Infant and Child Sexuality: A Sociological Perspective - Ipce
Infant and Child Sexuality: A Sociological Perspective - Ipce
Infant and Child Sexuality: A Sociological Perspective - Ipce
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nificance in the presence of children <strong>and</strong> make every effort to keep<br />
them in ignorance of the reproductive process. Among the natives of the<br />
Western Carolines, also, sex is never discussed before children, especially<br />
girls. Cuna children remain ignorant of sexual matters, as far<br />
as adult instruction is concerned, until the last stages of the marriage<br />
ceremony. Chagga children are told that babies come out of the<br />
forest. (Ford <strong>and</strong> Beach, 1951, p. 180).<br />
In a number of these societies particular pains are taken to prevent<br />
offspring from accidentally observing sexual behavior. In some instances,<br />
as among the Murgin of Australia, boys are removed from the<br />
family dwelling to the boys’ house or bachelors, house when they are<br />
four or five years old; this is done for the specific purpose of preventing<br />
them from witnessing sexual behavior at home. Cuna children are<br />
not even allowed to watch animals give birth. (Ford <strong>and</strong> Beach, 1951, p.<br />
180).<br />
Deliberate excitation of one’s genitals is considered a perversion<br />
by adults in many societies. In the past at least, the adults in the<br />
United States have attempted to prevent preadolescents from engaging in<br />
masturbatory activity. However, in a recent study (Abelson, Cohen,<br />
Heaton, <strong>and</strong> Suder, 1970) 911 American men <strong>and</strong> 1370 American women were<br />
asked how a parent should react to masturbation on the part of a twelve<br />
or thirteen year old boy or girl. The results indicate that the adult<br />
respondents were generally tolerant of preadolescent or early adolescent<br />
masturbation. They would “discuss” or “discourage” rather than<br />
“punish” or “forbid” it. Approximately one-fourth to one-half of all<br />
male <strong>and</strong> female respondents indicated that they would “discuss” the<br />
matter with the twelve or thirteen year old.<br />
Other Adult-Sponsored Controls On the<br />
Sexual Encounters Of Preadolescents<br />
Public Opinion <strong>and</strong> Sex Laws<br />
<strong>Child</strong>ren, preadolescents, <strong>and</strong> adolescents encounter adults <strong>and</strong><br />
their sexual proscriptions through encounters with adult-molded public<br />
opinion, laws, institutions, <strong>and</strong> various adult functionaries such as<br />
the police. Public opinion in the United States has largely accepted<br />
the Judeo-Christian restrictions on most sexual encounters outside of<br />
marriage. No state makes it a criminal offense for an individual to engage<br />
in self-masturbation, but two states (Indiana <strong>and</strong> Wyoming) consider<br />
it to be a crime to encourage another person to masturbate.<br />
Offenses that involve incest (the most common forms being fatherdaughter<br />
or stepfather-stepdaughter <strong>and</strong> brother-sister) <strong>and</strong> offenses<br />
that involve the use of force in obtaining sexual gratification are intensely<br />
condemned by the public (as well as by their representatives<br />
the police) in the United States. Though there is evidence that children<br />
might in some cases be willing accomplices to the offense, or<br />
might indeed be seductive, the onus is always on the adult offender <strong>and</strong><br />
pursuit by the police is vigorous. (Gagnon <strong>and</strong> Simon, March 1968).<br />
The School<br />
If parents or other adults are to be the source of the child’s<br />
114