The Complexity of Sex in a Complex CultureSex is a universal irony. Modern society is bombarded with sexual images, but the definition of sex is much more hidden. The words "sex", "making love" and "sexual relations" can be perceived differently from one person to another. Sex is an abstract word, difficult to define due to a taboo in America that prohibits discussing it publicly. the topic of sex is discussed between friends in private more often than in public, a certain personal language evolves between individuals when discussing sex. When sexual language is used in public, ambiguities also develop in how some individuals define sex. Anthropological and social debates arise because of ambiguous terms and cultural differences regarding gender, as well as because social taboos do not always dictate behavior. Margaret Mead, in her anthropology essay Sex in Samoa, argues that Samoan adolescent girls experienced sexual freedom and love. The differences between Samoan and American cultures regarding sex have caused debate about the credibility of Mead's findings. Today, the imprecise and unfamiliar terminology used in the Clinton sex scandal is creating political debates. The analysis of adolescents in today's culture demonstrates that American culture, like that of the Samoans, is very complex, and that this complexity can create debates about the definition of sex in society. Today, Americans use the word "sex" as an abbreviation for "sexual intercourse." In this way, the word "sex" can almost be considered slang. The Dictionary of English Slang and Unconventional English states that "gender, in 1975, was used to distinguish the medium of paper...language and culture play an important role in the definition." For decades, people have stumbled over the question "what counts as sex?" » There is no single answer as it depends on language and culture. Debates such as the Mead controversy and the Clinton scandal demonstrate that sex is a personal and informal subject that, when made public. , creates disagreements over the definition of sexual terms. These debates also demonstrate that society can influence, not guide, the sexual actions of citizens. Until sex is regularly discussed publicly, there will always be disagreements. Perhaps it’s this ambiguity that makes sex so fascinating. CitéPatridge, E. (1984). A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English from London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. Oxford University Press (1998)..