reproductive health services for adolescents - Pathfinder International

Module 16/Unit 3
Specific Objective # 1: Discuss psychosocial and behavioral
concerns of adolescents
CONTENT
Knowledge/Attitudes/Skills
PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL
CONCERNS
Certain social relationships and
pressures, along with concerns
generated by self-perceptions, become
very strong during adolescence. These,
in turn, have significant influence on
sexual decision-making and reproductive
health. They include:
Gender Roles
• Gender roles are masculine or
feminine behaviors expressed
according to cultural or social
customs and norms.
• Although boys and girls, worldwide,
are treated differently from birth
onward, it is during adolescence
when gender role differentiation
intensifies.
• While experiences vary by culture,
options, in general, expand for boys
and contract for girls.
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Boys achieve more autonomy,
mobility, and power, whereas girls
tend to get fewer of these
privileges and opportunities.
Importantly, boys’ power relative
to girls’ translates into dominance
in sexual decision-making and
expression, often leaving girls
unable to fully assert their
preferences and rights and to
protect their health.
Training/Learning Methods
(Time Required)
ROLE PLAY: GENDER ROLES
(40 MIN.)
Note: In addition to the "Gender Role"
discussion, other aspects of
psychosocial and behavioral concerns
are included in the role play, such as
peer relationships/peer pressure,
parental relationships, and self-esteem.
The trainer should:
• Select 6 Px or ask for 6 volunteers (3
women and 3 men) to perform the
role play.
• Distribute Gender Role Case Studies
(Px Handout 3.1).
3.1
• Ask the observers to select one of the
case studies (Px Handout 3.1) to be
discussed by the actors before the
group. (Names can be changed, if
desired, to correspond with the
culture.)
• Ask the women to play the roles of
the men and ask the men to play the
roles of the women. Px should
interpret the roles in the way they
want (traditional or otherwise) and be
able to rationalize their interpretation.
• Encourage actors to choose a more
progressive role or a more traditional
role. Both will bring out key points
and further discussion.
Pathfinder International
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Adolescent Curriculum