consent on the part of the victim.

Sexual diversity

A term used to describe all aspects of human sexuality. This includes all sexual attraction, behaviour, identity, expression, orientation and relationships and the diversity and differences that exist between these.

Sexual harassment

Unwanted attention of a sexual nature that creates embarrassment or stress.

Sexual health

A state of physical, emotional, mental and social wellbeing in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmary.

Sexual identity

The label or name that a person uses to define and identify their sexuality.

Sexual orientation

The direction of one’s sexual and romantic attractions and interests towards members of the same, opposite or both sexes, or all genders.

Sexuality

Sexuality is an integral part of our personality. It influences, thoughts, feelings, actions and interactions, and thereby our mental and physical health.

Sexuality and Relationships Education (SRE)

SRE is the term frequently used to describe education, teaching and learning about sex, sexuality, emotions, relationships, and sexual health in all settings including home, care, community, school and other educational settings.

Social media

A medium or way of people communicating online. Users of social media will engage with (and around) it in a social context which can include conversations, commentary, and other user generated annotation and engagement interactions. Some examples of social media include Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Sperm

The male reproductive cells made in the epididymis and found within semen ejaculate fluid.

STI

A sexually transmitted infection.

T

Testicles

Consists of the testes (two oval glands) and epididymis located within the scrotum. The primary male reproductive organ in which sperm and male sex hormones are produced.

Transgender

An umbrella term used to describe a broad range of non-conforming gender identities and/or expressions. Usually includes all trans people, but some transsexual people and members of the gender diverse populations prefer not to use this term.

Transsexual

A person who identifies as the sex opposite to the one assigned at birth and who may choose to undergo sex affirmation/reassignment surgery.

U

Umbilical cord

Cord connecting the foetus with the placenta.

Urethra

The tube connecting the bladder and urethral opening through which urine is expelled both in males and females.

Uterus

The pear-shaped organ in the female abdomen in which the fertilised egg implants and develops into a foetus during pregnancy.

V

Vagina

The passage or canal in females leading from the internal cervix/uterus to the external genitals (opening of the vulva).

Vas deferens

The duct in the male scrotum that transports the sperm from the epididymis to join the seminal fluid in the urethra within the penis to exit during ejaculation.

Vasectomy

Male sterilisation performed by cutting the vas deferens.

Vestibule

The space at the outermost portion of the vagina.

Vulva

External female genitals, including the inner and outer lips (labia majora and minora), the mons, the clitoris and vaginal opening.

Sourced from:

WA Department of Health. Growing and developing healthy relationships: Curriculum Support Materials. 2002.

Freedom Centre Glossary