Is sexuality innate?
Did our gender roles evolve in nature?
And would we be happier if we abandoned the idea of monogamy?
BBC series Sexual revolutions was about changing our thinking about sexuality and gender.
- The mystery of the female orgasm
- A centuries-old sexual myth
- Are there any advantages to rejecting monogamy?
As with any controversial topic, there are still many misconceptions, and now that we've ended the series, here are some of the surprising facts we've learned.
We haven't found the "gay gene" yet.
Despite the sensational headlines, scientists are having trouble defining the genetics of homosexuality.
As BBC journalist Brendon Ambrosino points out, a purely biological explanation cannot account for sexual fluidity, as our desires change over time and in different circumstances.
Testosterone cannot help a weakened female libido
There is surprisingly little evidence that low levels of the male sex hormone testosterone can explain low sex drive in women.
Despite this discovery, women continue to seek testosterone to treat low sex drive, and doctors continue to prescribe it.
This is just one of the many ways medicine has failed to understand female sexuality.
- Is a new sexual revolution brewing?
- Polyandry: "I imagine marriage with more than one person"
- Why do more women than men identify as sexually fluid?
Young children are often confused about gender
Our sense of gender is not fixed, especially at a younger age.
A fairly large number of young children question whether they are male or female, but only about 10 percent of them will become transgender adults.
We need to better understand that trajectory, since gender dysmorphia, especially during puberty, can put a child at greater risk of depression and even suicide.
This trans artist helped redefine gender
Our generation is not the first to experiment with gender boundaries.
Decades before Miley Cyrus, David Bowie and Grayson Perry, French artist Claude Cohen challenged gender roles in society.
Born Lucy Schwob in 1894, she changed her name to Claude - a name used by both men and women in France.
Describing her gender, she said, “Shuff the deck. Male? Woman? It depends on the situation. Middle is always the gender that suits me best."
- Intersex: How eighth graders in Serbia will learn about intersex
- "Intersex is not a disorder - we are different"
Many animal species have more than two genera
Our view of the sexes among animal species has been somewhat black and white—we assume that all males of one species will look and act a certain way, and that all females will look and act another.
Moreover, Joan Rafgarden of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology points out that many species exhibit more than two "genders," each of which will look and behave differently.
The bluegill sunfish has three different categories of males, for example - one of which will actively participate in a "threesome" with another male and female during courtship.
We need an alternative to "he" and "she"
The English language has no pronoun to describe people who reject the traditional gender binary.
But how should it read?
You'd think this is an extremely modern question, but the search for a good gender-neutral pronoun goes back hundreds of years (even the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge considered this problem), and the possibilities include "they", "ve", "ze". ", or "ou".
The Asexual Pride movement is growing rapidly
It is possible that there are as many asexual people - those who feel little or no sexual desire - as there are gay people.
But only recently have their voices been heard.
In 2003, the network for visibility and education about asexuality had only 391 members; today it gathers more than 80.000 followers.
In our increasingly sexualized world, they want to correct the perception that everyone needs sex for a happy and healthy life.
- "I'm an autosexual and I love myself more than other people"
- "Who can love you more than yourself": Indian woman plans to marry herself
- Why demisexuality is as real as any other sexual orientation
The hardest thing about polyamory is other people's prejudices
Polyamorous people enjoy committed, long-term relationships with more than one person.
Their lifestyle is completely honest and voluntary - there is no "cheating" behind their partner's back - and contrary to popular belief, they are just as satisfied as traditional couples and are not more inclined to feel sexual jealousy.
Despite these facts, they are often harshly judged for violating social norms and this can be especially difficult for children growing up in polyamorous households.
Watch the video:
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter i Viber. If you have a topic proposal for us, contact us at bbcnasrpskom@bbc.co.uk
Bonus video:
