Human Sexuality Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about human sexuality.

Sex

Assigned at birth based on anatomy.

Gender Identity

Internal sense of being male, female, both, neither, or somewhere along the spectrum.

Gender Expression

How one outwardly expresses gender through clothing, behavior, etc.

Sexual Orientation

Who one is romantically or sexually attracted to.

Polyamory

Non-monogamous relationships involving consent from all parties.

Fetishism

Arousal from inanimate objects.

Partialism

Arousal from specific body parts.

Transvestism

Arousal from wearing opposite-gender clothes (not transgender).

Voyeurism

Watching others without consent.

Exhibitionism

Flashing genitals to unsuspecting people.

Frotteurism

Rubbing against people in public.

Masochism

Receiving pain for arousal.

Sadism

Inflicting pain for arousal.

Autoerotic Asphyxia

Oxygen deprivation for orgasm.

Klismaphilia

Arousal from enemas.

Coprophilia

Arousal from feces.

Urophilia

Arousal from urine.

Zoophilia

Arousal from animals.

Necrophilia

Arousal from corpses.

Pornography

Sexually explicit material for arousal.

Marriage

Traditional structure, but changing norms.

Obstetric Fistula

A medical condition often caused by obstructed childbirth, creating a hole between the vagina and rectum or bladder, leading to incontinence and severe social stigma.

Prostitution

The 'oldest profession'.

Sex trafficking

Often hidden under commercial operations.

Comprehensive Sex Education

Empowers students with accurate, age-appropriate, and inclusive information.

Anatomy & Reproductive Health

Normalize understanding of one’s body.

Consent & Boundaries

Teach enthusiastic, informed agreement.

Sexual Assault & Abuse Awareness

Teach how to recognize maltreatment and how to report it safely.

STIs and Protection

Encourage testing and open conversations with partners.

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

Reduce bullying and increase acceptance.

Digital Safety & Porn Literacy

Discuss revenge content, sexting laws, and the impact of internet pornography.

Human Trafficking & Exploitation

Teach how trafficking happens.

Consensual Non-Monogamy

Romantic or sexual relationships where all partners agree that having multiple partners is acceptable and ethical.

Sex education

This helps reduce shame and encourages healthy communication.

Underreporting of sexual assault

Fear of disbelief or backlash.

Human trafficking

Often involve runaways and youth aged 12–14.

Motives for sexual violence

Power and control.

Cons of legalization of prostitution

May normalize exploitation, enforcement complexity, societal pushback.

Pros of the decriminalization of prostitution

Reduces stigma, encourages reporting, improves health/safety.

Cons of the decriminalization of prostitution

Harder to track abuses, may enable trafficking under legal veil.