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The Sexual Curriculum (Oct.,
2002) [to
Atlas
Index] [to Main Index] 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 Recommendations for Further Study
Research Format
Further study primarily needs to reflect
on the question on methodology. Most of the entries opened up in the present
literature study need to be confirmed and expanded by future researchers' "descendence"
to the discursive level of parent-child, and peer-peer interactions, either by
means of in-dept autobiographical or semi-participant methods. In consistency
of the currently chosen theoretical motives, a preference is reserved for
detailed semi-structured interviews, which need to be examined on rhetoric and
narrative in relation to content. The need for children (opposing adolescents)
as research objects is debatable, not because of ethical concerns, but given
the infrastructure of sexological cultures which is governed by age
stratification. On the other hand, this is the only source that might clarify
the reconstructive processes inherent in autobiographical data (cf. Ernest Borneman). Numeric Approach
Hypothesis
generating correlations may be further elaborated upon using the
"cross-cultural" approach (as pioneered by Textor). Data and processing tools
can be derived from the SCCS Codebook, available on CD-ROM. In selected cases
additional data can be drawn from the Atlas
Volume using phrase search via PDF format. The Atlas does not embody a "pinpointed" standard sample, and does not
allow easy processing. Only a portion of the SCCS sources could be reviewed for
the Atlas; this awaits expansion
using the entire collection. On the other hand, many Atlas sources provide relevant data for SCCS societies but were
probably or definitely not examined for the original ratings (as judged from
the Focussed Bibliography). Nonnumeric Approach
There
appears to be a paucity of in-dept descriptive accounts of the erotic experience
of growing up. These accounts are an absolute necessity for (a) a delineation
of what is to be understood as eroticism arguing from a developmental point of
view; (b) an exploration of entries to the study of erotogenesis and its
environmental determination; (c) an exploration of the possible range of
trajectories that are to form the basis of a conceptual appreciation of
normality within "cultural" settings; and (d) an exploration of the possible
preconditions of adverse reactions to experiences that can not be appreciated
as normative within these settings. "Curricular salience" can be studied at the
level of inter-cultural analysis, and focussing on intracultural variability
and subcultural patterns. Developmental Sexualities:
Culture to Community to Individual
A rather well explored theme is that of
the development / construction of "variant" orientation within alleged
"variant-phobic" or "normalist" environments ("homosexuality" within U.S.
"homophobic"[1] and
"heterosexist"[2] society). A
rather unexplored theme is that of "deviate" orientation within
"deviance-hostile" environments ("paedophilia" within U.S. "abuse culture"
[Kincaid]). Both the fact that such studies are apparently not appreciated or
funded[3],
and the data they might generate are dramatically and immediately
"culture"-identifying, and of obvious interest to constructionists. In
identifying and mapping cultures as construing agents from the individual's
experience, study needs to be directed to these nonnormative or nontypical
experiences. [1]
This concept was explored in at least 47 dissertations (DAI) featuring the term
(or derivates) in the title since
1994. [2]
This concept was explored in at least 12 dissertations (DAI) featuring the term
(or derivates) in the title since
1996. See for instance Flowers, P. & Buston, K. (2001) "I was terrified of
being different": Exploring gay men's accounts of growing-up in a heterosexist
society, J Adolesc 24,1:51-65 [3]
However, see Ivey, G. & Simpson, P. (1998) The psychological lives of
paedophiles: a phenomenological study, South
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