As I said in the beginning, it is time for this dark cloud of ignorance
and prejudice and fear which we call the sexual problem, to roll away.
This can only come about by a passionate realization of the principle
of _difference_. There are different kinds of people, and it takes
all kinds to make a world. We cannot legislate a sexual code, whether
the law we make says, “Thou shalt not,” or even “Thou shalt,” without
violating the natures and needs of large sections of the population.
What it comes down to, finally, is the individual. It is he who must be
studied, and it is he who must find his own path.
Doubtless we shall not come to a true sexual morality until our
education includes the psychological study of children. Until the child
is known, his hidden need is not apparent. If he is an introvert, he
should not be developed, as he is today, particularly in this country,
along extraverted lines that are against his bent. And if he is an
extraverted sensational, we cannot demand the same standard of him as
we could of an intuitive.
But even these type differences are insufficient for our study. The
child, after all, is himself, and therefore in some ways different from
all others. His problem is always unique, and must often be solved in
new and unique ways.
But since a change in our education which would include the technic of
modern psycho-analysis, is still far off; all that we can do in the
meantime is to spread the new knowledge and new insight, so as to break
down the old prejudices, shames and fears, and put new weapons into the
hands of parents.
It is often difficult for parents to be candid with their children
concerning sexuality, especially if their own attitude is vague or
prejudiced. Where the difficulty is too great, the child should be
turned over to a trusted friend or teacher for enlightenment and
guidance.
The first step in gaining the confidence of the child is to give him a
good attitude. Nothing that he tells will be used against him; there
will be an attempt to understand all. Besides that, he should be told
that the problem is practically universal, and the things that he does,
if at all, are not so much sins as bits of childishness which may, in
many cases, be overcome.
When he has learned to speak freely, he may, for instance, for the
problem is general, say that he practices auto-erotism. In this case,
if the child is still under the age of puberty, he can be told that it
may become a habit and later on give him considerable trouble, and that
it is something he should attempt to overcome. He is to report progress
and should not mind confessing a slip.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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