The Sex Organs - Definition

Inappropriate terms

In many medical and professional textbooks the sex organs are called genitals (lat. genitalia: organs of generation) or "reproductive organs." These one-sided terms can lead to misunderstandings, because they are ideological and misrepresent the facts: They emphasize the possible childproducing, procreative function of the sex organs at the expense of their pleasure-giving, erotic function. Indeed, most of the time the so-called reproductive organs are not used for the purpose of reproduction at all, but function exclusively as organs of sexual pleasure. This is already obvious to children who may experience orgasms many years before they can reproduce. It is also obvious to self-pleasuring adolescents, to women after the menopause, and to any couple using contraception.