It may be helpful at this point to anticipate part of the argument in Chapter 1, “Hymenologies: the multiple signs of virginity.” Today, the primary physiological “sign” of virginity in women is considered to be the “unbroken” hymen; …

The specter of women in factories, women in schoolrooms, and women attending — a lot less addressing — public meetings set off alarm bells in the South.

In fact, Soviet astronomers once thought that the thick, dense Cytherean atmosphere might not let any sunlight reach the surface.

Last November, 22-year-old Khiry Johnson took the stand on the syndicated daytime television show Divorce Court and accused his significant other, Erin Rodgers, of being sextually untrue. “We both have iPhones, and we both have emojis,” Johnson testified. “Now, I feel like certain emojis shouldn’t just get sent to anybody. I’m referring to emojis with the heart eyes. Blowing a heart kiss. … Even the eggplant that some people refer to as male genitalia.”