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KWAKIUTL (North-American Natives)
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See also: North-America Non-Natives
Kwakiutl boys of 6 or 7 would built little shelters in the forest and play house with girls of comparable age, lying with them in imitation of adult copulation (Voget, 1961). Rohner (1967:p97)[1][158] writes:
“Children become at least superficially aware of sex at an early age because homes offer little privacy. Children hear about and see adults in bed together during parties, are exposed to the speech of adults and older children [cf. p96], and in many ways come into direct and indirect contact with sex. Bodily modesty is typical of older children and adults, but small children often go without pants or other clothing, especially within their homes. Young children to about the age of seven occasionally explore or manipulate their genitals when they believe they are not being observed, but they rarely do it publicly at later ages. Parents do not instruct children in sexual matters”.
Few girls knew about menstruation when it happened. Courtship is an important activity during adolescence, but “little overt romantic behavior is manifested publicly” (p99-100).
Janssen,
D. F., Growing Up Sexually. Last revised: Sept 2004 |
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[1][158] Rohner, R. P. (1967) The People
of Gilford: A