A person who is easily shocked by matters related to sex or the body; someone who is overly proper or easily offended by anything considered immodest.
From French 'prude' (a prudish or excessively proper woman), possibly from Latin 'prudens' (discrete or prudent), or from Old French 'prodefemme' (a respectable woman).
Victorian-era 'prudes' were so concerned with modesty that they wouldn't even say 'leg' for chicken parts, calling them 'dark and white meat' instead—the word perfectly captures absurd propriety.
Historically weaponized against women to shame sexual autonomy and bodily boundaries; disproportionately applied to female sexuality to enforce conservative morality.
Avoid this term; it conflates ethical boundaries with prudishness. Use 'boundary-respecting' or simply describe the specific behavior.
["boundary-setting","conservative in approach","respectful of norms"]
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