SEX
Freud gave us the notion that most of our
actions have a sex bias. It is a moot point. But, all of us are interested in
it and most of us have created tangible proof of it. Perhaps old age is when
one has a vicarious pleasure. There was a Tamizh writer who was pretty old and
would give spicy descriptions in erotic contexts.
A small discussion on the words realted to sex
follows. No illustrations!
Sex refers primarily to gender viz. male and
female. Male and female are to be used only to denote gender. In other contexts
use of these words has an undertone of contempt e.g. when we say ‘that female’.
It is sadly a male dominated world. In words
also it manifests. A lady colleague was struggling for a male equivalent of
bitch to describe a man. I suggested that there might be none.
Lust denotes desire for sex and lustful is
adjective in this sense. Lusty is different and means robust or healthy. Randy
and horny (both informal) is ‘sexually excited’.
Some words refer to the physical side like
carnal pleasure. In Samskritham, शरीरधर्मं or ग्राम्यधर्मं is the word used. It is part of life and is set as dharma. Sensual
refers to senses (physical) and is applied to sexual also. Sensuous is more in
the aesthetic sense.
Dissolute is being overindulgent in sexual
pleasure. Vichitravirya was dissolute and died of a consuming disease.
Debauched and dissipated are other words for it.
Relationship outside marriage is held
reprehensible in all societies. Polygamy (Islam appears to sanction taking up
to 4 wives) and polyandry (Draupadi is a classic but solitary example) are
approved practices in some societies.
Words associated with extramarital affair:
1. Adultery:
sex between two partners who are married. One has to take care not to confuse
it with adulteration, which is perhaps a greater sin.
2. Fornication:
relationship between unmarried ones.
Words
associated with casual sex:
1. One-night stand: relationship for a night.
2. Flirt: have playful sexual interaction
3. Have a fling: have a short sexual
relationship.
4. Licensious: promiscuous and unprincipled in
sexual matters.
5. Promiscuous: having many transient sexual
relationships. Wanton also is in this category.
6. Unchaste: having extramarital relationship.
Incest: relationship among close relatives -
this may be through marriage also- Hamlet calls the marriage between his mother
and uncle as incestuous.
Prurience is showing interest in splashing
details of sex life of others. Yellow papers do that.
Lascivious: showing desire for sex. Lecherous is another word for being excessively
desirous of sex. A lecher is always looking for sex. Libidinous and concupiscent
also mean the same. Dirty (infml) is having offensive interest in sex. Lubricious
(fml derog) is having a strong interest in sexual matters.
Some words denote indecency in speech or writing.
1. Lewd: treating sex in a crude or offensive
way.
2. Vulgar: It meant ‘common’ in Shakespeare’s
time. It means ‘lacking in taste’ now and ‘obscene’ i.e. offensive to accepted
moral standards esp. in sexual matters. Indecent, coarse, filthy, gross also
suggest ‘obscene’. Blue is also ‘obscene’, like in ‘blue film’. Raunchy (infml):
sexually explicit. Smutty (infml): dealing with sex in offensive way. Rude has
the same meaning. Salacious, scabrous: treating sexual matters in a frank and
obscene way.
3. Ribald: referring to sexual matters in rude
but humorous way. Bawdy also means ‘dealing with sexual matters in an amusing
way’
4. Risque: indecent, being sexually suggestive.
5. Earthy: uninhibited about sexual matters.
6. Off-colour (infml): slightly indecent
7. Naughty (infml): connected with sex in rude
or funny way.
8. Racy: lively and shocking the way it deals
with sex.
9. Suggestive: making somebody think of sex.
10. Pornographic:
showing sex openly.
