The etymology of a word, in addition to the meaning, also indicates an orientation on the correct use. As far as the term "sex" is concerned, this aspect is decisive. We talk about it in this article so as to better understand its current meaning and use.
Last update: 09 November 2022
The word "sex" is undoubtedly particular, special, a term that is used in different ways and with multiple connotations. Always in the lead among online searches and in countless bar conversations, it is a topic that is talked about a lot and on which, at the same time, is silent. It is very popular, but it is also taboo.
It is a polysemic word, but it is curious to note that this polysemy depends on a misuse of the term throughout history. The meaning of the words changes progressively.
In the case of the word "sex", its meaning has changed over time due to events of a social, political or religious nature.
What is the etymology of the word "sex"?
This word is found in our vocabulary thanks to the Athenian playwright Aristophanes (444 BC - 385 BC). This is one of the characters of the Symposium, a series of dialogues written by Plato of inestimable philosophical value.
These dialogues take place in the context of a dinner in which various diners, including Socrates and Aristophanes himself, talk about love and Eros.
In this dinner Aristophanes tells the famous myth of the androgyne. According to this myth, beings belong to three different categories: male, female and androgynous.
Androgynous is a being who exhibits masculine and feminine characteristics. The word "androgynous" comes from the Greek (anèr, man, and giné, woman), and represents the union.
The playwright described androgynous as complete beings with four arms, four legs, two faces and two separate genitals. These beings were defined as round, complete and vigorous. So vigorous that they tried to challenge the gods.
Then Zeus decided to punish them for such an offense. The punishment consisted in dividing these beings in half, to make them less powerful, but above all incomplete.
Following this division, men and women longed to be reunited with their missing part: in this way they would feel "complete" again (hence the famous myth of the soul mate).
These "complete" beings became "dissected". And it is exactly this last word that gives rise to what we know as "sex". Gender comes from secare, and means 'to cut', 'to divide'.
How do we use the word today?
The etymology of the term contrasts with the uses we usually make of it nowadays and which we can summarize in three main ones.
The "sex you have"
This usage reduces the word 'sex' to situations of intimate encounters with one or more people. This means that sex is associated with intimate relationships. This use is frequent in the media.
If we go even more into detail and analyze what is meant by intimate relationship based on the original meaning of the word, we are referring to relationships "between the sexes" (of any kind).
For this reason, we often speak of erotic relationships, a term that describes a more precise and intimate relationship (we allude to Eros, which implies desire, attraction, love).
The "sex you have"
This use refers to the genitals. And that's not a fair use because, despite what many people still believe, the genitals don't define our sex. In other words, the genitals do not determine our sexual identity.
The use of the word 'sex' as a synonym for genitals is not as frequent as the use previously described, but it happens to read phrases like "shave sex".
The "sex that is"
It refers to the most correct and harmonious use in relation to the etymology of the term. This interpretation is the basis of sexology. It refers to sexual identity, to the fact that we are sexual beings.
Conclusions
Language builds behaviors, attitudes and mental patterns, which is why it is important to give each term the right meaning.
This allows you to place each concept in the right place, in order to describe reality in the best possible way: if we fail to describe reality well, we will hardly be able to ask the appropriate questions about it, still less will we be able to get answers.
