A man could follow his eros wherever it led him. Sex was not as "gendered" as it is in our society, and a man could easily switch back and forth between females and males, as long as his partners were inferiors. ... As the "passive" partner the boy was being used "like a woman," a humiliating experience in itself, and one that could have lifelong consequences. The most shameful thing that could happen to any Greek male was penetration by another male. It was up to the boy to try to prevent this from occurring, to keep his lover within certain limits. Intercourse was acceptable if it took place intracrurally, that is, between the thighs, or in other ways that did not involve actual penetration. It is unlikely, however, that a young boy could control an adult male, and many must have had to submit to whatever the man desired. Message 28641126