Volume II Number 1 September 1973 Sex Information and Education Council of the U.S.
ADOLESCENT SEXUALITY IN CONTEMPORARY AMERICA: THREE REVIEWS
by Alan P. Bell, Ph.D., Carlfred B. Broderick, Ph.D., and Sadja Goldsmith, M.D., M.P.H.*
Adolescent Sexuality in Contemporary America. Robert C. (and still have) the feeling that the data were there, and I Sorensen. New York, NY: World Publishing Co., 1973. (549 hung on in the belief that a relatively clear picture would pp.; $20). emerge. When it did not, I re-read the book, pored over the [“The Sorensen Report” has received much attention tables an endless number of times, and finally ended up from professionals in human sexuality and from the media, wishing the author had not made it so difficult for me to get for being a much-needed study of adolescent sexuality in a better sense of his data. America. Because of the potential importance of such a study My concerns began with the description of his “random to all those concerned with sexuality and sex education, we sample.” Despite the assurances of his sampling consultant, offer reviews by three highly regarded professionals who the fact is that the majority of his 839 case “sample frame” examine the value, validity and scope of this book. Each re- refused to cooperate. Even if his sample did closely resemble viewer has approached the “Sorensen Report”from the stand- the total sample frame on certain demographic character- point of his or her professional concerns and expertise--Ed.] istics (not entirely the case, since cooperation rates were higher in the Northeast than in the Midwest, and among those residing in large metropolitan areas as well as those Reviewed by Alan P. Bell, Ph.D. with lower incomes), this would not alter the fact that the interviews required parental permission. Does a serious bias I opened my review copy of the “Sorensen Report” with of this kind, not necessarily reflected in the demographic considerable anticipation. Questions about adolescent sex- variables, destroy any claim to a representative sample? I uality had been dancing around in my head for quite a spell, would expect that a parent who gives permission for a son and a book of this size held out the promise of perhaps or daughter to be interviewed with regard to sexual matters more than I had a right to expect: a better handle on the is more sexually permissive than the parent who does not, vicissitudes of adolescent sexual behavior; a clarification of and that an adolescent sample generated by such selection those factors which might account for whatever changes oc- procedures will be of a somewhat different breed than one cur between early and late adolescence; an identification not obtained through different procedures. In a study of this only of the differences among teenagers in the ways they kind, it may be impossible to obtain a truly representative manage their sexuality, but also of whatever might be re- sample of minors. This concerns me less, however, than the sponsible for those differences; and finally, a delineation of author’s failure to speak frankly to this issue and his naive those factors which influence the sexual attitudes of young insistence that his findings apply to adolescents everywhere people, as well as the relationship between such attitudes in the United States. and the ways in which they conduct their sexual lives. I had My next concern has to do with the nature of the au- thor’s inquiry and his method of presenting the extraordi- nary amount of data provided by the more than 500 dif- * Alan P. Bell, Ph.D., is Senior Research Psychologist at the ferent items on his questionnaire. First and foremost, I was Institute for Sex Research, Bloomington, Indiana, co-author disappointed by the lack of any theoretical base from which of Personality of a Child Molester, and a member of the to view the myriad findings. The statistics may show how Board of SIECUS. many adolescents currently do or do not think this or that, Carlfred B. Broderick, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the but they fail to shed light on the relationship between adoles- Marriage and Family Counseling Center at the University cent sexuality and those more enduring social and psycho- of Southern California, in Los Angeles, co-editor of The logical processes which might help us reach a greater un- Individual, Sex, and Society: A S/ECUS Handbook for derstanding of the adolescent experience, both now and in Teachers and Counselors, and a former member of SIE- the future. Like all such tabulations, Sorensen’s will, before CUS’ Board. too long, be out of date. At the very least, I wish the author Sadja Goldsmith, M.D., M.P.H., is Medical Director, Teenage had employed some kind of strategy to reduce the number Services, Planned Parenthood of San Francisco, California, and a member of the Board of SIECUS. Continued on page 3 I I /SPEAKING OUT
It is evident that the Federal government is moving, as specifically by a member of the medical profession, would President Nixon promised, to do away with the “permissive be equally vulnerable to prosecution. society.” In particular, three recent Federal efforts have be- gun to tighten the noose around “obscene materials.” First, Supreme Court Decisions the Justice Department funded a special project to investigate how best to help local prosecutors enforce the obscenity in the majority opinion of the five-four divided court, statutes currently on the law books (reported in the S/ECUS Chief Justice Burger reaffirmed the Court’s position that Report, July, 1973). Next came the Administration’s proposal “obscene material” is not protected by the Constitution and for the codification of Federal criminal laws, “The Criminal indicated that the definition of “obscene material” is re- Code Reform Act of 1973” (S 1400), now being considered by stricted to “works which depict or describe sexual conduct,” the Senate Subcommittee on Criminal Laws and Procedures, and that “the conduct must be specifically defined by the one section of which concerns “Disseminating Obscene Ma- applicable state law, as written or authoritatively construed.” terial.” Most recently, the United States Supreme Court hand- To determine if a specific item is “obscene,” the Court ed down decisions in five cases, setting new guidelines for established the following guidelines: “(a) whether ‘the aver- defining and prosecuting “obscenity.” age person, applying contemporary community standards’ Because of the implications these actions will have for would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the professionals working in the field of sexuality, the contents prurient interest; (b) whether the work depicts or describes, of the proposed Federal Legislation and of the Supreme Court in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically de- decisions are here briefly summarized: fined by the applicable state law, and (c) whether the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.” Rejecting the “utterly without redeeming The Criminal Code Reform Act of 1973 (S 1400) social value” test propounded in earlier Supreme Court de- Section 1851 of this bill, “Disseminating Obscene Materi- cisions, the Court gave examples of the kinds of conduct al,” provides a specific and narrow definition of obscenity, which could be prohibited: “patently offensive representa- including as “obscene”: “ (A) an explicit representation, orde- tions or descriptions of ultimate sexual acts, normal or tailed written or verbal description of an act of sexual in- perverted, actual or simulated . . patently offensive rep- tercourse, including genital-genital, anal-genital, or oral-gen- resentations or descriptions of masturbation, excretory func- ital intercourse, whether between human beings or between tions and the lewd exhibition of the genitals.” The Court also a human being and an animal, or of flagellation, torture, or rejected the concept of a national standard, indicating that other violence indicating a sadomasochistic relationship; (B) what appeals to the “prurient interest” or what is “patently an explicit, close-up representation of a human genital organ; offensive” must be determined locally, not specifying if this (C) a device designed and marketed as useful primarily for is to be at the state, county, or municipal level. stimulation of the human genital organs; and (D) an adver- Dismissing the contention that state laws prohibiting tisement, notice, announcement, or other method by which Continued on page 72 information is given as to the manner in which any of the materials described [above] may be procured” unless this representation, device, or advertisement “constitutes a mi- nor portion of the whole product of which it is a part, it is reasonably necessary and appropriate to the integrity of the SEWS REPORT product as a whole to fulfill an artistic, scientific, or literary Volume II, Number 1 September, 1973 purpose, and is not included primarily to stimulate prurient interest.” The S/ECUS Report is published bi-monthly with volumes beginning in September. The only acceptable defenses to prosecution under this statute, violation of which would lead to three years in a Single copies of this issue are $1.50. Federal prison, are that the dissemination of the material Bulk rates are available on request. was restricted to persons “associated with an institution of Subscription information is included on p. 15. higher learning . . . teaching or pursuing a course of study Editor-Mary S. Calderone, M.D. related to such material;” or persons “whose receipt of such Managing Editor-Frederick E. Bidgood, M.A. material was authorized in writing by a licensed medical practitioner or psychiatrist.” Copyright 0 1973 by It should be noted that under the foregoing definitions, The Sex Information and Education Council of the U.S., Inc. most text books, charts, and audio-visual materials dissem- 1855 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10023 inated to other than college and graduate, professional audi- ences may come under attack. The use of explicit materi- No part of the S/ECUS Report may be reproduced in any form als in educational programs in sexuality not affiliated with a without written permission from the SIECUS Publications Office. college or university, and in sexual therapy not conducted
2 SIECUS Report, September, 1973 Continued from page 7 Reviewed by Carlfred B. Broderick, Ph.D.
Every experienced researcher knows that ideal studies of variables he had to work with, and had indicated the re- occur only in textbooks and that in the real world one lationships that might have been found among this smaller must make compromises between the ideal and the possible number of composite measures, a strategy that might have in order to achieve any difficult goal. Trying to get reliable permitted one to see the forest as well as the trees. information on the sexual attitudes and behaviors of a rep- Other regrets include the author’s surprising omission of resentative sample of American youth is a challenging and the NJs and No Answers in the tables, the levels of signifi- forbidding task at best, fraught with extraordinary difficul- caFce for the percentage differences which are reported, ties of several kinds. Perhaps the only fair way to evaluate and, above all, his use of ambiguous questions. For instance, “The Sorensen Report,” which describes the results of such when the respondents are asked to report their perceptions of an effort, is to examine a few of the major challenges and their parents, we are not told which parent the respondent how they were dealt with by Sorensen and his colleagues. has in mind. Too many questions are double-barrelled, mak- Challenge #7: To gain access to a representative sample ing a negative response difficult to interpret. For example, of 13 to 19 year olds. if a false response is given to an item such as, “I think my parents’ ideas about sex are wrong, but they have a right to Strategy Chosen: their own opinions,” does it mean the respondent believes Step 1: Let a national survey organization choose that his parents’ ideas are right or that they do not have a 2,042 households from 200 residential areas scattered through- right to their own opinions? Even the sequence of questions out the U.S. is not clear. For instance, were only those adolescents who Step 2: Identify all I3 to 19 year olds within these do not use contraceptives asked to respond to the statement, households. Base sample=839. “1 don’t use birth control pills or other contraceptives, be- Step 3: Obtain parental consent from as many as pos- cause my parents might find them”? If all the adolescents sible (60%), leaving 508. responded, then the false answers are highly ambiguous. Step 4: Obtain data from as many of these 508 as pos- As to the unstructured interviews, while I found the sible (77%) leaving a remaining sample of 393 (47% of the author’s use of comments generated from these refreshing, original sample). the fact that they came from an entirely different sample Step 5: Supplement this sample with 18 adolescents and that they may not even have represented the other sam- not living at home or at school (runaways, etc.), for a final ple’s views made me question their use or usefulness. In working sample of 411. some instances I even had the impression that he might be Advantages. The sample is likely to include more young using certain comments to support a bias of his own. people who deviate from the usual in-school or in-church However, my most serious objections to the study per- sample than most studies. No regional biases are likely to tain to the author’s use of an adolescent sexual typology, in intrude. Also, the family’s right to privacy was respected which comparisons are made between the “sexually inex- through use of parental permission forms. perienced, ” the “sexual beginner,” the “monogamist,” and Disadvantages. There is every reason to suppose that the “adventurer” with respect to their attitudes towards the 436 dropped from the original sample include a dis- parents, religion, birth control, sexual relationships, etc. Un- proportionate number of sexually conservative families who fortunately, a most interesting opportunity was lost here be- do not want their teenage children interviewed on sexual cause the author did not apply certain necessary statistical matters without knowing anything about the way the ques- controls in his analysis. Since the groups differ in age (for tionnaire is slanted or the exact content of the questions. example, 78% of the “sexually inexperienced” are between The surveyors point out that the original sample does the ages of 13 and 15, while an even larger percentage of not differ from the eventual sample “in any measurable the “monogamists” are between 16 and 19 years of age) and criteria” [p. 221 (i.e., sex, age, geographic region, locality in the proportion of males to females (the “monogamists” size, race, income, or size of household). Unhappily, it is not are composed of almost twice as many females as males, particularly relevant that they were alike in these ways if while there are four times as many males as females among there was systematic selectivity on the basis of sexual con- the “adventurers”), it is simply impossible to tell whether servatism. Thus, all of the discussions of sampling tolerance, the differences reported between the various groups are re- for example, are meaningless since they assume no such bias. lated to different sexual patterns or are simply functions of Challenge #2: To find a method for eliciting from the age and/or sex (male vs. female) and/or any other uncon- ultimate sample full and honest responses about their sexual trolled variables. attitudes and behaviors. Given the deficiencies mentioned, reinforced by twelve pages of my notes recording additional questions and con- Strategy Chosen: cerns, this reviewer is forced to question the author’s de- Step 1: Develop a self-administered questionnaire scription of his work as “an important first step in obtaining through semi-structured interviewing of an accidental sample the kinds of information . . . that . . . can lead to greater of about 200 teenagers. insight into . . . adolescent sexuality.” However, if my frus- Step 2: Send this questionnaire with a trained survey tration is more evident in this review than is my appreci- worker who waits to collect it or, if the subject wishes, will ation for the author’s motives and for his attempt to do what accompany him or her to the nearest mailbox, where the he did, I only hope that he will understand and perhaps be subject may mail it himself. inspired to return to what I remain convinced is a gold- mine of information and come up with the nuggets that re- main buried there. Continued on page 77
SI ECUS Report, Septem bet-, 1973 3 WHERE THE ACTION IS
COURT UPHOLDS SCHOOL SEX a marriage or family counselor. To- family planning and birth control in- EDUCATION BUT REQUIRES gether with California, Michigan and formation available to students. PARENTAL APPROVAL AND New Jersey, these states are the only Copies of these bills are available TEACHER TRAINING states which have such regulation of from the respective state legislatures, the profession. Seventeen other states or for 75q each from: Coordinator of While upholding the constitutional have introduced similar bills into their Information Services, Family Plan- right of a state to permit sex educa- legislatures, but none has succeeded ning/Population Reporter (see news tion in its public schools, the Living- in enacting them into law. item on page 6). ston County (Michigan) Circuit Court Further information on legislation ruled that parents must give prior ap- affecting the practice of marriage and AMA REJECTS SEX ISSUES proval for their children’s enrollment family counseling can be obtained in sex education programs, and that from the American Association of Mar- The House of Delegates, the AMA’s teachers of such programs must re- riage and Family Counselors, 225 Yale legislative body meeting in New York ceive special training in the field. Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711. in June, 1973, rejected a resolution The class action suit was brought by urging that “state laws be changed to Hays and Vi Hobolth, seeking to enjoin allow condom contraceptives to be the Howell, Michigan, public school sex PROPOSED SEX EDUCATION LAWS sold openly without age restrictions.” education program, claiming that it de- Echoing the sentiments of one dele- nied parents their rights to due process Assemblywoman March Fong has gate that the AMA has a responsi- under the Fourteenth Amendment and introduced two bills in the California bility to set the moral leadership in freedom of religion under the First State Legislature to improve family this country, the organization also Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. In life programs in that state. AB 1177 rejected a modified resolution stating upholding the constitutionality of pub- deletes the provision of the Schmitz that “the AMA reaffirms and en- lic school sex education programs, how- Act which permits revocation or SUS- courages traditional family values ever, the court granted two concessions pension of a teacher’s credentials for with teaching of moral and social re- to groups fighting sex education: it failure to notify parents of a proposed sponsibilities,” and that the AMA ruled that “there must be positive per- sex education program or to provide should “investigate state laws govern- mission from the parents” before a them with access to the materials to ing the sale and distribution of con- child can be enrolled in a sex educa- be used, or for requiring a student to doms.” tion program, thereby nullifying the attend family life classes. AB 1178 In other actions, the House of Dele- widespread practice of automatically would require the State Department gates, speaking for the entire AMA enrolling students in sex education of Education to establish in-service membership, rejected support for the courses unless parents signed and re- training in family life education for women’s Equal Rights Amendment turned “withdrawal slips.” Also, having school district leadership teams of to the Constitution, and refused to learned that the sex education teachers teachers, administrators, youth and approve a resolution criticizing laws had received no special training in the community representatives, and ap- involving sexual relations between field, the court ordered that “such prac- propriate $200,000 for that purpose. consenting adults and discrimination tice of using unqualified, untrained Additional sex education legislation against homosexuals. The organiza- teachers as sex education instructors is pending in Michigan (H 4219, to per- tion did, however, “affirm the tradi- must be terminated immediately.” mit sex hygiene instruction but not tional favorable attitude of the med- With the financial assistance of De- birth control education), New Jersey ical profession toward motherhood.” fenders of Essential Rights (DOER) a (A 427, to authorize sex education in national interfaith organization which grades 7-12), and Texas (S 343, to “PUBLIC” HOMOSEXUALS MAY supports cases involving parental rights, provide for public inspection of sex NOT TEACH the Hobolths are planning to appeal education instructional materials). this decision in continuing attempts to The bills in all three states would A Federal judge in Baltimore has stop public school sex education pro- permit parents to prevent their chil- upheld the right of Montgomery grams entirely. dren’s enrollment in sex education County School Board officials to programs. transfer an avowed homosexual NOW FIVE STATES LICENSE Legislation requiring venereal dis- teacher to an administrative job so MARRIAGE COUNSELORS ease programs in public schools is that he would have no day-to-day con- being considered in Connecticut (H tact with students. Attorneys for the The Governors of Utah and Nevada 7756), Minnesota (H 1231 and S 1224), school board indicated that the teach- have signed into law regulations for and New York (A 4408 and S 3062). er’s homosexuality, per se, was not at the conduct of marriage and family The Kansas Legislature is consider- issue. However, the attorneys argued counseling, including a definition of ing bills (H 1018 and S 285) which successfully that public knowledge of who is entitled to call him or herself would require public schools to make the teacher’s homosexual life-style
4 SIECUS Report, September, 1973 caused by an appearance on national ties and two state medical societies. ACOC GUIDELINES ON television could be a traumatic and The measure, opponents argued, ABORTION PUBLISHED negative influence on his students. would “drive a wedge between parent Attorneys for the defense produced and child,” and foster sexual promis- The American College of Obstetri- expert testimony that an avowed cuity and moral deterioration. cians and Gynecologists has issued homosexual who is also a respected medical guidelines for first trimester teacher can serve two useful educa- abortions in non-hospital facilities. Af- tional functions in the classroom set- RESEARCH IN MALE CONTRACEP- ter the first trimester, when abortion ting: counteracting popular myths TIVES PROGRESSING is subject to state regulation for the and stereotypes about the homo- mother’s protection, ACOG recom- sexual; and providing a positive role- mends hospital abortions only. Two possible approaches to chem- Among the services which ACOG model for homosexual students. ical control of male fertility-one per- In its decision the court said, in ef- recommends are preoperative instruc- manent, the other similar to the birth fect, that homosexuals have a right to tion and counseling of the abortion control pill for women-are showing teach only if no one knows that they patient, and arrangements for follow- promise as viable methods of contra- are homosexuals, stating “there exists ception. up, which includes family planning not only a right of privacy . . . but advice. The policy statement affirms Charles Terner, Ph.D., a Boston also a duty of privacy.” the physician’s and patient’s right to University Professor of Biology, has refuse to perform or to accept an developed a treatment analogous to abortion. UNWED FATHERS RIGHTS the female contraceptive pill which ESTABLISHED stops spermatogenesis in male rats but does not interfere with mating be- Unwed fathers have the same basic havior. The treatment consists of pro- NCC DELAYS ABORTION rights as any other parents, and must gestin in combination with an andro- STATEMENT be consulted equally with the mother gen. Sperm production is suppressed in the disposition of an illegitimate but normal function of accessory sex Opposition from its Greek Ortho- child. This U.S. Supreme Court ruling, glands is not interfered with. dox members, together with the fear on a Wisconsin case, has raised prob- The use of ethanol (grain alcohol) of creating a barrier to Roman Cath- lems in Wisconsin relating to adop- to produce sterility by vas occlusion olic membership, has prompted the tions and could create adoption dif- is being explored by Johns Hopkins National Council of Churches to delay ficulties throughout the country. Mil- University. Drs. Coy Freeman and decision on a proposed policy state- waukee has placed a moratorium on Donald S. Coffee, also experiment- ment on abortion. The statement finalization of adoptions until Wiscon- ing with rats, injected ethanol into the would have supported leaving the sin laws are adjusted, and Milwau- ducts of both vasa deferentia or into abortion decision to the woman in- kee’s adoption agencies are post- the duct of one while the other was volved, within the guidelines set by poning placement of infants. ligated. Six months after treatment, the U.S. Supreme Court. The docu- all of the rats were sterile. The ethanol ment will be reconsidered next year, produced scarring which closed off after a one-year study by the Coun- MINORS’ RIGHTS TO the vas deferens so that sperm could cil’s 33 Protestant and Orthodox ABORTION, CONTRACEPTION not escape. members.
l District of Columbia-Minors have the same rights as adults to abortion and parental consent is not necessary SEX: THE LAW AND THE CITIZEN- if the minor understands the nature A SIECUS CONFERENCE and consequences of the operation, according to a Superior Court ruling Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General, will be the keynote of February 6, 1973. speaker at SIECUS’ one-day conference, “Sex: The Law and the Citizen,” l Missouri-John Danforth, Attor- on Friday, October 26,1973, in New York City. Other principal speakers ney General of Missouri, recently is- at the plenary sessions will be: David R. Hood, Dean of the University of sued an opinion stating that physi- Hawaii Law School; Ralph Slovenko, Professor of Law and Psychiatry at cians may legally prescribe contra- Wayne State University; and Mary S. Calderone, SIECUS’ Executive Di- ceptives to unwed, unemancipated rector. persons under 21 without parental A series of concurrent workshops, with a distinguished faculty drawn consent. from both the criminal justice and the behavioral science fields, will deal l Nevada-Nevada’s Assembly Wel- with specific topics: Sexual Minorities and the Law; The Law and the fare Committee killed a bill which Family; Obscenity, Censorship, Education and the Law; The Law and the would have permitted minors to be Sexuality of Minors; The Law and Sexual Health Care Services; The Law furnished with birth control informa- and Commercialized Sex; and Sexuality and the Administration of tion and devices without parental con- Criminal Justice. sent. The State Senate, which had Full details of the conference program and registration information previously approved the measure, are now in the mail to all S/ECUS Report subscribers. also killed the bill, despite the sup- port of county and state health agen-
SIECUS Report, September, 1973 “LIVING, LEARNING, LOVING” The survey was conducted by the sioner on Policy Albert J. Richter. TV COURSE FOR TEACHERS Illinois Family Planning Council, Mr. Richter, in a report to the As- Chicago, in locations in Pennsylvania, sociation for Voluntary Sterilization, The “Living, Learning, Loving” New Jersey and Virginia, as well as in stated that these services are required course presented last spring over Washington, D.C. Four hundred thirty- under Title XIX of the Social Security WNYE-TV of New York City offered a eight subjects, nearly 75% of whom Amendments of 1972, and that “Fed- variety of approaches to the teaching were between the ages of 20 and 39, eral matching funds for this purpose of human sexuality adaptable for all were interviewed by questionnaire. have been and continue to be avail- grade levels. The fifteen-session, The overwhelming majority of those able.” three-credit course was developed by questioned, 84%, felt that both men All states except Arizona have Med- the Bureau of Health and Physical and women are responsible for con- icaid programs, and most of these al- Education of New York City, in coop- traception, and 77% said they would ready pay for voluntary sterilization. eration with the Board of Education. help, financially and morally, a sex The nine states which do not-Cal- It follows the Board’s January, 1972 partner impregnated because of con- ifornia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, resolution to support and expand traceptive failure. Only 54%, however, Missouri, New York, South Carolina, Family Living and Sex Education in would help in obtaining an abortion Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin- the city’s schools. under such circumstances. Three- must now include voluntary steriliza- Over 250 teachers enrolled in nine quarters of the men felt that anyone, tion in their Medicaid Plans. workshop groups to watch the course, regardless of age or marital status, which was broadcast Wednesdays at should have access to contraceptive 4 p.m. The course will be rebroad- techniques and devices. LEGAL ISSUES IN SEXUALITY: TWO cast in the fall of 1973. Teachers WORKING/ACTION RESOURCES were encouraged to watch all pro- grams regardless of their grade level RIGHTS TO VOLUNTARY News of the changing laws, current so that they would be aware of con- STERILIZATION UPHELD court decisions and state guidelines tent and methodology at all grade which directly affect professionals in levels and provide continuity in the l The U.S. Supreme Court, in a human sexuality is available bi- Family Living program. ruling that will change hospital pal- monthly in Family Planning/Popula- The course broadcasts combined icies throughout the country, has de- tion Reporter and Newsletter on Intel- lecture and discussion with sample clared that a total ban on sterilization lectual Freedom. lessons conducted by master teachers. operations is unconstitutional. The Family Planning/Population Report- Emphasis was on teacher methodol- ruling upholds the First Circuit U.S. er, published by Planned Parenthood/ ogy within the classroom. A teacher’s Court of Appeals decision of March World Population, arms professionals manual describing each session and in- 17, 1973, in the case of Robbie Mae in the field with news and analysis cluding suggested questions for work- Hathaway vs. Worcester City Hos- of important bills and decisions, and shop discussion was distributed to pital, Worcester, Massachusetts, which offers a comprehensive legislative workshop leaders. The manual is required municipal hospitals to make record of all relevant bills enacted, available in limited quantities from their facilities available for steriliza- proposed, or being considered by the Bureau of Health and Physical tion procedures. state legislatures. It covers family Education, New York City Board of Recently enacted legislation in planning services, birth control (in- Education, 300 West 43rd Street, New Maryland and Idaho gives hospitals cluding abortion and sterilization), York, NY 10036. and medical personnel the right to re- population policy and sex education. fuse to perform sterilization oper- The Reporter is available from: Tech- ations. These laws, like those of many nical Assistance Division, The Center MEN APPROVE MALE other states, are now in direct con- for Family Planning Program Devel- CONTRACEPTIVES flict with the Hathaway decision. In opment, 1660 L Street, N.W., Wash- Idaho, hospitals may elect not to ad- ington, DC 20036. Seventy percent of men surveyed mit patients for sterilization proce- Alert to questions of censorship in three states and in the District of dures, and their employees may re- and suppression of intellectual free- Columbia said they would use a male fuse to assist or participate in such dom in schools and the general com- contraceptive other than condoms or procedures on moral or religious munity, Newsletter on Intellectual coitus interruptus if one were avail- grounds. Maryland’s hospitals and Freedom, a publication of the Amer- able. Among six suggested future medical personnel may refuse to par- ican Library Association, reports on methods, 15% preferred a one-night ticipate in sterilization, artificial in- issues relating to First Amendment sterility pill or shot; 13%, a one-week semination and abortion procedures. freedoms in speaking, teaching, pub- pill or shot; 27%, a one-month pill or The new law requires no grounds for lishing, film, sex education, abortion shot; IO%, a one-year pill or shot; refusal and specifies that a hospital and family planning services and 19% preferred reversible vasectomy, is not required “to refer any person other areas vulnerable to charges of and 10% preferred an improved con- to a source for the performance” of pornography and censorship. Sub- dom. Asked to choose between a pill these procedures. scriptions are $5.00 per year, and can or injection conferring sterility for l Family planning services, includ- be ordered from: American Library up to 30 days, 25% preferred the pill, ing voluntary sterilization, must be Association, Office of Intellectual 3% the injection; 36% would use both; made available under Medicaid, ac- Freedom, 50 East Huron Street, Chi- and 32% would use neither. cording to HEW Associate Commis- cago, IL 60611.
6 SIECUS Report, September, 1973 BOOK REVIEWS
Facts 0’ life Funnies. Lora Fountain, heaped upon the sex act for fifteen cen- communication between man and wom- ed. San Francisco, CA: Multi Media turies.” an, the author advises ways of playing ResourceCenter, 1972. (Comic-book for- The book’s basic premise is that those the sex game deceptively. His three sex- mat; $.75 single copy, quantity rates who achieve this liberation will not only ual “tests” may be interesting for cou- on request). be healthy, functioning sexual beings, ples to take and to discuss, but they Reviewed by lean Bruce. but sexually persuasive as well. More are of little real value. specifically, the author believes that No doubt many of the inadequacies This is a hip, funny, and factual changes in one’s sexual attitudes need- of this book are because Miller is a pro- comic that lives up to its subtitle, “Sex ed to cure sexual disorders can be fessional writer but neither a member Education Funnies.” It teaches about made best not through professional of the helping professions nor a sexual birth control, VD, sexuality, and abor- help, but through “understandings” scientist. He had to do a great deal of tion painlessly through comicstrip that will come from reading this book. reading for much of which, such as stories written in the unexpurgated Thus, the book is divided into four the work of Masters and Johnson, he is vernacular. Illustrated by well-known kinds of “understandings”: 1. “Under- inadequately grounded. Thus Miller is counterculture cartoonists, including standing the Sexual Influences in Your an arrogant author who thinks he has Bobby Crumb, the comic is bound to Life and How to Control Them”; 2. found all the answers. He writes in a seem crude and tasteless to some, but “Understanding the Most Recent Sexual condescending manner, especially when the information it conveys is solid. Old- Discoveries and How to Use Them”; he addresses women, saying: “If you’ll er adults who select materials for teens 3. “Understanding the Opposite Sex all quiet down, we’ll explain.” He does and young adults should bear in mind and How to Improve Your Relation- explain, but definitely not to the liking the difference in sensibilities that is ships”; and 4. “Understanding Your -nor benefit-of his readers. A generational as well as individual when Own Real Sexual Nature and How to evaluating this comic. Live and Love With It.” Health and Human Values. L. Allure A bibliography of suggested serious The major value of the book is in Jefcoat, ed. New York, NY: John Wiley readings, and a listing of agencies of- the first two parts, in their effort to and Sons, 1972. (255 pp.; $4.95, paper). fering various services and information help overcome some sexual taboos and Reviewed by Gary F. Kelly, M.Ed. of sexual health and sexuality is includ- myths. Parts Three and Four are filled ed. (The Hot Line information is not up with so many biases and contradic- This is a collection of 31 readings, to date.) LT, A, PR tions that their value, if any, is ques- nearly all of which are reprinted from tionable, and many of these biases and other publications, both professional inconsistencies appear throughout the and popular. It would be an appro- book. priate textbook or supplementary read- The Good life, Sexually Speaking. Sig- Subtitled “The Anti-Manual Sex ings book for college-level health cour- mund Stephen Miller. Englewood Cliffs, Book,” the book is anti- a lot of other ses, especially where the emphasis is NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1972. (227 pp.; things as well. Mainly, it is anti- on values and value clarification. There $6.95). Establishment, for the author blames a// is plenty of “meaty” material to help Reviewed by the Rev. Leon Smith, of our sexual troubles on the so-called generate discussion, and the articles Ed.D. Establishment. It is anti-professional, place a premium on individual decision- and especially negative toward psy- making and responsibility. An optimis- The title is intended, according to chiatrists and other physicians. It is anti- tic and humanistic tone pervades; sev- the author, to convey the idea “that women, especially Women’s Lib. Miller eral chapters examine the searches for it’s possible for almost all of us to lead sees women primarily as sex objects or self-actualization, human equality, and a good sexual life and become a sex- sex manipulators who can be wise higher levels of functioning which are ually persuasive human being-if we enough to seduce their men into love being pursued by millions. In several can ever go back to being what we were or marriage. He even uses false pro- different areas, the book calls for read- born to be-sexually active, sexually creatively based reasons to keep man ers to shed preconceptions or miscon- joyful animals.” Miller states that “the in the superior position in intercourse! ceptions and to take a fresh look at purpose of this book is to liberate your With all his efforts to take a free at- their own attitudes and values. true sexual self in a sexual encounter titude towards all sex, the author’s The opening reading is a perceptive by clearing away the muck, the thick biases against both male and female article by Herbert A. Otto on human encrustations, the ugly defacements, homosexuality are also obvious. potential and the influence which our the scars and bloodstains, the smut Instead of encouraging openness in society exerts on that potential. There
Audience Level Indicators. The bold type letter(s) following book reviews indicate the general audience level. Keys to categories are as follows: C-Children (elementary grades), ET-Early teens (junior high), LT-Late teens (senior high), A-College, general adult public, P-Parents, PR-Professionals (educators, physicians, clergy, public health workers, nurses, etc.).
SIECUS Report, September, 1973 7 is a classic Karl Menninger paper on family life she has selected are handled supercilioustreatmentof men and wom- “The Crime of Punishment.” There are soundly. Definitely on the positive side en and their relationship to each other: two lucid chapters on the changing role is a healthy emphasis on a re-examina- (I . . . many men are deliberately of women, and editor Jefcoat has writ- tion of women’s roles. However, despite clumsy at housework and women ten a fine chapter on birth control the concluding words of the first chap- love them for it. Such clumsiness is so and the importance of responsibility in ter “a reminder to sex educators to in- adorably masculine! If a man is capa- sexual behavior. The unit on drugs clude the family and society in the con- ble of sewing on his own button-and emphasizes the values of our drug- sideration of sexuality and to family does so-he really is not a ‘proper oriented culture and calls for a rational life educators to include sexuality as an man at all’.” approach to the elusive and complex important dimension of all topics,” this “Women live an animal existence. “drug problem,” including views ex- is clearly a book by a family life ed- They like eating, drinking, sleeping- pressed by well-known experts Joel ucator for family life educators. There even sex providing there is nothing to Fort and David Smith. Calvin Frederick is little space given to sexuality or do and no real effort is required of contributes a good chapter on suicide. sex education in comparison with the them.” There are factual chapters on virus space given to marriage and family “Most men will never admit the diseases, hepatitis, strokes, prostatic life education. (There are 13 references depth of their wives’ stupidity. They disease, and gonorrhea. One would to sexuality and sex education listed in agree that women are not terribly wish that a chapter on syphilis had the index compared to 156 references clever, but grant them ‘intuition’ or also been included. The unit on ecology under marriage and family. Masturba- instinct instead.” calls for attention to pollution problems tion is not even listed in the index.) “There are, however, women who with meaningful action. The Family Coordinator and The ]our- still have jobs or careers at the age of A few of the papers carry a sort of nal of Marriage and the Family are rec- twenty-five or older. There are a vari- popular journalistic flavor with a flair ommended journal readings; Medical ety of reasons for this: a. The wom- for the sensational, yet in most cases, Aspects of Human Sexuality is not. an is married to a failure . . b. The this does not seem inappropriate. Sim- There is a mere one sentence reference woman cannot have children . . . ilar collections have often been some- to Masters’ and Johnson’s work on hu- c. The woman is ugly . . .” what dry and pedantic. This book treats man sexual functioning. human health in the broadest sense. It Granted these reservations on the The book could have been as well is a good selection of papers which hits actual content of the book, there is an written by a man-in drag-and not just some significant high points in health educational approach used throughout a man who hates women, but one who related areas. The chapters are diverse on learning-by-teaching that makes despises all people. and generally interesting, although the this text a valuable contribution to the If there is a real Esther Vilar, this re- overall value framework is only thinly literature on family life education. viewer would be willing to challenge her evident. A, PR There is a wealth of creative ideas on to a contest of cooking, cleaning, sew- method in the mid-section of the book ing and housecleaning,foIlowed by any that good teachers can utilize to pre- test of what she considers a “proper sent whatever balance of sexuality-fam- man”! Winner take all! A Introduction to Family life and Sex ily life material the teacher believes to Education. Rose Somerville. Englewood be appropriate content for his/her own Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1972. (393 pp.; students. The ideas on the use of lit- $9.95, cloth; $4.95, paper). erature in Appendix III serve as cre- Reviewed by Deryck Calderwood, Ph.D. ative examples of a model teachers will also find invaluable. PR On Being a Woman. W. Cifford-Jones, This book, aimed primarily at teach- M.D. New York, NY: The Macmillan ers-in-training, is really three books in Company, 1971. (256 pp.; $6.95). one. The first 170 pages are an intro- Reviewed by Robert C. long, M.D. duction to family life education, in- cluding a 20-page appendix of suggest- The Manipulated Man. Esther Vilar. New This book, as stated in the preface, ed activities for students related to York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, is “an attempt to remove fear of the un- each of the introductory chapters. Ap- 1972, (184 pp.; $5.95). known. In my [the author’s] experience pendix II, “Teaching Approaches, Reviewed by Gilbert M. Shimmel, Ed.D., as a doctor, I have found that women Methods and Materials,” consists of M.P.H. spend much unnecessary time worrying another IOO-plus pages of creative ideas about what goes on in their bodies. A on process, and Appendix III, “Selected According to this book’s jacket, the comprehensive handbook that not only Readings in the History, Standards and author is a physician who has also stud- explains the function of the female Prospects of Family Life and Sex Ed- ied psychology and sociology. The mind anatomy but also discusses the ills that ucation, ” includes nearly 100 additional boggles, therefore, at her total la 8 SIECUS Report, September, 1973 ever, is the reassuring and optimistic been incorporated; in my opinion, ex- oriented, heritage-oriented tradition manner in which the subject material is perts would have had little to add. Each which Blacks will recognize as”blood” presented. Almost every physician author engaged in extensive field in- relationships. For it is in such a manner spends countless hours in the examina- vestigation and research about her top- that for centuries Black children, as part tion and reassurance of the well and the ic. The result is a collage of educational, of their socialization, have been told worried well patient. This book also re- personal, and scientific material about about their Black and White ancestry. assures and therefore will help the phy- human sexuality, contraception, pre- Whereas many White children are told sician in this important aspect of med- pared childbirth, sexual intercourse, about individual ancestors (Grandpa so ical practice. the health care system’s effect on wom- and so acquired this tract of land, or Much space is devoted to the meno- en, abortion, lesbianism, reproduction died here, etc.), Black children become pausal woman, the varied aspects of and sexual physiology. The subjects are acquainted with the roots and branch- aging, and the therapeutic effects of presented in an open-ended style, with ings of their family tree according to hormone treatment. There is a common the welfare of all women in mind. There one event of cataclysmic proportions: sense approach to sex, birth control, are no holds barred in delineating my- what happened before and after slavery. pregnancy, and abortion. I was espe- thologies in areas where restraints have Thus, it comes almost as a surprise that cially impressed by the author’s treat- impeded women from learning about a White woman author has attempted ment of the many aspects of oral con- themselves inside and out. to trace the various prunings, cross-fer- traception. The analysis of contraception is a tilizations, etc., of the American family The non-medical reader can easily superior section. It surpasses the usual tree along interracial lines. Not only understand the chapters on sterility, medical risk/benefit concept and treats does she make the attempt, she carries venereal disease and common opera- in depth the various needs inherent in it off, stylistically, in a vein similar to tions peculiar to women. Dr. Gifford- the differences in women themselves. the oral tradition of Blackfolk. Thus, Jones devotes a chapter to cancer Guidelines are clearly delineated for her book has a rolling anecdotal, un- which is both balanced and optimistic. an understanding of the medical impli- documented flavor of real life through- Other problems that occur frequently cations of any surgical or medical pre- out. and are often alarming to the unin- scription. Women are advised on meth- Beth Day is a chronicler of societal formed are treated in a similar fashion. ods to be used to query physicians if problems, a raconteuse with a message: For the young and old alike, this book they are to know about all facets of the the true kinship bonds of Black/White clarifies diverse views on a number of recommendations they receive from America today. She has (on television) gynecological subjects and dispels their doctors. A similar tactic is used in described this book as “a love story.” many myths which the practicing phy- the discussion of general health care for Perhaps love, in all its vicissitudes, is sician encounters daily. A women, which outlines what is to be ex- indeed evident in its pages. The author pected in the physician’s provision of characterizes White sexuality as being comprehensive examinations and tests. suffused with violence and a need for In this book, the Boston Women’s dominance. She attributes this to male Collective has taken a long-needed step frustration stemming from repressed Our Bodies, Ourselves. Boston Women’s in directive consumer awareness and childhood and/or subsequent inhibi- Collective. New York, NY: Simon and protection. The utilization of this con- tions of married life: “Whenever whites Schuster, 1973. (276 pp.; $8.95, cloth; cern in the dimension of health care wish to do something illicit or immoral $2.95, paper). only adds to the uniqueness of the they still tend to visit black neighbor- Reviewed by Evalyn S. Cendel, M.D. book’s contribution as a study in hu- hoods.” Her interpretation of Blacks is maneness. Aside from their practical consistently sympathetic, and at times It would not be too strong a state- and unorthodox approach, the authors effusively so: “It is very possible for ment to recommend that every individ- have developed a moving documentary whites simply to be attached to blacks ual whose involvement is with the life of human rights and individual dignity because of what appears to them as a of our times should be exposed to this for both women and men. LT, A, PR richer, more rewarding life style. book. Although concerned with women, Blacks seem to live out of their guts, it touches deeply the experiences of without being ashamed or self-conscious both sexes. This book is written by about their emotions. women, for women, to help them to “Whereas the European is taught and know themselves better, especially to trained to use his objective intelligence, know the delight in their bodies and to Sexual love Between Blacks and to stay at a distance and observe the care for them, but there is hardly a sec- Whites. Beth Day. New York, NY: World object and analyze it rationally, the Afri- tion which, with appropriate redefini- Publishing Co., 1972. (376 pp.; $8.95). can reacts to the object with his senses, tion of anatomical and attitudinal terms, (The authors of this double review joint- according to the stimulus he receives. would not be equally applicable to men. ly teach a course on “Sex and Race” at He is intuitive, instinctive, sensual. He The separate chapters are written by New York University-Ed.) participates and becomes a part, while different non-professional women with- Reviewed by /une Dobbs Butts, Ed.D. the Eu’ropean watches and decides out outside assistance; the words and whether the object is useful. As partici- the music are theirs. Specialists in var- Do not read this book for statistical pant, the African reaction is less ego- ious fields of the behavioral sciences, quotes based on scientific data-or for centric than the European observation. medicine, social work and other areas, chaste and “legal” verification of kin- Americans with partial African heritage, were asked to review the material. Their ship bonds. Its primary value rests on a in short, are more willing to give them- recommendations may or may not have different plane: the subjective, status- selves to what moves them.” SIECUS Report, September, 1973 9 Thus, whatever the reader finally con- Day’s chapter on homosexuality Julia answers, “I think I wish that as cludes about the usefulnessof this book, across the color line is particularly a small child there had been more the reading per se should make for a re- weak and misleading. She manages to awareness of sexuality, and also that flective learning experience. In other get two unfounded statements into the there had been more affection. Do you words, the reader will extract some- same sentence: “Today, with the num- feel that way?” Dr. Schaefer answers, thing of value from this book according bers of black and white homosexuals “I don’t know. I think if I had had more to the awarenesses which he or she growing, the gay life probably furnish- knowledge, I wouldn’t have been as brings to it. Beth Day includes not only es the greatest amount of interracial driven to find out more about sex, or the aroma of the sachet bag, but the sexual union.” She espouses the psy- even, for instance, to do this study.” scent of the asafetida bag-equal in- choanalytic theory for the cause of ho- Does this mean that, in the case of gredients in the memorabilia of Black/ mosexuality-which then has to be rein- research into the nature of sexuality, White America. terpreted to fit the facts of the black the thirst for finding out develops out experience in America. of one’s own deprivations in early child- The author rightly concludes that hood? Perhaps. If so, can we look for Reviewed by Deryck D. Calderwood, sexual behavior is more a matter of a similar drive in a male who, with the Ph.D. class than of color but her selection of same intense and highly keyed profes- anecdotes does not always include in- sionalism, will do for the sexuality of Beth Day presents a very readable ac- formation on social class. Despite its men what Leah Schaefer has done to count of relationships between blacks shortcomings, however, blacks and understand the sexuality of women? and whites in America from the early whites, males and females, can profit Or will Dr. Schaefer do it herself? days of slavery to the contemporary from reading this book. A, PR This is a remarkable book, which scene, with some guesses about the fu- should be read by women, by men, and ture. Hers is a journalistic overview, by adolescent boys and girls. To all of and therefore has more emotional these it will bring inner peace to realize punch than a scholarly treatise would. that questionings, anxieties, fumblings, Day shows how white males (slave experimentations, cogitations, sensa- owners who were also political leaders tions-all of these are the norm to be- and founding fathers) set up a system Women and Sex. Leah Cahan Schaefer. ing human and sexual at any age what- whose disastrous effects continue to New York, NY: Pantheon Books, 1973. soever, from earliest memory. In partic- operate upon each member of what she (269 pp.; $8.95). ular, parents should read it, especially calls “the deadly quartet”-the black Reviewed by Mary S. Calderone, M.D. young parents, before they have a male, the white male, the black female chance to do their well-intentioned and the white female. Today, she states, The book jacket of Women and Sex harm to the sexual lives of their young “Black males are allowed to participate states that “Dr. Leah Schaefer talks in children. Their own lives will benefit in American society provided that they intimate detail with 30 women . . .” in a therefrom. as will their children’s. LT, fall into one of three categories that are series of in-depth interviews, each to- A, P, PR comfortable for the white male’s view taling 12 hours. Like most book jackets, of himself.” These categories are: “The this is not accurate, for it is rather the Bright Child” (e.g., Louis Armstrong); 30 women who talk to Leah Schaefer, “The Black Egghead” (e.g., Ralph and in the book, she quotes them di- Bunche); “The Black Jock” (e.g., Jim rectly on such topics as their earliest Brown). Accordingly, the one area in sex memories, early sex education, which the black male can compete with menstruation, masturbation, initial in- the white male is in bed. The author tercourse, and their experience concern- makes one feel the injustice of the in- ing orgasm, whether from dreams, pet- hibitions and limitations placed on ting, masturbation, or intercourse, both blacks’ sexual lives in order to outlaw marital and non-marital. Obviously, she this competition. herself is the kind of woman whose re- The author is clearly more at home ceptivity, sensitivity, insight, and skills with matters of race than with matters make it possible for them to talk as they ABOUT THE REVIEWERS of sex. She is uncritical of the sources do, and thus to “break the silence sur- Reviews of books, booklets, journal she uses to present sexual material. She rounding women and sex.” articles and audio-visual material are relies on sweeping generalizations such Dr. Schaefer came fairly late in life to written by present and former members as: “blacks are less apt to be self-con- her profession, with a background in of the SIECUS Board and Staff. Back- scious and restricted in their sexual be- the performing arts. How did she de- ground information about present havior” and “whereas blacks engage in velop the qualities that made it possible Board members can be found on the the same sexual activity [in the early for her to enable her patients to explore last page of the S/ECUS Report. Iden- years] that they will carry out through- their own sexuality so successfully? tification of former Board members and out their adult lifes, whites are develop- Dr. Schaefer answers this question her- Staff not so listed follows: ing their sexuality through such sexual self towards the end of a full-length detours as masturbation, petting, digi- interview with “Julia.” She asks her, Robert L. Arnstein, M.D., Psychiatrist- l, tal play-detours that may later inter- . . . do you think your present life in-Chief, Department of University fere with their spontaneity in full gen- would have been richer had you known Health, Yale University, New Haven, ital engagement.” certain things?” Connecticut. 10 SIECUS Report, September, 1973 Continued from page 3 Challenge #4: To abstract from the data conclusions that are scientifically responsible. After a credible record in meeting the first three chal- Advantages. The questionnaire approach is relatively lenges it is extraordinary that the author should have so inexpensive to administer and score, highly standardized thoroughly transgressed every rule of scientific restraint and is, perhaps, the least intrusive approach to sensitive in his response to this final point. Operating with question- questions. Also the confidentiality of answers seemed as well naire data from a liberal skewed sample of approximately assured as it could be without leaving the client to mark the 100 boys aged 13 to 15,100 boys aged 16 to 19, and an equal questionnaire alone. number of girls from each age group, Dr. Sorensen consis- Disadvantages. No questionnaire can be as sensitive to tently makes statements such as the following: “15% of all the understanding of the subject as a trained interviewer American adolescents are sexual adventurers” [p. 2491; “21% can be. The questionnaire stated at the beginning that of all American adolescents and 40% of all those who have the subject could ask questions about the meaning of words, had sexual intercourse are serial monogamists without mar- but, nevertheless, with 19 pages of closely spaced questions riage” [p. 2491; “52% of all American adolescents have had (up to 20 on a page) it seems likely that some young people sexual intercourse” [p. 2131. might just guess what “climax” or “have sex” or“get loaded” There are hundreds of such statements, never modified means. I wonder, for example, how many of the I3 year old by the humility which ought to be engendered by the extreme boys and girls were certain about the meaning of the True or limitations of the sample. False item, “There are many times when I get horny but Another technique which is perhaps equally mis- don’t have anyone to ball.” leading in a quite different way is the practice of introducing Challenge #3: To present the data in a manner that is each section and illustrating each major point with direct both conceptually and statistically clear and honest. quotes from the accidental sample of interviews made before the main study was begun. These excerpts are the chief in- Strategy Chosen: The data were treated descriptively terpretive device used by the author despite the fact that by topic: Sex and Love; Sex and Parents; Love, Frigidity, they did not come from the study population at all and may and Sexual Behavior; Masturbation; The First Sexual Inter- not represent them in any unbiased way. course; The New Sexual Relationship; Sexual Adventuring; Were Sorensen’s study more responsibly presented it Adolescent Homosexuality; Pregnancy, Birth Control, and might constitute a welcome addition to the scanty literature Abortion; Venereal Disease; Sex and Marriage. A useful on adolescent sexuality. By misrepresenting his findings, typology was introduced: Virgins (including Sexually Inex- however, he may actually misinform rather than inform. It perienced, Sexual Beginners [i.e., petters], and Miscellaneous can be questioned whether such a “contribution” does not Virgins), and Non-Virgins (including inactive, Serial Monog- actually detract from our understanding of the phenomenon amists, Sexual Adventurers, and Unclassified Non-Virgins). we wish to study. The experience of each group is treated separately as well as in comparison with other groups. No more than two variables are considered at a time. For example, data may be examined by age (13-15 versus 16-19) and sex simultaneous- ly or by degree of sexual experience and age and never by Reviewed by Sadja Goldsmith, M.D., M.P.H. all three at once. Only percentages are used both in the tables in the text and in those in the appendix in the back “The Sorensen Report” is a study of teenage sexual of the book. values and behavior based on a questionnaire survey of 393 Advantages. The material is well organized and it is ex- boys and girls, aged I3 through 19, in a nationwide sample. ceptionally easy to find a particular table or discussion. In addition, less structured data were obtained from 200 Disadvantages. With all of the experience with cross teenagers in tape recorded interviews. From this survey, the tabulation and multivariate analysis in the field it is a shame author has written a lengthy report on adolescents’ values, to have absolutely no clue as to interaction effects, clusters parental relations, and sexual behavior-including masturba- of variables, partial correlations or any other information tion, homosexual and heterosexual experience, and use of not included in a simple percentage table. In several in- contraception. stances, where the percentages are based on some subset of Although the author interprets the teenage world with the entire population, this is not made clear and has led to sensitivity and affirmation, there are serious faults in the several sensational stories in the public media. For example, study which make it difficult to obtain valid new ideas or on page 171 there is an inset declaring: data from the book. The overall sample is small, probably biased toward the less traditional teenager by the necessity “98% of all adolescent girls have had their breasts felt by of obtaining parental consent for the questionnaire, and also boys. biased toward the more educated teenager by the great “46% of all adolescent girls have had their sex organs felt length and relative complexity of the test instrument. Answers by boys. are not displayed by ethnic group or socioeconomic status, 45% of all adolescent girls have felt the sex organs of although other researchers have found substantial differences boys.” Etc. in sexual experience when these variables are considered. This sort of thing made its way into the press without noting Nowhere in the tables of results are the sample numbers that these percentages were based only on that subset of stated, although there must have been considerable varia- girls in the sample who were classified in the “beginners” tion in the number of respondents answering specific ques- category, a category which included petting experience as tions, and one suspects that conclusions are often being part of its definition. drawn from small subgroups. SIECUS Report, September, 1973 11 A major shortcoming in this work is the author’s failure Speaking Out to compare his data and conclusions to those of prior in- Continued from page 3 vestigators, contemporary sociologists such as Kantner and obscene material are invalid in the absence of “scientific Zelnik, or any other sociologic, anthropologic or psychologic data which conclusively demonstrates that exposure to ob- works. Without such perspective, many of his findings are scene materials adversely affects men and women or their difficult to interpret. For example, what does the reader con- society,” the Court stated: “Although there is no conclusive clude from the information that 17% of older teenage boys proof of a connection between anti-social behavior and ob- have had one or more homosexual experiences, as compared scene material, the legislature of Georgia could quite reason- to 6% of older teenage girls? A comparison with the Kinsey ably determine that such a connection does or might exist,” data (which is not made in the report) would reveal similar and that similar “assumptions underlie much lawful state figures, and would give an historical perspective which is regulation of commercial and business affairs.” totally lacking in the Sorensen study. Without such com- It should be noted that the Supreme Court decisions, un- parisons, the study is uninteresting at best, and at worst is like the proposed Federal Bill, S 1400, do not recognize the seriously misleading to the average reader who may view the valid use of explicit materials, however limited, in educa- results with alarm or use them for sensationalist purposes. tional and professional training programs in sexuality, and in The author’s conclusions on teenage sexual values seem sexual therapy. personally biased and opinionated in many instances. He re- peatedly draws conclusions from “value questions” which were answered affirmatively by approximately half the re- A Look To The Future spondents. We are left wondering why he did not argue the In addition to a massive assault on what many con- reverse premise for the 50% who answered negatively. The sider to be fundamental rights of adult Americans, the cumu- reader feels uncomfortably manipulated by the author’s pre- lative impact of these court decisions and the proposed conceived ideas, for which the data make only a casual fit. Federal legislation, if enacted, will be great. They will drive Examination of the questionnaire, moreover, reveals many the market in “obscene materials” underground into the wait- questions which present two issues simultaneously, so that ing hands of organized crime. “Obscene materials” will still an answer indicating disagreement may mean disagreement be available, but harder to get, far more expensive, and sold with either of the issues and is thus unusable. Two egregious under conditions degrading and legally hazardous to the pur- examples of such questions follow: chaser. “I’ve never had sex with another boy/girl, and I’m Many changes will be seen in all of the arts, but par- sure I’d never want to [a question to elicit attitudes on ticularly in publishing and the cinema. With no national homosexuality].” standard as a guideline, and the prospect of hundreds of “It’s immoral to bring an unwanted child into this over- local juries applying “community standards” staring them in populated world, especially now that abortions are so easy to the face, most producers and distributors supplying a nation- get.” al market will be forced to dilute or delete legitimate In the section on sexual behavior, data in the Sorensen erotic content in their materials. Pap will again become the study on teenage coitus differ substantially from the recent order of the day. study by Kantner and Zelnik of Johns Hopkins, prepared for The impact on education, professional training, and the President’s Commission on Population Growth and the therapy could well be very great. Although the Senate bill, American Future. The latter study was based on data from S 1400, exempts from prosecution college or university con- 4,240 interviews of a national probability sample of never- nected educational and professional programs and sexual married teenage women, ages 15-19. Kantner and Zelnik found therapy conducted by a physician, not even these narrow that 27.6% of their sample had had intercourse, a signifi- exceptions are contained in the Court decisions. And which, cantly higher figure. It is a major fault in the Sorensen if any, serious and professionally used sex education texts study that he does not acknowledge this difference or at- or audio-visuals do not contain “an explicit, close-up rep- tempt to analyze it. Again, his results are likely to be used resentation of a human genital organ”? Organized opponents for sensationalism because of this lack of scholarly anal- of sex education programs below the college level will now ysis and perspective. have considerable ammunition with which to do battle again. Many of Sorensen’s conclusions in the book are laudable, Perhaps that portion of the Court’s opinion which holds showing him to be sympathetic towards youth’s changing the most disturbing portent is the dictum concerning “law values and sensitive to the needs of teenagers for greater by assumption.” It is true that unprovable assumptions un- openness with parents and teachers concerning sexual be- derlie many of our laws and social policies, but it should be havior and the prevention of pregnancy. He makes a series recognized that when knowledge exists, law and policy of constructive suggestions to parents, schools and birth con- should conform to the facts as we know them. Discarding trol organizations on motivation for contraceptive use and knowledge merely because it does not conform to what we encouragement of non-coital sexual activity (mutual mas- might like it to be, or because it supports an unpopular turbation) to enhance communication and sexual responsive- stance, may demonstrate our human fallibility, but not sound ness in young women. The author also makes some thought- scientific or educational-or for that matter, legal-practice. ful comments on the disappearing concept of “premarital Because of the grave implications these Court decisions sex” as marriage itself becomes less of an immediate goal and S 1400 may have for all professionals working in the for teenagers, and living together without marriage is more now widely accepted field of human sexuality, I strongly widely accepted. However, as a sociologic study “The Soren- urge you to obtain copies for a thorough and thoughtful sen Report” has serious faults. As a popular interpretation reading of your own. of teenage viewpoints to the average reader, it is lengthy, opinionated and frequently misleading. Frederick E. Bidgood, M.A. 12 SIECUS Report, September, 1973 AUDIO-VISUAL REVIEWS Audio-visual materialis reviewed by Derek L. Burleson, Ed.D., S/ECUS Director of Educationaland Research Services, unless otherwise indicated. How About You? 16mm, sound, b/w, Like Other People. 16mm, sound, color, in spite of their handicapping condi- 22 min. Texture Films, 1600 Broad- 37 min. Didactic Films Ltd., Gatwick tions. It remains to be seen whether way, New York, NY 10019. Price: $290. House, Horley, Surrey, England. Price: our social and institutional policies are Rental: $35. $360. ready to accept this premise. This film must be ordered from England, but ne- How About You?, the work of three This British film, financed by the gotiations are currently underway for a young women filmmakers, carries the Spastics Society, drew spontaneous ap- U.S. film distributor to handle it. subtitle, “A Film About Birth Control plause when shown recently at a na- and Sexuality.” While it serves the di- tional meeting of sex educators in Wash- dactic function of explaining the var- ington, D.C. It was that moving even to ious methods of conception control and the sophisticated audience who viewed Right Now, It’s A LoveTrip. Sound film- how they work, in a simple, straight- it because it touched the nerve center strip, record, 14 min., handbook. Plan- forward manner, its more important of personhood-the need for intimacy ned Parenthood/World Population, Ala- function is to bring insight into teenage and love of all human beings. This is an meda-San Francisco, 2340 Clay Street, sexuality as expressed by young people angry film; it is also a hopeful film. San Francisco, CA 94115. Price: $25. themselves, freely discussing their sex- While it focuses on the problems of the ual feelings and experiences or lack of cerebral palsied, the hard-hitting points This kit of A-V and printed materi- them. it makes are applicable to any handi- als describes the work of the 6-year old What the film lacks in technical slick- capped group. One hopes it will be seen Planned Parenthood Teen Clinic of Ala- ness is more than compensated for by by general audiences as well as by meda-San Francisco which has become the authenticity of the young people those who work directly with the handi- a model for similar programs across we see and hear on the screen. Whose capped in schools, institutions and so- the country. While presenting the coun- responsibility is it to provide for con- cial agencies. seling and clinical services of the clinic, traception? What does losing one’s vir- The characters in the film are real it focuses specifically on the rap ses- ginity mean to a girl? When you have people who live in a residential home sions which are an integral part of the never had sex, is it still helpful to know for the palsied in England. Through program services. Participation in the about contraception? Can you show their own words we come to realize rap sessions is voluntary for anyone interest in boys without making them their anger and frustration at society’s coming to the clinic, but all are en- suspicious of your motives? What failure- to understand their need to do couraged to attend because here they kinds of pressures are boys under to productive work and be paid for it, can meet with their peers and a skilled prove their manliness? These and their desire to marry and care for each group leader to ask questions, discuss other questions are discussed openly other, their desire for privacy when feelings and deal with such mutual and honestly under the leadership of they seek it. Willie and Margaret, the problems as communication with par- two women counselors. central characters, allow us to share in ents, male and female roles, and con- The young women are far more their growing relationship. Margaret flicts with boy/girl friends. For many articulate, more responsible and real- carries most of the narration of the of these-young people there is no other istic, than the young men in dealing film as we see her and Willie doing art place to turn for this kind of help. The with the issues of teenage sexuality work, preparing a meal, giving sham- role of the group leader, most of whom this film raises. One might have hoped poos to each other, visiting a commu- are trained volunteers, is crucial in set- for a better balance of viewpoints be- nity bazaar. Other sequences feature ting the tone wherein’young people can tween males and females but the rap group discussions on concerns of the deal with sexuality without embarrass- session captured on this film probably cerebral palsied-about employment, ment or intimidation. reflects the reality of the double stan- marriage, and the capacity of the re- The 43-page handbook offers many dard that still prevails even among tarded handicapped person to give and helpful suggestions for developing com- today’s so-called liberated teenagers. receive love. munitysupport,findingsourcesoffund- Here is a film that moves beyond the For U.S. viewers the palsied speech ing, selecting and training of volunteers euphemisms of “family planning” films with the overlay of a British accent will and evaluating services. Also included currently on the market. It is in touch take a little getting used to. In some is a selected bibliography of resources with a large segment of today’s youth. cases the producers have wisely pro- for teenagers. This kit can well serve Recommended for high school and vided subtitles for those participants as a how-to guide for social agencies youth groups who are ready to deal whose speech is more seriously distort- who wish to provide this urgently need- realistically with birth control informa- ed. The central impression conveyed by ed type of youth service. Additional tion and male/female attitudes about the palsied individuals in this film is copies of the handbook are available sexuality. that they really are “like other people,” at $2.50 each. SIECUS Report, September, 1973 13 I JOURNAL REVIEWS I THE FAMILY COORDINATOR March 1973 revolution, they believe a slow evolu- tion of behaviors, attitudes, and knowl- (National Council on Family Relations, An Analysis of the Perceptions of High edge is in progress. 1219 University Avenue SE., Minne- School Principals in Public and Catholic apolis, MN 55414) Schools Relative to the Importance of Reviewed by Lester A. Kirkendall, Ph.D. Sex Education in the Curriculum. MEDICAL ASPECTS OF Charles E. Reed, M.P.H., Ph.D. HUMAN SEXUALITY A questionnaire on opinions toward (Hospital Publications, 18 East 48th April 1973 sex education was completed by 107 Street, New York, NY 10017) principals from Catholic and public Reviewed by Robert L. Arnstein, M.D. Human Sexuality: A Student Taught schools. Perceptions of respondents in- Course. Edward S. Herold, Janice East- dicate general acceptance of, and pos- wood, Charlotte Empringham, Beverly itive attitudes toward, family life and April 1973 Gall, and Shirley McKendry. sex education programs in Illinois. Ex- Marital-Sexual Factors in Alcoholism. Senior female students (the four last cept for a few minor differences, the named authors) of the University of views of Catholic and public school of- Alfonso Paredes, M.D. Cuelph, Ontario, presented four sem- ficials with regard to the goals of sex A discussion that says more about inars in human sexuality to freshmen education seem to be in agreementwith alcoholism than sex, but this is prob- coeds in a university residence hall. each other. ably an accurate depiction of the rela- Questionnaires and student evaluations tive importance of the two when alco- showed improvement in knowledge hol is a problem. Because of the prev- alence of alcoholism, however, the ar- and communication. April 1973 ticle is worthy of note. Voluntary Childlessness: A Neglected Contemporary Sex Education: Atti- Area of Family Study. J.E. Veevers. tudes and Implications for Childrearing. Psychological Aspects of the Vaginal Ex- Emphasis is placed on studies con- Jane D. Woody, Ph.D. amination. Prudence Tunnadine, M.D. cerned with motivationsfor parenthood, This excellent article presents seven An excellent and sensitive discussion the effects of children on personal and attitudes which are potentially impor- of the meanings of, and reactions to, marital adjustment, and ways in which tant to the development of a healthy the vaginal examination-a procedure voluntary childlessness constitutes a vi- approach to human sexuality. It is that almost all women will have ex- able life style. aimed at both parents and educators. perienced at some ‘point in their lives. The attitudes form a developmental There are several excellent commen- A Review of Information Relevant to continuum ranging from the highly con- taries in addition. Vasectomy Counselors. Steven G. Cole crete and factual to more abstract con- and David Bryon. cepts of communication and feelings. Female Orgasm: An Interview with Sey- A summarization of the growing lit- There is emphasis on the importance mour Fisher, Ph.D. erature on vasectomy relevant to the of parents and teachers as positive In view of the likelihood that Dr. vasectomy counselor. The operation it- behavioral models. Fisher’s book, Female Orgasm: Psy- self, psychosocial aspects, and legal chology, Physiology, Fantasy, will re- aspects are covered. ceive rather widespread comment, both positive and negative, this is a helpful Premarital Communication Skills Ed- May 1973 question-and-answer explication of ucation with University Students. Bren- some of his findings. There are two in- da Van Zoost. Attitudes of College Students toward teresting commentaries. A five-session group communication Selected Issues in Human Sexuality. skills program involving student cou- John A. Conley, Ph.D., and Thomas W. Viewpoints: What Are the Effects of ples used videotaped models and be- Q’Rourke, Ph.D., M.P.H. Premarital Sex on the Marital Relation- havioral rehearsal extensively. Their A questionnaire was administered to ship? Beverly T. Mead, M.D., Ira L. 221 students at the University of Illi- Reiss, Ph.D., W.J. Cadpaille, M.D., Har- knowledge about communication in- nois to assess attitudes toward current old T. Christenson, Ph.D., Rebecca Lis- creased significantly, as did the amount wood, M.D., David R. Mace, Ph.D., and of self-disclosure to partners. sexual topics, e.g., homosexuality, sex education, birth control, sexual stan- Paul Popenoe, Sc.D. dards, divorce, marriage, and abortion. Six rather general comments point JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH The authors note that traditional values out that the question does not really (American School Health Association, and views of sex roles are prominent admit of an intelligent answer and one Kent, OH 44240) and play a large role in determining (Dr. Popenoe) states that the effect is Reviewed by Gary F. Kelly, M.Ed. attitudes. Rather than seeing a sexual clear and clearly negative. The majority 14 SIECUS Report, September, 1973 point out that the research data is slim exploitative sexual relationships in gen- was written by Alan P. Bell, Ph.D., at best and that a more specific state- eral. The author carefully defines the Senior Research Psychologist at the ment of conditions would be necessary conditions necessary to establish “ma- Institute for Sex Research, co-author before research could be fruitfully ac- nipulativeness” but then describes indi- of Personality of a Child Molester, complished. Those studies that have viduals who do not entirely seem to fit co-editor of Homosexuality: An An- been done “have found a small nega- these conditions or do so only if one notated Bibliography, and a member tive relationship between premaritalsex assumes that certain behavior is con- of the SIECUS Board of Directors. and marital happiness. But the relation- sciously rather than unconsciously mo- ship has been small and difficult to in- tivated. terpret.” One commentator feels that negative effects are greater when be- havior is out of line with cultural norms, NO RESEARCH AWARD FOR so that individuals who had experi- 1972-73 COMPETITION enced premarital sex in a conservative culture would be more likely to have dif- SIECUS “HOMOSEXUALITY” SIECUS will not present a Research ficulty than those in a liberal culture. STUDY GUIDE REVISED Award for 1972-73. After evaluating Dr. Popenoe, however, feels that “all the papers submitted, the Re- evidence clearly shows, sexual experi- A completely revised edition of search Committee found none merited ments before marriage are damaging in SIECUS’ Study Guide No. 2, “Homo- receiving the Award. The Committee every way. . . .” sexuality,” is now available. It is in- also agreed that the entries received tended for all individuals, lay and were not conducted recently enough Manipulative Men: Their Sexual Atti- professional, who are interested in for present consideration. tudes. Ben Bursten, M.D. human sexuality, of which homosex- An announcement about the Re- A rather interesting article and of cur- uality is but one aspect. The revised search Award for 1973-74 will appear rent relevance in view of the concern edition incorporates the best current in the November issue of S/ECUS about the exploitation of women and knowledge and theory in the field. It Report. SIECUS PUBLICATIONS NOTICE OF STUDY GUIDE l-9 copies of the same title, 50~ each; PRICE CHANGES IO-24 copies, 45q each; 25-99 copies, 40~ each; 100-499 copies, 35~ each; 500-999 copies, 3Oq each. STUDY GUIDES Because of increased production costs, we are forced to make slight Rates for larger orders are available price increases in the bulk rates for on request. Quantity #CO1 Sex Education SIECUS Study Guides. The new price Persons ordering a single complete #GO2 Homosexuality schedule, effective September 1, 1973, set of Study Guides will receive a 15% #CO3 Masturbation is: discount. #CO4 Characteristics of Male and Female Sexual Responses #GO5 Premarital Sexual Standards Please enter my subscription to the bi-monthly S/ECUS Report. Kio6 Sexual Relations During 0 one year, U.S. $7.00; Canadian and other foreign, $8.00 Pregnancy and the Post-Delivery Period 0 two year, U.S. $12.00; Canadian and other foreign, $13.50 #CO7 has been discontinued. It is replaced by #SP 4. Mail to: SIECUS Publications Office, 1855 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 1002. ~ #CO8 Sexuality and the Life Total amount of order $ Cycle: A Broad Concept of Sexuality I am enclosing $ . Please bill me 0. Orders under $5.00 must bc ~__ #GO9 Sex, Science, and Values accompanied by remittance and any orders not accompanied by remittance ~ #Cl0 The Sex Educator and are subject to postage and handling charges. Foreign remittances must bc Moral Values #Cl1 Sexual Encounters Between paid in U.S. currency. All prices are subject to change without notice. Adults and Children ___ #Cl2 Sexual Life in the Later Name Years (Please print) ~ #Cl3 Concerns of Parents about Sex Education Address #Cl4 Teenage Pregnancy: City State Zipcode Prevention and Treatment SIECUS OFFICERS-1973 RABBI DAVID M. FELDMAN, D.H.L. DANIEL H. LABBY. M.D. ‘WARDELL B. POMEROY, Ph.D. Bay Ridge Jewish Center Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry Psychotherapist President-Evalyn S. Gendel. M.D. Brooklyn, New York University of Oregon Medical School New York, New York Past President-W. Ray Montgomery Portland, Oregon Vice Presidents- LORNA BROWN FLYNN, M.A. AARON L. RUTLEDGE, Th.D. June Dobbs Butts, Ed.D. Washington, D.C. ROBERT J. LEVIN. M.A. Chief, Division of Counseling and 1. Noel Macy Articles Editor Family Studies Wardell B. Pomeroy, Ph.D. *EVALYN S. GENDEL, M.D. Redbook Magazine Mott Human Development Center Secretw-Mena strong Director, Division of Maternal and New York, New York Wayne State University School of Medicine Treasurer-John A. Malloy, MA. Child Health Detroit, Michigan Kansas State Department of Health E. JAMES LIEBERMAN, M.D., M.P.H. PHILIP hf. SARREL, M.D. Topeka, Kansas Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry Howard University Medical School Associate Professor of Obstetrics *THE REV. WILLIAM H. Washington, D.C. and Gynecology and Director, GENNi. M.A.. B.D. Yale Sexualitv Proaram Coordinatdr of Fbmily Ministries ROBERT C. LONG, M.D. Yale Univer& S&o01 of Medicine SIECUS BOARD OF DIRECTORS-1973 National Council of Churches Associate Professor of Obstetrics New Haven, Connecticut New York, New York and Gynecology and Director, Board members are not serving ETHELRINE SHAW, R.N., MS. SIECUS as remesentatives of their Division of Human Sexuality University of Louisville School Assistant Professor organizations. but as individuals. SADJA GOLDSMITH, M.D., M.P.H. Medical Director, Teenage Services of Medicine School of Nursing Planned Parenthood of San Francisco Louisville, Kentucky Ohio State University San Francisco, California Columbus, Ohio FR. ROBERT C. BAUMILLER, S.J., Ph.D. l J. NOEL MACY Associate Professor of Obstetrics and GEORGIA NEESE GRAY Washington, D.C. *GILBERT M. SHIMMEL, Ed.D., M.P.H. Gynecology President Director. Communitv Health Georgetown University Medical Center Capitol City State Bank & Trust Co. *JOHN A. MALLOY. M.A. Education Program Vice President Washington, D.C. Topeka, Kansas Institute of Health Sciences Standard Brands, Inc. Hunter College New York, New York New York, New York *ALAN P. BELL, Ph.D. PERRY E. GROSS, M.D. General Practice Senior Research Psychologist Dallas, Texas JUDD MARMOR, M.D. LAURA 1. SINGER, Ed.D. Institute for Sex Research Franz Alexander Professor of Psychiatry Former President, American Association of Indiana University JOHN L. S. HOLLOMAN. JR., M.D. Universiw of Southern California Marriage and Family Counseiors. end Bloomington, Indiana Practicing Physician and former President, School of Medicine Adjunct Associate Professor National Medical Association Los Angeles, California Teachers College. Columbia University DIANE B. BRASHEAR. M.S.W., Ph.D. New York, New York New York, New York Assistant Professor THE REV. ROBERT H. YENEILLY, M.Div. Child Development and Family VIRGINIA E. JOHNSON Director-Minister THE REV. LEON SMITH, Ed.D. Life Department Assistant Director United Presbyterian Church Director of Marriage and Family Life Purdue University Reproductive Biology Research Foundation Prairie Village, Kansas United Methodist Church West Lafayette, Indiana St. Louis, Missouri Nashville, Tennessee ROY W. MENNINGER. M.D. G. WILLIAM JONES, hl.Th.. Ph.D. JUNE DOBBS BUTTS, Ed.D. President, The Menninger Foundation *MORTON SONTHEIMER Associate Professor of Film Art Topeka, Kansas Department of Public Health President, Sontheimer & Co., Inc. Southern Methodist University New York, New York University of Massachusetts Dallas, Texas Amherst, Massachusetts CATHERINE MILTON Assistant Director ROBERT STAPLES, Ph.D. GARY F. KELLY, M.Ed. Police Foundation Associate Professor DERYCK D. CALDERWOOD. Ph.D. Director, Student Development Center Washington, D.C. Department of Sociology Associate Professor of Health Education and Program in Human Sexuality University of California New York University School of Education Clarkson College of Technology Potsdam, New York ‘W. RAY MONTGOMERY San Francisco, California New York, New York President, Realty Trust Company RICHARD K. KERCKHOFF. Ph.D. Dallas, Texas *MEllE STRONG RICHARD A. CHILGREN, M.D. Professor of Family Development Greenwich, Connecticut Director, Program in Human Sexuality Purdue University J. ROBERT MOSKIN, M.A. University of Minnesota Medical School West Lafayette, Indiana Editor-at-large ROBERT M. VEATCH. B.D.. Ph.D. Minneapolis, Minnesota World Magazine Associate for Medical Ethics LESTER A. KIRKENDALL. Ph.D. New York, New York The Institute of Society, Ethics and HASKELL R. COPLIN, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Family the Life Sciences Professor of Psvcholonv Life Education RICHARD A. MYREN. LL.B., I.D. Hastings-on-Hudson. New York Amherst Colleg; -_ Oregon State University Institute of Criminology Amherst, Massachusetts Corvallis, Oregon Cambridge, England * Denotes Executive Committee member SIECUS STAFF Executive Director: Mary S. Calderone, M.D., M.P.H. Director of Publications and Director of Educational and Informational Resources: Frederick E. Bidgood, M.A. Research Services: Derek L. Burleson, Ed.D. Editorial Assistant: Jean Bruce Director of Development: Sol Reich Administrative Officer: Mary Ratcliffe Administrative Assistant: Agnes Pilgrim NON-PROFIT ORG. U. 5. POSTAGE PAID Sex Information and Education Council of the U.S. NEW YORK, N. Y. PERMIT No. 3696 1855 Broadway, New York, New York 10023 III