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Portal:Human sexuality

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Erotic Kama sculptures depicting human sexuality

Sexuality is the way people experience, and express themselves through sexual activities. This involves biological, psychological, physical, erotic, emotional, social, and spiritual feelings and behaviors. Because it is a broad term which has varied within different historical contexts, 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 (or lack thereof) 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 non-social causes 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 the incidence of homosexuality is not significantly higher in cultures that are more tolerant 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...)

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Memorial to comfort women, Manila, the Philippines
Memorial to comfort women, Manila, the Philippines
Comfort women were women and girls forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces in occupied countries and territories before and during World War II. The term comfort women is a translation of the Japanese ianfu (慰安婦), a euphemism that literally means "comforting, consoling woman". During World War II, Japanese troops forced hundreds of thousands of women from Australia, Burma, China, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, East Timor, New Guinea and other countries into sexual enslavement for Japanese soldiers; however, the majority of the women were from Korea. Many women died due to brutal mistreatment and sustained physical and emotional distress. After the war, Japan denied the existence of comfort women, refusing to provide an apology or appropriate restitution. After numerous demands for an apology and the revelation of official records showing the Japanese government's culpability, the Japanese government began to offer an official apology and compensation in the 1990s. However, apologies have been criticized as insincere by victims, advocacy groups, and scholars. Many Japanese government officials have continued to either deny or minimize the existence of comfort women. The Japanese government admits that girls and women suffered, but denies evidence that they were taken against their will during wartime.

Estimates vary on the number of women, with most historians settling somewhere in the range of 20,000–200,000; the exact numbers are still being researched and debated reflecting differences in archival evidence and post war documentation. (Full article...) (Full article...)

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Beauty Revealed by Sarah Goodridge
Beauty Revealed by Sarah Goodridge
Beauty Revealed, by Sarah Goodridge, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Pandharpur temple
Pandharpur temple

January - July 2009

Human sexuality in the news

8 July 2026 –
Norwegian police and international partners announce the arrest of 28 men across seven countries in an operation targeting suspected dark-web buyers of child sexual abuse material who allegedly used the cryptocurrency Monero, while Europol says three children are safeguarded. (AFP via South China Morning Post)
27 June 2026 – LGBTQ rights in Hungary
Over 10,000 people gather at the Budapest Pride in Hungary, the first pride march in the city since former prime minister Viktor Orbán was voted out in April. The event occurs following attempts by the Orban government to ban the event and amidst a heat wave in Europe. (DW) (PBS) (Reuters)
23 June 2026 – Sudanese civil war
The U.N. Human Rights Office reports that sexual violence has been more widespread across Sudan since the civil war broke out three years ago in April. (BBC News) (Radio Tamazuj)

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