As we shall see in other chapters, young children are sexual beings and begin to explore their sexuality at an early age. In spite of this fact, American parents are often upset when they observe their child engaged in sex play; such behavior is most typically repressed or punished by the parents in some way. Additionally, the American culture has no universally accepted way of educating young people about sexuality. Most of what we learn about sex as children in American society is learned informally from friends our own age. Often this turns out to be "the blind leading the blind," and many sexual myths and misconceptions are promulgated in this fashion. This general trend is seen among most so-called modern societies. On the other hand, in many more primitive cultures, some specific pattern of childhood sexual experimentation and education is an intricate part of the socialization process.

Illustrative of such a permissive and structured sexual socialization process is that practiced by the inhabitants of Mangaia, one of the Cook Islands in the South Pacific (Marshall, 1971). The children of Mangaia, like other children, begin sexual experimentation at an early age; instead of being repressed or punished, however, this exploration is accepted as a normal part of childhood. Both sexes regularly masturbate by age nine or ten. At around age 13, boys undergo a superincision ritual in which a slit is made along the top surface of the penis. (It should be noted here that some form of circumcision has been a relatively common practice among a variety of cultures worldwide.) During the two weeks or so that the young boy isrecovering from this operation, he undergoes detailed instruc¬tion about specific sexual techniques, taught by the same "ex¬pert" (an older man) who performed the superincision. Included are instructions about a variety of sexual techniques. Major em¬phasis is placed on the ability to bring the woman partner to orgasm several times before the male permits his own climax. After this period of formal instruction, the young boy is permit¬ted a practice exercise in copulation. This introduction to inter¬course is with an older, experienced woman during which the youth receives coaching and practice in those techniques he v previously taught. Girls also receive instruction in sexual techniques, although there is no counterpart to the superincision ritual or actual practice with an older, experienced male.

After such training, both males and females are sexually active during adolescence; it is not uncommon for them to have intercourse every night for several years. Girls tend to have four or five successive steady boyfriends before marriage, while bo; tend to have slightly more girlfriends during the same period during this time members of both sexes are looking for a potential mate, one with whom they can be as sexually compatible possible.

In contrast are the sexual socialization patterns on the Island of Inis Beag, where there is no sex education of the young. Sex i just not a topic to be discussed in that society. While other cultures are not so totally restrictive, there are tribes like the Bola tribe of Africa which have elaborate shame sanction: about many aspects of bodily functions, sexual activities, ant nudity (Merriam, 1971). Taken in a cross-cultural perspective our American culture fits somewhere in the middle. While we are not as restrictive as some cultures, we are much less permissive about different aspects of childhood sexuality and sex training than are many societies around the world.

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Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction