backround: originally coming from
hermes, greek messanger god, and aphrodite, the greek goddes of love. hermaphrodite(with a long e sound) was originally the child of hermes and aphrodite, and was both male and female.
the ONLY definitions are as follows, if used for any other definition, the word has been used improperly or metaphorically.
1. a person who has both sets of sex organs (male and female), but not neccessarily having the ability to reproduce.
*technically it is possible for a hermaphrodite to use
autosexual reproduction
2. MYTHOLOGY the child of hermes and aphrodite (read the backround)
hermaphrodite is also commonly, and INCORRECTLY used to mean a person with the secondary sexual traits of
one sex, but the sexual organs of the other.
a hermaphrodite is not a super being, and human hermaphrodites often are often born sterile (unable to reproduce) and sometimes lack enough sexual hormones to sexually mature during puberty.
*note: it is believed that
jamie lee curtis fits into the first definition; however, no one actually seems to definatively know. (who would want to find out?)
Example:
1. That hermaprhodite has a penis and a vagina.
INCORRECT Dude, she has boobs, i thought she was a she, but she has
a dick! just a dick!(no female reproductive
organs involved)