Sex
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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- "Human sexuality is, quite apart from Christian repressions, a highly questionable phenomenon, and belongs, at least potentially, among the extreme rather than the ordinary experiences of humanity. Tamed as it may be, sexuality remains one of the demonic forces in human consciousness - pushing us at intervals close to taboo and dangerous desires, which range from the impulse to commit sudden arbitrary violence upon another person to the voluptuous yearning for the extinction of one's consciousness, for death itself." --Susan Sontag in the The Pornographic Imagination
Many species of living things are categorized into two or more forms called sexes that combine genetic material in order to reproduce. This is called sexual reproduction. Typically, a species will have two sexes: male and female The female produces the larger gamete). Fungi and some other organisms exist in more than two sexes, but still reproduce in pairs (any two differing sexes may reproduce). Some species, like earthworms or geckos, are capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction. Some species are hermaphrodites containing both sexes in one body.
The word sex is also used to refer to sexual intercourse, the physical acts related to sexual reproduction, but this article will discuss the concept of sex defined above.
Definitions
- Either of two main divisions (either male or female) into which many organisms can be placed, according to reproductive function or organs; gender.
- What sex is that hamster?
- The abnormality is found in both sexes.
- The distinguishing property, quality, or assemblage of properties by which organisms are classified as female or male on the basis of their reproductive organs and functions; the set of properties by which male is distinguished from female.
- The effect of the medication is dependent upon age, sex, and other factors.
- The researchers divided the subjects by sex.
- Sexual intercourse; the act of sexual intercourse.
- All you ever think about is sex.
- We had sex in the back seat.
- Genitalia; a penis or vagina.
- the sex. Women; womankind. Also, the fair sex, the fairer sex, the whimsical sex.
- 1759, Laurence Sterne, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
- ...unless it was with his sister-in-law, my father's wife and my mother,—my uncle Toby scarce exchanged three words with the sex in as many years...
- 1913, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Adventure of the Dying Detective,
- He disliked and distrusted the sex, but he was always a chivalrous opponent.
- 1759, Laurence Sterne, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
Synonyms