[Base]
[Index]
Is It Premature Sexualization?
From this point of view, childhood should be a time without the
problems related with sex. The other side of this argument are the
consideration of "premature sexual behavior" as a harm which may be
caused by sexual abuse.
This argument idealizes the childhood as nonsexual, and, on the
other hand, considers sexuality as something problematical, dirty, or
bad.
A second argument rejects adult-child sexuality because it entails
a premature sexualization of the child. From this point of view,
childhood should be a time of relative immunity from sex, where a
child enjoys freedom from an often problematic aspect of life. When
adults approach children sexually, they draw them into a world for
which children are not yet ready. Unfortunately for this argument,
children are sexual. Most children are curious about sex. Many explore
sexuality with one another. There is increasing professional and
scientific agreement that sexual interest and activity among children
is healthy and perhaps even salutary to later sexual functioning
(Yates, 1978). This argument seems inadequate also.