Genital power, mystical

Beliefs are widespread in traditional society, best documented in Africa, that the genitals of people emanate a mystical power that can pollute, or cleanse, and can be intentionally directed by its bearer at others, as a weapon. Polluting effects of the genitals are ancient and are explicit in the Bible; the power in young girls is in some areas believed to cure sexually-transmitted diseases, like HIV/AIDS; and fear of the aggressive use of such power, as a weapon, is very persuasive, and exacerbated because it resembles the behavior of witches. Awareness of such beliefs is important to the fullest understanding of cultural ideas about sexuality.