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Redfield (1930:p139n2)[1] found no information on sex
instruction or early sex experience. Lewis (1961)[2] did. “The questions we asked
about the sex play of children received a blanket denial from parents, who
maintained that their children were innocent and knew nothing of life. But
from the life stories we gathered, it was clear that sex play does occur
secretively and in games” (p74). “In the past girls when girls married before
puberty, it was widely believed that menstruation was caused by sexual
intercourse. This belief has still not been entirely eradicated” (p78).
Although denied and un-remembered, children might observe parental sexual
intercourse (Lewis, 1951:p326)[3]. Specifically, (p291): “Sexuality
is discouraged from childhood on; sex is a taboo subject within the home.
Infant sexuality, masturbation, and sexual play among children, as well as
curiosity concerning the bodily functions, is forbidden and punished. It is
one of the more important obligations of the parent to keep the children
“innocent”, or, as they say, “to keep their eyes from being opened”. The
separation of the sexes for work and play begins from about age seven
to ten
and is strictly enforced at puberty. […] Girls are unprepared for menstruation
[…]”.
Janssen,
D. F., Growing Up Sexually. VolumeI. World Reference Atlas. 0.2 ed. 2004. Berlin:
Magnus Hirschfeld Archive for Sexology
Last
revised: Sept 2004
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