sexually attractive or exciting
From sex + -y suffix, first recorded 1905
Modern adjective reflecting changing social attitudes
Marketing language gendered female bodies since mid-20th century advertising; objectifies appearance as primary value. Historically excluded women from professional/intellectual domains by reducing them to sexual appeal.
Avoid in professional/technical contexts. If discussing attractiveness, center agency and choice; use neutral descriptors for design appeal (elegant, intuitive, engaging).
["appealing","engaging","intuitive","elegant","striking"]
Women engineers and designers' contributions are often obscured when their work is valued primarily for aesthetic appeal rather than technical merit.
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