Main page | Recognized content | Subcategories |
Welcome to the human sexuality portal
Human sexuality is the way people experience and express themselves sexually. This involves biological, psychological, physical, erotic, emotional, social, or spiritual feelings and behaviors. Because it is a broad term, which has varied with historical contexts over time, it lacks a precise definition. The biological and physical aspects of sexuality largely concern the human reproductive functions, including the human sexual response cycle.
Someone's sexual orientation is their pattern of sexual interest in the opposite or same sex. Physical and emotional aspects of sexuality include bonds between individuals that are expressed through profound feelings or physical manifestations of love, trust, and care. Social aspects deal with the effects of human society on one's sexuality, while spirituality concerns an individual's spiritual connection with others. Sexuality also affects and is affected by cultural, political, legal, philosophical, moral, ethical, and religious aspects of life.
Interest in sexual activity typically increases when an individual reaches puberty. Although no single theory on the cause of sexual orientation has yet gained widespread support, there is considerably more evidence supporting nonsocial causes of sexual orientation than social ones, especially for males. Hypothesized social causes are supported by only weak evidence, distorted by numerous confounding factors. This is further supported by cross-cultural evidence, because cultures that are tolerant of homosexuality do not have significantly higher rates of it.
Evolutionary perspectives on human coupling, reproduction and reproduction strategies, and social learning theory provide further views of sexuality. Sociocultural aspects of sexuality include historical developments and religious beliefs. Some cultures have been described as sexually repressive. The study of sexuality also includes human identity within social groups, sexually transmitted infections (STIs/STDs), and birth control methods. (Full article...)
Selected article
Studies have found that masturbation is frequent in humans of both sexes and all ages, although there is variation. Various medical and psychological benefits have been attributed to a healthy attitude toward sexual activity in general and to masturbation in particular. No causal relationship is known between masturbation and any form of mental or physical disorder. (Full article...)
Selected image
Did you know
- ... that German politician Käte Strobel broke a taboo in 1967 by promoting sex education with a school book and the government-sponsored film Helga?
- ... that gender identity disorder in children is a diagnosis formally recognized in 1980 that often involves controversial therapeutic intervention?
- ... that Alliance for Open Society International, operator of drug rehabilitation programs for heroin addicts in Central Asia, sued the U.S. Government over the anti-prostitution pledge?
- ... that only three novels catering to soldiers' sexual proclivities during the American Civil War are known to still exist?
- ... that the World Charter for Prostitutes' Rights, adopted in 1985, calls for the right to unemployment insurance and decriminalization of adult prostitution?
July - December 2008
Human sexuality in the news
- 8 November 2022 – 2022 FIFA World Cup controversies
- Qatari FIFA World Cup ambassador Khalid Salman is criticised for describing homosexuality as "damage in the mind" in an interview with German broadcaster ZDF. FIFA has not yet responded. (Reuters) (Fox Sports)
- 3 November 2022 –
- Australian sex offender Peter Scully and three of his accomplices are sentenced to 129 years in prison by a regional court in the Philippines for 60 offences related to child sexual abuse. (AFP via Gulf News)
- 1 November 2022 – Recognition of same-sex unions in Japan
- The city of Tokyo officially starts recognizing same-sex relationships by allowing LGBTQ partners to be treated as married couples for some public services in areas such as housing, medicine and welfare. (AFP via France 24)
- 27 October 2022 – LGBT rights in Russia
- The State Duma unanimously gives preliminary approval to a bill strengthening a law against "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations". The bill will expand the ban on "propaganda" to all ages, and will outlaw media and online resources, including films, books, and theater productions. (ABC News)
Get involved
For editor resources and to collaborate with other editors on improving Wikipedia's Human sexuality-related articles, see WikiProject Sexology and sexuality.
Topics
Tasks
- Cleanup listing for WikiProject Sexology and sexuality — bot-generated list of articles within the scope of this WikiProject tagged as needing attention
- Cleanup listing for WikiProject LGBT studies — bot-generated list of articles within the scope of this WikiProject tagged as needing attention
Related portals
Associated Wikimedia
The following Wikimedia Foundation sister projects provide more on this subject:
-
Commons
Free media repository -
Wikibooks
Free textbooks and manuals -
Wikidata
Free knowledge base -
Wikinews
Free-content news -
Wikiquote
Collection of quotations -
Wikisource
Free-content library -
Wikiversity
Free learning tools -
Wiktionary
Dictionary and thesaurus
-
Random portal
Purge server cache