I think I too said male when in fact it is a female, however the molded rubber portion goes into a socket therfore it is more of a transvestite type of plug, it could go either way, depending how you look at it. I think what royb refers to is a boat twistlock type connection that is used in the marine industry. You install the plug and give it a 1/8 twist or so to lock into socket. This was designed to keep the dock connect from getting kicked into the water when the drunk boaters stagger home after a night at the yacht club.