Chapter 6
Understanding Sex andSexualityKey Terms
•Sexual scriptConsists of expectations of how one is tobehave sexually as a female or male and asa heterosexual, lesbian, or gay male.
•Sexual double standardIt is less accepted for a woman to have manysexual partners than it is for a man.
•VirginityMost people agree that we maintain virginityas long as we refrain from sexual intercourse.But occasionally we hear people speak of“technical virginity,” to refer to people whohave had a variety of sexual experiences buthave not had sexual intercourse.
•HeterosexualPeople sexually attracted to members of theother gender.
•HomosexualPeople sexually attracted to members of thesame gender.
•BisexualPeople attracted to members of bothgenders.
•HomoeroticismErotic attraction to members of the samegender.
•Coming outPublicly acknowledging one’s gayness.
•OutingThe practice of publicly identifying closetedgays or lesbians.
•Anti-gay prejudiceA strong dislike, fear, or hatred of lesbiansand gay men because of their homosexuality.
•HomophobiaAn irrational or phobic fear of gay men andlesbians.
•Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)The virus that causes acquiredimmunodeficiency syndrome (AIDs). HIV iscarried in the blood, semen, and vaginal fluidof infected persons.
•Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS)Caused by HIV, which attacks the body’simmune system.
•MenopauseThe cessation of the menstrual cycle and anend to fertility.
•AutoeroticismSexual activities that involve only the self.Includes sexual fantasies, masturbation, anderotic dreams.
•MasturbationManual stimulation of one’s genitals.
•CunnilingusErotic stimulation of a woman’s vulva by herpartner’s mouth and tongue.
•FellatioOral stimulation of a man’s penis by hispartner’s sucking and licking.
•Sexual IntercourseInsertion of the penis into the vagina andsubsequent stimulation.
•Anal eroticismSexual activities involving the anus.
•Anal intercourseThe male’s insertion of his erect penis into hispartner’s anus.
•Sexual EnhancementImproving the quality of a sexual relationship.
•Nonmarital sexSexual activities, especially sexualintercourse, that take place outside ofmarriage.
•Premarital sexSexual activities between younger, never-married adults under the age of 30.
•Orgasmic dysfunctionInability to attain orgasm.
•Arousal difficultiesThe inability to become erotically stimulated.
•DyspareuniaPainful intercourse.
•Erectile dysfunctionThe inability to achieve or maintain anerection.
•Premature ejaculationThe inability to delay ejaculation afterpenetration.
•Delayed orgasmDifficulty in ejaculating.
•Performance AnxietyThe fear of failure.
•AbstinenceRefraining from sexual intercourse.