In a broader sense, prudery refers to an attitude of mind that aims to largely exclude sexual expressions of any kind in public and sometimes also in the private sphere.
This applies above all to the portrayal or even suggestion of eroticism in tone and image form, fashion, mass media, literature, historical testimonies, and conversation.
[citation needed] The degree of prudery understood as fearful contempt of human sexuality can vary among different cultures and traditions.
Thus one can be labeled a "prude" for expressing reservations about drinking alcohol, consuming other drugs, or participating in mischief.
For example, one may be viewed as having relatively lax standards regarding sexuality and drug usage compared to the overall population in which one resides, but compared to a smaller, specific subculture with more permissive standards, one may appear to be unduly strict and thus be labeled a prude when one refuses to participate in more liberal seeming behaviors.