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Intimate part



 
 
An intimate, personal or private part is a place on the human body which it is usually customary to keep covered with clothing
Clothing

A feature of all human societies, except perhaps the most primitive, is the wearing of clothing or clothes, especially in public. The primary purpose of clothing is functional, as a protection from the weather....
 in public areas, as a matter of decency
Decency

Decency is conformity to Society standards of conduct and speech.Standards of decency vary greatly depending on the cultural context. Most nations have laws against indecency which regulate certain sexual acts, and restrict one's ability to display certain parts of the body in public ....
. The term is a euphemism
Euphemism

A euphemism is a substitution of an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener, or in the case of #Doublespeak, to make it less troublesome for the speaker....
.

Definitions vary, but in Western culture
Western culture

File:Clash of Civilizations map.pngWestern culture are terms which are used to refer to cultures of European origin. This terminology originated as a way of describing what was different about the Graeco-Roman culture and its descendants, in contrast to the older neighboring civilizations of the Middle East, which in many ways continued...
s they are primarily the parts involved in sexual arousal
Sexual arousal

Sexual arousal is the the arousal of sexual desires in preparation for sexual behavior....
, procreation, and elimination of excreta and related matter, including:

Female breasts are considered as parts that would be covered in some contexts, with degree of tolerance for uncovered breasts varying in different regions.






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An intimate, personal or private part is a place on the human body which it is usually customary to keep covered with clothing
Clothing

A feature of all human societies, except perhaps the most primitive, is the wearing of clothing or clothes, especially in public. The primary purpose of clothing is functional, as a protection from the weather....
 in public areas, as a matter of decency
Decency

Decency is conformity to Society standards of conduct and speech.Standards of decency vary greatly depending on the cultural context. Most nations have laws against indecency which regulate certain sexual acts, and restrict one's ability to display certain parts of the body in public ....
. The term is a euphemism
Euphemism

A euphemism is a substitution of an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener, or in the case of #Doublespeak, to make it less troublesome for the speaker....
.

Definitions vary, but in Western culture
Western culture

File:Clash of Civilizations map.pngWestern culture are terms which are used to refer to cultures of European origin. This terminology originated as a way of describing what was different about the Graeco-Roman culture and its descendants, in contrast to the older neighboring civilizations of the Middle East, which in many ways continued...
s they are primarily the parts involved in sexual arousal
Sexual arousal

Sexual arousal is the the arousal of sexual desires in preparation for sexual behavior....
, procreation, and elimination of excreta and related matter, including:
  • the buttocks
    Buttocks

    The buttocks are rounded portions of the anatomy located on the posterior of the pelvic region of the apes, including humans and many other bipeds or quadrupeds....
     and the anus
    Anus

    The anus is an opening at the opposite end of an animal's digestive tract from the mouth. Its function is to expel feces, unwanted semi-solid matter produced during digestion, which, depending on the type of animal, may be one or more of: matter which the animal cannot digest, such as coprolite ; food material after all the nutrients have b...
    , the perineum
    Perineum

    In human anatomy, the perineum is generally defined as the surface region in both males and females between the pubic symphysis and the coccyx. The perineum is the region of the body inferior to the pelvic diaphragm and between the legs....
  • for males: the penis
    Penis

    The penis is an external sex organ of certain biologically male organisms, in both vertebrates and invertebrates.The penis is a reproductive organ, technically an intromittent organ, and for Eutheria, additionally serves as the external organ of urination....
    , testes, and scrotum
    Scrotum

    In some male mammals the scrotum is a protuberance of skin and muscle containing the testicles. It is an extension of the abdomen, and is located between the penis and anus....
  • for females: the vagina
    Vagina

    The vagina is a fibromuscular cylinder tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles....
    , vulva
    Vulva

    The vulva refers to the external sex organ of the female. In colloquial speech, the term vagina is often used to refer to the female genitals generally, although, strictly speaking, the vagina is a specific internal structure, whereas the vulva is the whole exterior genitalia....
    , and the breast
    Breast

    The breast is the upper ventral region of an animal?s torso, particularly that of mammals, including human beings. The breasts of a female primate?s body contain the mammary glands, which secrete milk used to feed infants....
    s and nipples


Female breasts are considered as parts that would be covered in some contexts, with degree of tolerance for uncovered breasts varying in different regions. In many contexts in the United States, breasts are typically considered as not appropriate to be exposed in public, but is sometimes considered sufficient that the nipples alone be covered. However, in Europe, it is common in some countries for women to have their breasts exposed in beaches and certain swimming pools and for mothers to breastfeed their very young children in public.

In some periods of European history, female shoulders and legs were included. More conservative viewpoints in the West in some contexts still find it appropriate that females should cover
Clothing

A feature of all human societies, except perhaps the most primitive, is the wearing of clothing or clothes, especially in public. The primary purpose of clothing is functional, as a protection from the weather....
 their shoulders, particularly when entering a church or other sacred space.

In Islamic traditions, the definition of intimate parts is similar to its definition in Western culture
Western culture

File:Clash of Civilizations map.pngWestern culture are terms which are used to refer to cultures of European origin. This terminology originated as a way of describing what was different about the Graeco-Roman culture and its descendants, in contrast to the older neighboring civilizations of the Middle East, which in many ways continued...
. Some Muslims believe that females should cover most of their body, especially the hair, shoulders, neck, and the "intimate parts" mentioned above. Specifically, in females, the entire body, except the face, hands and feet must be covered in public. It is often stated that these parts are likely to arouse excitement in males, and for reasons of chastity and modesty, should be covered. Men are required to cover from the navel to the knee inclusive.

Exposure of one's intimate parts, particularly unintended exposure, is typically connected with feelings of shame
Shame

Shame is, variously, an Affect_, emotion, cognition, state_of_being. The roots of the word shame are thought to derive from an older word meaning to cover; as such, covering oneself, literally or figuratively, is a natural expression of shame....
. Such acts may be subject to strict social rules
Sociology

Sociology is a branch of the social sciences that uses systematic methods of Empiricism and critical theory to develop and refine a body of knowledge about human social structure and activity, sometimes with the goal of applying such knowledge to the pursuit of social welfare....
, social control
Social control

Social control includes to social mechanisms that regulate individual and group behavior, leading to Conformism and compliances to the rules of a given society or social group....
 and criminal justice
Criminal justice

Criminal justice is the system of practices, and organizations, used by national and local governments, directed at maintaining social control, Deterrence and controlling crime, and sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties....
; see nudity
Nudity

Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing.Based on scientific research into louse it is estimated that humans have been wearing clothing for 650,000 years....
 and indecent exposure
Indecent exposure

Indecent exposure is the deliberate exposure by a person of a portion or portions of his or her own body under circumstances where such an exposure is likely to be seen as contrary to the local commonly accepted standards of decency , and may in fact be a violation of law....
.

Intentionally touching the intimate parts of another person, even through clothing
Clothing

A feature of all human societies, except perhaps the most primitive, is the wearing of clothing or clothes, especially in public. The primary purpose of clothing is functional, as a protection from the weather....
, is often associated with sexual intent
Intent

Intent in law is the planning and desire to perform an Criminal act, to fail to do so or to achieve a state of affairs in psychological view it may mean a different thing....
. If this is done without legally valid consent of the person being touched, it is often considered sexual harassment
Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment is unwelcome attention of a sexual nature and is a form of illegal and social harassment. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and annoyances to actual sexual abuse or sexual assault....
 or sexual assault
Sexual assault

Sexual assault is is an assault of a sexual nature on another person. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may be by a man on a man, woman on a man or woman on a woman....
.

See also

  • Sex organ
    Sex organ

    A sex organ, or primary sexual characteristic, as narrowly defined, is any of the anatomical parts of the body which are involved in sexual reproduction and constitute the reproductive system in a complex organism; in mammals, these include:...
  • Secondary sex characteristic
    Secondary sex characteristic

    Secondary sex characteristics are traits that distinguish the two sexes of a species, but that are not directly part of the reproductive system....
    s
  • Public nudity
    Public nudity

    Public nudity or nude in public refers to nudity not in an entirely private context. It refers to a person appearing nude in a public place or to be seen from a public place....