Portal:Human sexuality

Main pageRecognized contentSubcategories

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 and/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 normally 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), and birth control methods. (Full article...)

Selected article

Gustav Klimt's Woman seated with thighs apart (1916)
Gustav Klimt's Woman seated with thighs apart (1916)
Masturbation is the self-sexual stimulation of the genitals for sexual arousal or other sexual pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation may involve hands, fingers, everyday objects, sex toys or combinations of these. Mutual masturbation, mutual manual stimulation of the genitals between partners, can be a substitute for sexual penetration.

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

Early condom package, Spain, ca 1894-1939
Early condom package, Spain, ca 1894-1939
Early condom package, Spain, ca 1894-1939
Early condom package, Spain, ca 1894-1939

Did you know

Statue at Haesindang Park
Statue at Haesindang Park
Two women wearing Chonga style clothes and accessories.
Two women wearing Chonga style clothes and accessories.

May - December 2012

Human sexuality in the news

28 June 2024 –
Thousands of Japanese people protest at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo over multiple alleged sexual assault cases involving U.S. service members against Japanese people on Okinawa Island. (Al Jazeera)
26 June 2024 –
France's government orders the dissolution of several far-right and radical Muslim groups prior to the upcoming legislative election due to their violence, discrimination, and hate speech toward different races, women, and LGBTQ+ people. (AP)
25 June 2024 – LGBT rights in Peru
The Peruvian Ministry of Health announces that it will stop labeling transgender individuals as suffering from mental disorders, but will instead use the term "gender discordance". (Reuters)
22 June 2024 – LGBT rights in Hungary
Thousands of people march in a pride parade in Budapest, Hungary, to protest against Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's anti-LGBTQ+ policies. (Reuters)

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

Tools
Tools

Associated Wikimedia

The following Wikimedia Foundation sister projects provide more on this subject:

Discover Wikipedia using portals

Purge server cache