Why are sockets called Male/Female ?

[questionbank]

I asked this question to my teacher, but she couldn't answer me.

 

[House0Fwax]

'She' was probably too embarrased to. Think about it, The male plug goes into the female socket.

 

[Reloadron]

I think this is a sort of anatomy thing. However sockets are female in gender (if we want to assign gender) and plugs are male in gender (if we want to assign gender). I have never seen a female plug or a male socket that I can recall. Now think anatomy and it should be apparent as to gender assignments.

Sunday afternoon beer right through the nose on that one.

Ron

 

[questionbank]

Is it because male sockets are stronger?

 

[ericgibbs]

I asked this question to my teacher, but she couldn't answer me.

The answer to your question is in the Title of your thread...

 

[questionbank]

The answer to your question is in the Title of your thread...

Sorry, I couldn't get it. I am a 6th grader. Please help me!

 

[ericgibbs]

Sorry, I couldn't get it. I am a 6th grader. Please help me!

As I recall it was originally named based on the male and female sexual organs, I am sorry if this is too explicit but its the direct answer.

 

[Reloadron]

Sorry, I couldn't get it. I am a 6th grader. Please help me!

OK, to simplify Eric's post to hopefully a sixth grade level. Think boy and think girl. Now thing the physical difference. Think about male body and female body. Now do you get the whole plug and socket thing? Remember there are no female plugs and no male sockets. Got the idea yet?

Ron

 

[questionbank]

As I recall it was originally named based on the male and female sexual organs, I am sorry if this is too explicit but its the direct answer.

Oh! I got it. The Female sockets always got hole in it. I am feeling shy.. I also got why my teacher din't answer.
But, why were they so rude originally to base the names in such things. Stupid people.
I think no female member answered this thread too.

 

[House0Fwax]

Here we go, good old tactful wikipedia;

"In electrical and mechanical trades and manufacturing, each of a pair of mating connectors or fasteners is conventionally assigned the designation male or female. The "female" connector is generally a receptacle that connects to and holds the "male" connector.

The assignment is by direct analogy with genitalia and sexual intercourse; the part bearing one or more protrusions, or which fits inside the other, being designated male and the part containing the corresponding indentations or fitting outside the other being female. Extension of the analogy results in the verb to mate being used to describe connecting two ends together."
Gender of connectors and fasteners - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[ericgibbs]

Oh! I got it. The Female sockets always got hole in it. I am feeling shy.. I also got why my teacher din't answer.
But, why were they so rude originally to base the names in such things. Stupid people.
I think no female member answered this thread too.

hi,
I dont think its a rude name, its just a natural obvious way and also easy to remember.

Some manufacturers use the names 'pins and receptacles' to describe connectors

 

[HarveyH42]

I guess it's confusing for kids now, in this modern era, where it's okay to be 'gay'. I bet a kid couldn't get the same answer from both of his 'dads'.

 

[transistor495]

I asked this question to my teacher..

Answering:
How old the teacher is? -would be greatly appreciated.

Now you got the valuable answer from ETO and proudly present it in front of her. A line in reply is welcome.

 

[BrownOut]

I might be all wet, but a "socket" is inherently "female" For example, many connector mfg'ers specify contacts as "pins" (male) or "sockets" (female) Where I got confused is "jack" and "plug" I thought a plug was a male gender,but sometimes plugs have socket connectors. Hmmmm....? I finally learned a plug's body fits inside a jack, regardless of the connector gender. Now, I'm trying to order a 100 pin Hirose board connector, and they have "jacks" "plugs" and "headers" each with either pins or sockets, and I can't tell from the lousy drawings which is which. Damn, it gets confusing out there sometimes.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

I might be all wet, but a "socket" is inherently "female" For example, many connector mfg'ers specify contacts as "pins" (male) or "sockets" (female) Where I got confused is "jack" and "plug" I thought a plug was a male gender,but sometimes plugs have socket connectors. Hmmmm....? I finally learned a plug's body fits inside a jack, regardless of the connector gender. Now, I'm trying to order a 100 pin Hirose board connector, and they have "jacks" "plugs" and "headers" each with either pins or sockets, and I can't tell from the lousy drawings which is which. Damn, it gets confusing out there sometimes.

Perhaps it should have been 'Jacks' and 'Jills'

However, as you get jack sockets and jack plugs, it appears to be nothing to do with gender.

 

[BrownOut]

Perhaps it should have been 'Jacks' and 'Jills'

HA! Maybe that would make it easier for the teacher to explain

 

[HiTech]

The world is such a whacko place that I wouldn't doubt there are fruity engineers out there trying to design "transgender" connectors!

 

[House0Fwax]

If you follow the Wikipedia link I posted earlier, the following is mentioned;
"Finally, some connectors are hermaphroditic and include both male and female elements in a single unit."

 

[Reloadron]

I remember the old GR874 and a few other connectors considered sexless. They have been around for awhile.

Ron

 

[DirtyLude]

It seems pretty obvious when you realize that sockets are terrible drivers and plugs won't stop to ask for directions.