Sex is fundamental to society. We cannot think about politics, power, identity, or culture without also thinking about sexuality. Despite this, the scientific study of sexual behavior is a relatively recent phenomenon. Doctors, legal experts, and other intellectuals have all pondered challenging questions in an attempt to stay abreast of the latest sexual research. How might we separate talking about sex scientifically from discussing and consuming pornography? How do we speak objectively about desire and pleasure? And how do the words that we use to talk about sex affect what we are able to...

Sex is fundamental to society. We cannot think about politics, power, identity, or culture without also thinking about sexuality. Despite this, the scientific study of sexual behavior is a relatively recent phenomenon. Doctors, legal experts, and other intellectuals have all pondered challenging questions in an attempt to stay abreast of the latest sexual research. How might we separate talking about sex scientifically from discussing and consuming pornography? How do we speak objectively about desire and pleasure? And how do the words that we use to talk about sex affect what we are able to...