Sex-Related Characterization

Abstract

It is a matter of importance that we set forth the reasons for the terms ‘sex-related’ and ‘characterization’ in the title of this section. We are not concerned with sexual characterisms or sexual morality or sexual properties or relations. We are concerned with the characterizing of persons as sexually differentiated, but not with sexual differences. For example, the words male and female are descripts and not characterisms, whereas masculine and feminine are generally characterisms. Vast tracts of information about this amply discussed subject are therefore of no interest to us whatever. We are interested in how the sexes characterize one another, how they characterize their sexual interest and their sexual roles. The term ‘sex-related’ must be construed broadly so that certain aspects of the family fall inside our area. The family arises out of the sexual order of nature in conjunction with other factors which are social and economic. One and the same person is therefore a subject of characterization from many sides. A woman can be described as a female, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mistress, and in various other ways, but she will be characterized in very different terms. The term prostitute is a descript, not a characterism, since there are simple and objective criteria by which this occupation can be defined. What appear to be various “synonyms” for this term are often characterisms, not descriptions.