|
The Sexual
Curriculum (Oct., 2002) [to
Volume II Index] [to
Main Index Page] Janssen, D. F. (Oct., 2002). Growing
Up Sexually. Volume II: The Sexual Curriculum: The Manufacture and
Performance of Pre-Adult Sexualities. Interim Report. Amsterdam, The
Netherlands Overview
Abstract:
This
introductory note serves as a guide to the current collection of chapters providing
a cross-culturally informed support of symbolic interactionist/ social
constructionist sexual socialisation theory, otherwise known as "scripting"
theory. Contents
Preliminary Notes
The present literature inventory is
concerned with extracting cultural and cross-cultural principles that govern
the socialisation and expression of sexual behaviour in the pre-adult
individual. The data used for the chapters briefly introduced and legitimised infra are partly distilled from the Atlas Volume, and are partly the result
of additional specific literature searches. As a whole, the chapters represent
a condensation and a limitation of an original interim Thematic Volume embodying rough topic-organised extracts from the Atlas. For full coverage of the subjects
and for full referencing, the reader is referred to this former collection, and
to the Atlas. For the sake of brevity
and readability, the current thematic volume refers to original preparatory
papers that will not be published. The Atlas
Volume provides an ongoing, preliminary, ethnographically organised
annotated bibliography for the cross-cultural study of sexual behaviour
trajectories. As such, it offered an identification of previously valued
entries and paradigms used by ethnographers and sociologists to cover the issue
of sexual behaviour "socialisation". Thus, it is to provide the inspiration for
further subject-based and approach-identified literature reviewing. From this
material, a selection of topics was chosen to illustrate what had become a compelling
entry to viewing matters, namely, the process of securing a ground of
existence, evolution and expression for sexual behaviour by attributing to it a
pragmatic, social identity, thereby legitimising its enactment. Inherently, the
demonstration of cross-cultural variability associated with this process is
arrived at via a constructionist-interactionist approach. Structural Design
Each chapter is introduced by an
abstract, an contents clarification, and an introduction. Chapters are
concluded with closing arguments. Data
The material collected in this Volume
was arrived at in various stages. Sources were selected for their
constructionist approach, their subject, their (cross-)cultural setting, and
their availability. No limitation was applied in the selection of sources,
provided that crucial material was published in academic periodicals or
presented at academic meetings. Introduction to the Chapters
An addendum entitled "Chapter
Abstracts" provides for a cursory overview of the chapter's contents. I Theory
Chapters 1-4 explore and formulate theoretical assumptions that govern
sexual "developmental" issues; these theoretical baselines are used and
demonstrated by ethnographic and historical materials. An introductory chapter
(1)
lists theoretical traditions in developmental sexology, surveying their use for
application within a poly-ethnographic format. Chapter 2 outlines historical aspects of the
sexological invasion of childhood. Two further chapters (3 and 4) delineate and
assess the theoretical positioning within the current project as selected from
the review in chapter 1, which is a constructionist approach. Departing from a
critique on the ramifications used in the "cross-cultural method" (Appendix I),
chapter 3
overviews applications of an interactionist interpretation of sexual
socialisation based on a reformulation by Becker. Chapter 4 cursory explores how, according to
theoretical formulations, language mobilises and immobilises the inner- and
outer-geography of the sexological order. II The Sexual
Scene
Chapters 5-15 review ethnohistorical materials pertaining to sexual
socialisation processes within a constructionist-performative format. This
field is approached via diverse entries including the
sexualised-operationalised body (12, 13), and the interactive order (7-10, 14) fostering curricularisation
processes (5),
within its discursive settings (11). Within this format, children manufacture,
assimilate and invest into a scene that accommodates sexual behaviour (chapter 6) and
romantic love (15). The former chapters are sensitised by an
appraisal of multi-agenda 'colloquial' discussions of eroticisation processes
within the current American context (chapter 16). III Selected
Conclusions
A closing chapter (17) rehearses selected major
highlights extracted from the preceding chapters. Appendices
Five appendices provide lateral and
background data. (I) An
appraisal of relevant data generated by the cross-cultural method, providing a cursory
exploration of the structural level of sexual trajectories; (II) An
appraisal of general ethnographic coverage of early sexual behaviour and
socialisation; (III)
A literature review of contemporary interpretations of sexualities located
within school environments using a performative approach; (IV) A
discussion of meta-scientific assumptions on "development", as a preliminary to
"post-developmentalist" perspectives on sexual trajectories; Tables Selected tables as integrated in
Volumes I and II. (i) "SCCS" measures, to be
understood in the context of SCCS time/place
specifications (ii)
"Whiting and Child" measures Addenda
Supporting specific GUS chapters, or
generally. (a) addendum
to paragraph 12.4.1; (b)
bibliography supporting chapter 9 (c)
bibliography supporting chapter 14 (d)
tables supporting chapter 16 (e) list of
terms (f) [in preparation] addendum to
chapter 8 |