Infant and Child Sexuality: A Sociological Perspective - Ipce

mal sex education from my father during fifth grade
stressed the feeling of love and respect for others
as well as the physical and technical aspects
of a sexual relationship. I think that this is a
very important attitude to instill in a young
child. It was an afterthought of our talk that my
father mentioned that the sexual act did not always
represent a chance of conception and that there
were means available to prevent conception. This
fact stressed to me that sexual intercourse had not
only a reproductive function but also something
that two people in love naturally enjoyed. The conclusion
of this talk was there would probably be
other factors concerning sex that would interest me
later that he had forgotten to mention, and I was
assured that I was always welcome and encouraged to
ask either him or Mom and need never feel embarrassed
about doing so.
On the way home from shopping my mother said she
had forgotten to buy something. I wasn’t paying too
much attention, but I asked her what she had forgotten.
She answered by saying ‘Kotex.’ Naturally I
asked what it was and both my father and mother
looked at each other and said, ‘Well, I think it’s
about time we tell her.’ When we got home Dad
showed me a book, diagrams of the female and male
reproductive systems. He explained to me what happens
during menstruation, how the mother and father
cell are joined together, where a baby grows during
pregnancy, and how a baby is born. At first I
was shocked to think my parents would do such awful
things. The more questions I asked the more I realized
it must be a pretty natural process with all
the people in the world. I think that this matterof-fact,
down to earth explaining has always made
it easier to confide in either of my parents.
This warm companionship I share with my father
probably developed early in life when he would come
home from work and take time to play with me, look
at the things I had made in school, sit down and
just talk. He won my confidence. Because I trusted
his opinion I felt free to consult him about various
problems or questions which came to mind, especially
concerning dating, sex, and boys. I first
began dating while in the seventh grade. This is
when our ‘little talks’ began.
There has always been much affection in my family
and I learned to show affection freely, but I
believe my parents were trying to convey the idea
that sex within marriage was sacred and not something
to be experimented with outside of a true
love relationship.
My mother stressed that intercourse is sacred
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