This site is an online course in human sexuality written from the perspective of biologists, psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, sexologists, theologians, gynocologists, urologists, physiologists, philosophers, and other professionals. Material has been derived from regular literature review, observation, and items submitted by readers.

Provided in the public interest by the OLCC (Open Love Christian Community)

In the late 1800's Noyes tried to resolve the ancient conflict between sex and religion. The result was what was then described by the odd, seemingly paradoxical term of simple biblical communism. Bible believing Christians lived in communes, sharing absolutely everything (including their bodies) with each other. This happened almost a full hundred years before the "Jesus Freaks" and Children of God thought of it in the 1960's. The core of this society was what he called complex marriage where all men are husbands to all women. As it was considered wrong under a Christian ethic for one to be materialistic and own property, they felt it also wrong to have or "own" wives as it was expressed at that time.

The Oneidists or Oneida Perfectionists organized what has been called marriage pro tem or temporary marriages. Couples (heterosexual of course) lived for defined periods of time and they might even apply for separation if things went wrong. Should they wish to bear children their right to breed was decided by the community at large. While complex marriage sounded rational to free love thinkers of the time, the idea of eugenics (improvement of a race or group by regulating inheritance and mating) was very radical and controversial. And it all went on in New York and New Jersey long before Hitler and the communist Chinese ever dreamed of it!

Also called Noyesians, the group added to their notoriety by advocating coitis reveratis or male continence. This is where penovaginal intercourse is practiced but preferably without ejaculation to conserve the precious resource and reduce the risk of pregnancy. For this society it was apparently more about their stirpicultural rule (where the community decided who would conceive) than the eastern concept of conserving sperm. 

Adults were parents to all the children in a style that is communist by some definitions - as opposed to being property of the statte or society. They would take turns working as parents in the "children's house". Natural parents were apparently not given any special rights since it was considered wrong to own children as one would with other property. 

To them sexual equality required that there should be a choice in both motherhood AND wifehood. Thus a man or woman might select both their temporary spouse and the parent of their children - and oft they might be different persons. Sex was considered both art and science. Adults taught it to youth of the opposite sex but it is unclear how demonstrative this got. The society often hired people outside the group to do their menial chores. Many devoted themselves to art, science, and of course lots of sex and child-raising. 

The legacy of the Oneidists is confusing and mixed. For their time temporary marriage was a radical thing in America. They might be more famous today where it not for the eugenic philosophy and the success of Puritans to drive them out. One hears stories about New Oneida Movements but we do not have documentation of any such renewels of the culture. 

1. Normal copulation - this is basic insertion of a straight dildo into the vagina with "decency, gentleness, and knowledge" without extreme or specialized movements.

2. Churning - the dildo is inserted by hand, "turned wwithout stopping" as one would a butter churn. A regular stroke is implied. Up and down motion is prescribed but the dildo may also be rolled with the palms of the hands.

3. The Rod - the woman's body is bent at the waist to improve opening of the vagina which is held upwards toward the dildo. 

4. The Devastator - again with the waist bent and vagina upwards to the ceiling, the dildo is shaken violently from the top downards. 

5. The Cruel - the dildo is inserted "brutally" with forceful pressure "right to the end" (cervix?) "leaving it inside as long as its intrusion is bearable".

6. The Thunderbolt - with hips raised high they are allowed to drop quickly downward with the firmly held dildo acting as a dart.

7. Wild Boar's Thrust - one side of the vagina is struck with the dildo several times. 

8. Bull's Blow - both sides of the vagina are struck alternatively as if gored by the horns of a bull.

9. Bird's Amusement - the dildo is alternately inserted part way and then fully "like the pecking of a bird" in three or four pecks.

10. The Box - "both thighs stretched quite straight, without withdrawing the phallus (dildo), the sexual organs staying pressed hard together". 

11. Pinching - the labia grab the dildo, sliding it in and out while maintaining a tight hold. Note that the pressure comes from the labia rather than the vaginal muscles per se. 

12. The Bee - the dildo is moved is a circular manner. The woman lifts her body with arms, folding her legs, spinning on the dildo "as on the axis of a potter's wheel". The text twice warns that "this requires practice". Today of course we have dildo while can be fastened to firm bases or by suction cups. One occasionally sees low spinning dildo tables which allows a woman or partner to rotate the round table by hand while see sits on the organ. 

13. The Swing - the ass is moved in every direction, changing position often, both backward/forward and side to side. It may be combined with Churning by a very accomplished lady. 

From more modern practice and other literature we have added a few more techniques:

14. Double Dildo - Using a 2-headed or double dildo two women thrust towards each other in at least three possible ways: 14A. both lying flat on a bed or floor, 14B. both lying on their sides on a bed or floor, and 14C. one partner above and over the other with the dildo bent to accomodate each angle. 

15. Dual Penetration - inserting a dildo or vibrator in both the vagina and anus. In 15A the insertion alternates between the orificices while in 15B the motion is syncronized with penetration and release of both at the same time. 

16. Triple Treat - Dildos and vibrators in various combinations in the vagina, anus, and on the clitoris. Having three or four partners to help is useful. 

17. Vibe and Slide - Dildo or vibrator is inserted then pulled out and up to the top of the vulva to briefly stimulate the urethra and clitoris. It is then slowly moved down, maintaining pressure all the time, back into the vagina. This provides a nice combination G-spot and clitoral stimulation. A technique called Out and Over seems to be similar. 

18. The Progression - dildos of increasingly large size are inserted in a series as becomes comfortable. A series from very small, finger-sized devices to those exceeding the diameter of a baseball bat may be assembled and used in order. 
 

In societies where sex talk cannot be open there is often the use of food and cooking terms to refer to specific body parts and sex arts. Thus if one is overheard there may be less offense taken and possibility of a non-sexual explanation. Food-based euphemisms are common throughout most cultures and societies. 

1. Eating = Oral sex - oral sex is associated with vernacular phrases eat me, eat out, eat at the Y, eating out, etc. 

2. Resemblant Shapes - Breasts are frequently called melons or peaches by men and women alike - though both terms are offensive to many. Indeed some very old classificatons of female breast type used fruit analogies. Same for dumplings. A great many foods are phallic in shape. Some women report masturbating with carrots, roots, bananas, gourds, and peppers. In some public schools cucumbers have been used to teach correct condom installation. The term cherry has long been used for female genitals, particularly the virgin hymen. A desirable woman is sometimes known as a tomato while a muscular man as beefcake. Cheesecake has been used for desirable individuals of either gender. 

An erect penis is called a bone or boner. Testicles are widely called nuts and even eggs in a basket. Buttocks are common called buns - sometimes with hot cross buns or sticky buns being thrown in for humor. More recently we hear jokes about "bun length" weiners. For centuries sausages have been the subject of inevitable comparisons with the male member. Indeed the word "meat" is associated with both the penis and raw, physical sexual encounter in general. A pregnant woman may be referred to as having a "bun in the oven". The vulva has long been called a muffin or clam. We've seen the occasonal sliced ham and mayonaise sandwich made quite intentionally and accurately to resemble a labial view of things. 

3. Tasty Stuff - semen throughout history has been compared to juice is sometimes called love juice. It is also called milk on account of the color and need for sucking. In England the terms tart and crumpet are used for particurly promising women - both terms being generally offensive but yet accepted in some comedy circles and on the tele. 

Nectar is a word used to refer to both semen and female vaginal fluids. Semen has also been called a "DNA milkshake". Creme dela Creme is also used to described the white, creamy fluid that often accumulates in the "cup" of the vaginal vestibule after sex. Creme is also used to refer to semen. Anal sex is referred by some as the Hershey Highway. There are also crude references to beef chunks in gravy. Female anatomy with reference to cunnilingus has been called hot tuna. 

Millions of Thanksgiving jokes get made each year concerning "good moist stuffing" and wish bones. Then there are the dark meat-white meat jokes. In selecting a portion of poultry more than one person has made breast and thigh jokes - though often with harsh looks from some of the audience. More than one cream-filled donut or long phallic eclair has been the subject of sex jokes too. 

4. Romantic Connections - A good deal of romance (and thereafter sex) begins over sumptuous dinners and with luscious drinks. The very scents and sights associated with particular dishes can trigger our memories of romances good and bad. The wedding cake is perhaps the ultimate symbol of connecting love with food. Candy has long been a gift for lovers, particularly on Valentine's Day. Chocolate is now known to have an effect on our brain chemistry somewhat similar to the feeling of romance and pleasure. A great many perfumes used to lure us are based on food related scents such as vanilla, chocolate, apple and citrus. Many lipstick and lip treatments are flavored and so kissing becomes something of fruit-filled experience. 

5. Alcohol - Alcohol is biggest thing in human historry for promoting sexual experience. It relaxes us, loosens our inhibitions, and lubricates conversation. There are scores of mixed drinks with names based on anatomy and sexual acts - blowjob, witch nipples to name but a feww. There also many beers with body or sex related names - Red Ass, Big Butt, Bikini, Old Thumper, Corona (a name for glans penis), Big Rock, etc. There are innumerble jokes made about "good heads" as well as "stiff drinks". There are many drinks given erotic names such as the Orgasm or Blow Job. Your local bartender can tell you a hundred more. 

Champagne is universally associated with romance is often consumed just prior to lovemaking. Indeed it is common to pour a small amount of the bubbly on a lover's body and lick it off. In some areas there is a tradition of drinking champagne from a lovely woman's high heeled shoes. There is also the so-called body shot where one drinks a small amount of alcohol poured in a nice person's naval. In the whole culture of alcohol one sometimes finds ice cubes molded like body parts or naked people. A very talented host might even include real cherries or paired olives for good measure.

6. Erotic Presentations - By now most people know about erotic cakes which shade genital or breast shapes. Some portray sex acts with various levels of complexity. Lots more people buy and make these than we might otherwise know. We even know one 60+ grandmother of ten who regularly bakes the things on request for friends and relatives. The so-called nipple cake is a cupcake made with pink or chocolate icing with a strategically placed, off center red object. There are dozens of ice, jello, and cake molds available in erotic shapes for those who would seek them out. Some phallic ice cubes serve for both drinks and ice cold dildoes at the same party. 

Even the Bible makes reference with romantic (and likely erotic) language to "love dumplings" or heart cakes in the story of Tamar and Judah. We understand that since ancient times sushi too has been prepared with erotic scenes and anatomical suggestions. 

Some of us can remember spelling out dirty words in a bowl of alphabet soup or cereal as a child. Sometimes we might spell out a word to quiz our siblings and pals on it's precise meaning. Kids and adults alike often find amusement in arranging a plate full of vegetables and meat to form anthopomorphic shapes (human forms) - some with little naughty bits add on. More than one pile of mashed potatoes has been formed in some erotic ways. The red cherry atop a tall spherical bowl of jiggly pudding has inspired much humor too. Jello too has had many erotic uses from the kitchen to bedroom. 

7. Lotions and Potions - Many of the popular sex lubricants and body lotions are fruit flavored. Honey has long had a sexual conotation and many times we call our lovers by that name. Cooking oil has long been used for sexual lubrication and perhaps most widely by men for masturbation. It is only in recent decades has society had specially prepared sexual lubricants so readily available preparations like olive oil serve for both sex and food. 

8. Edible Clothes - clothes you can eat such as edible undies are interesting novelties and bring new oral delights to the wearing. Sometimes people into body painting find it possible to use edible substances made from sweet, fruity confections or chocolate. 

9. Aphrodisiacs - some foods like oysters get a reputationn for promoting sexual potency. In this case it is true but it would be far easier to take a zinc supplment than consume the necessary half bushel of the things. The now Doctrine of Signatures was a theory that foods and products would improve the body parts they resemble. Walnuts were said to be good for the brain and testicles both! A great many products like Yohimbe, Ginseng, . Some people still swear by the sexual merit of such plant products as marijuana, heroin, and cocaine. 

10. Fertility - Many foods have become associations withh fertility. The Pomegramite, fig, and tomato being full of seeds have been symbols of fertility since ancient times. Indeed children have long been referred to as "the fruit of his loins". The Easter egg is of course the most popular fertility symbol in modern culture.

11. Cooking - sex is sometimes called cooking as in "wwe were really cooking in the bedroom". Boiling, simmering, or sizzling too can be used in sexual expressions. Then there's the joke that when it comes to sex men are like microwaves and women are like crockpots. Many other analogies between good cooking and good lovemaking occur throughout mythology and literature. 

Most young males at one time or another have made sport of adding "breasts" of clothes, balloons, or fruit to their body. Some do it for skits and Halloween. In moderation and for humor it is sometimes considered acceptable. Sometimes this has become part of festival (ie. Mardi Gras), fraternity, or parade rituals. Some of it has become politically incorrect, particularly if the displays emphasize extra large breasts or sexual deviance. 

The one guy in the thousand or so wishes (some might one hundred) to become a transvestite for performance or actualization of his female side. Impersonation of famous females, particuarly celebraties is common - though sometimes flattering them with more cleavage than is naturally the case.  Some males undergo breast enlargement (augmentation mammioplasty) but during the day appear otherwise as males. Obese males, who may have sizeable natural breasts of their own, sometimes enjoy such a feminization of their form - as may their partners of either gender. 

Vagina envy is perhaps more simple to understand since the anus performs a similar sexual function for millions of male homosexuals around the world. Indeed, some heterosexual males enjoy stimulation of their prostate as an analogue of the female, vaginal G-spot. But since males are born with an anus do they really have anything to envy? Some say yes, because anal intercourse is usually more painful and much more taboo than vaginal intercourse. Most males who undergoe sex change operations also opt for vaginoplasty to form a vagina. Because it is often made from the penis tissue (with intact nerves) there can be orgasm in many instances. Indeed, penovaginal intercourse is very essential, they often state, to feeling like a "complete woman". 

Some experts state there is more to it than vagina envy. It may be more of a rape fantasy or the desire to be sexually penetrated or dominated. Studies of male dreams suggest they usually imagine having a vagina than being confronted in an anal manner. 

Perhaps it would be more accurate to say some males have ovary envy or womb envy since childbirth is what males are really denied. The concept of male pregnancy is discussed in a section below. Wishing to have female anatomy and wishing to become a mother is often a very different set of issues. 

Brown became known around the scientific world for his study of and writings on the "diseases of women". As early 1854 he attributed most ills of women to  "malfunctioning ovaries". He advocated removable of ovaries (the ovariotomy) even in young women and even performed this procedures on his own sister. 

In 1865 Brown became President of the respected Medical Society of London. He began to advocate the clitoridectomy or removal fo clitoris for a number of other alledged female weaknesses including hysteria, promiscuity, frequent masturbation, and insanity. To this point in history the clitoidectomy was mainly known from African and Middle East cultures - a practice sometimes lumped under the general, seemingly harmless term female circumcision. The practice was considered a "primative" one that missionaries in such areas tried to prevent. But here was a leading surgeon in the center of the world's leading center of medical science calling for this primative practice!

Removing the clitoris he said was a "harmless operative procedure" and cured a great many ills. Troubled girls as young as nine and even five years were occasionally subject to this barbarism. It "alliviated" the rare state of enjoying sexuality and masturbation that Victorians of his time feared - known secretly as nymphomania. He said "the clitoris is freely excised by scissors or a knife - I always prefer scissors". History records him using a red hot iron to remove the clitoris, reducing blood loss in what today is called cauterization.

The British Medical Journal reacted to Brown in what Elizabeth Sheehan called "very scathing" remarks. For this "obscene quakery" he was expelled from the Council of the Obstatrical Society in 1867. Brown became an outcast in the medical community though some of his texts on female surgery were still consulted on other matters. The British Medical Journal of that same year referred to his work as "disgraceful mutilation". Despite all this outrage, Sheehan reports that the clitoridectomy was still (but rarely) performed in Britain as late as the 1940's. 

In Babylon there was no distinction made between "what was morally right and ritually proper". The Mesopotamians left us a number of writings and artifacts to clue us into their ideas about love and sex. Stone models of erect penises and vaginas were apparently idols to the god Isthar. (There is much more to Isthar than a bad movie made some years ago!). There was also art pieces involving sex acts, some done in terra cotta. There are some interesting writings including what may have been poems or songs. One rather bizarre example is the following:

Let a horse make love to me
Let his penis be a stick of martu-wood
Let it strike the anus of the woman.

Despite what we are sometimes told about this culture, they had some very strong sexual taboos. The forementioned poem not withstanding, bestiality at certains times was punishable by death. Incest was a "capital crime" in many forms at many times but with some notable exceptions. A young man might sleep with his stepmother if his father had died. 

Male homosexuality had a mixed record. During the Sumarian Period temple prostitution with male homosexuals was common. However we must be very careful in interpreting the historical record. The temple eunichs were termed effeminate as much for their lack of male hardware as for their general appearance and sexual orientaton. These "effeminates" did not always practice sex with other males and at times only served merely as guards for the temple and harems. Thus scholars must restrict their conclusions to actual statements concerning sex acts rather than epithets given to groups of people. During the Persian Period the society had a more negative view of male homosexuality; though the penalities for it was considered something to be reaped in the after life. During the Assyrian Period (how aptly named) male homosexuality practiced in public was generally accepted.

We must caution our readers that not all groups within any named tribe practiced such things nor are they likely to do so today. One cannot judge a modern community by the customs or morals of some of it's members. We must be careful not to do so with the past. 

Much of the confusion in studying these customs is due to the passage of time and a general lack of written records by the cultures themselves. The familiar terms translated as daughter, sister, brother, son, and cousin had complex meanings and often encompassed more than they do in English. Thus researchers have had to trace who was actually the biological mothers and fathers of each individual. Also which unions were sexually active marriages as opposed to the concept of potential wife. 

The first type was practiced by the Omaha where a man might marry a wife, her aunt, her niece, and her sister. Omaha men could also marry their brother's daughter but no father-daughter marriages were allowed. The men could also marry their dead brother's wife in what is a version of the Levirite marriage. The Levirite marriage was also practiced by the Huron, Delaware, and Iroquis, providing support for one's brother's wife and children. While also this polygamy sounds male-centered, there is some evidence that a man's first wife had to give approve of any  additional wives. Indeed a man might try to persuade his first wife about how practical another woman would be for domestic concerns, economical conditions, social standing, and her own leisure.  There was a general rule about a maximum of three wives but apparently there were exceptions. 

Among the Osage a man may marry all his wive's sisters. Kohler states that such a man "possesses control of all the sisters of his wife". Similar sister group marriages were practiced by the Crow, Choctaw, and Apache. Among the Madan, Minitari, and Nez Perce the man who married the eldest sister could marry the younger ones as they became of age. 

Another custom of the Choctaw allowed women several husbands (polyandry) including her husband's uncle and nephew. However, among the Omaha a woman could not marry her mother's brother (uncle) or sister's son (nephew). 

Sibling marriage was practiced by the Athapaskan. To a lesser extent it was reported for the Algonkian, Iroquis, Dakota, and clans of Hawaii. Brothers and sisters of different families (not between sibs) might intermarry among the Aboriginal and Dravidian cultures. 

Among the Koniag and Tlingit brothers of a husband might have sexual access to the wife while the husband was away - such as hunting, war, trading etc. This provided protection and comfort for the wife in a way that was socially acceptable.

Some of the Innuit (known incorrectly in part as Eskimos) practiced wife sharing. Indeed popular culture is full of tales about strangers being allowed to bed down a man's wife as a sign of his hospitality. This may not be universally true but we do have reports of wife sharing as well as communal orgies in some Innuit areas. Among the Madan tribe communal orgies involved the custom of giving women over to old men who might not otherwise have them. 

The Wyandot practiced polygamy but unlike some of the forementioned tribes it was only accepted outside the clan. A man could not marry a group of sisters or his own sister. 

The sexual reputation of a young girl as a virgin was sometimes prized as in many European cultures. However among the Natchez pre-marital relations actually could improve a girl's reputation - just as it would with young men in other cultures. Among the Pomo, maidens were considered common property of the tribal men while wives were required to be faithful. 

The practice involves (and sadly still does) the pinning, sewing, or fusing of labia minora and/or labia majora so as to prevent or discourage penovaginal intercourse. A small opening was provided for flow of urine and menstrual fluids but not one so large a man or the women would be easily tempted. One can easily imagine all the medical problems would develop by such unnatural closure to say nothing of the scars and discomfort. 

In extreme cases girls would have their legs tied together until the labia had healed shut. In some cases the labia minora would be removed in part to reduce the amount of fusable tissues. 

The practice was ordered as a supposed guarantee of a girl's virginity. Prior to marriage (usually arranged) the woman would have tissue recut by a midwife, a female relative, or the groom himself. 

Infibulation was sometimes accompanied by the clitorectomy or removal of clitoris to further discourage the girl's interest in sex. But even if the clitoris remained intact such cut and injured females would experience much pain when masturbating. 

1. Nepiophilia: arousal or orgasm with infants (birth to 1 or 2 years)

2. Pedophilia: arousal or orgasm with toddlers, children (1 or 2 to 12 or 13 years). Pedophilia ends with puberty by most definitions. 

3. Hebephilia: arousal or orgasm with teens (13 to 19 years or 13 years to age of consent). Cultures where one might marry a person of 14 or 18, this term is considered unnecessary.

These terms may be defined by the age or stage of object or victim or in general terms. For example, hebephiles may be attracted to teen boys or girls at a partcular state of development regardless of age. Some deviants are attracted to infants based on physical appearance while others are more aroused by their helplessness or the extreme taboo of such sexual interactions.

There is a good deal of hebephilia in modern Western culture. Arousal by and admiration of teens is tolerated and even encouraged in much of modern culture. Teen music stars, cheerleaders, dancers, and female athletes often appear in skimpy clothing in performances, some of them aimed at adult audiences. Even when some of these female stars are beyond their teens they still cultivate that schoolgirl look and image. Indeed, very famous fashion designers, marketing agencies, and department stores have been quick to exploit hebephilic principles. Calvin Klein for one has received much criticism for TV ads and bulletin boards. Yet actual, physical sexual contact is unlawful and may lead to arrest in most societies. Thus we have a "look but don't touch" message that has been reinforced over the last few decades. 

Some suggest it is natural for adults to be aroused by any young, healthy teen that is reproductively mature - ie. fertile and capable of menstruation or ejaculuation. Cradle robbing or sex with much younger, recently fertile individuals is a common reproductive strategy in many animal species. It was not uncommon just a hundred years ago for mature men to marry girls of 14, 15, or even 13 years. Indeed many famous men and perhaps some of our own relatives did so.

Pedophilia or sex with pre-pubertal, non-infant children has long been a taboo in many cultures. It is generally regarded as unlawful and illegal when reported though incestuous pedophila is pervasive and unreported in many societies. Some cultures and persons consider incest or family sex a different matter than sex amongst families or with strangers. Whether parents, relatives, or older siblings are instructing, initiating, abusing, or raping a child is sometimes a matter of cultural tradition and the society's standards. 

Simultaneously we are seeing both more and less acceptance of pedophilic conduct. There are more laws, support groups, police stings, and experts than ever striking out at adult-child sex. Governments are even cleaning up children prostitution in it's century-old centers. All at the same time dozens of groups like NAMBLA openly flourish on the interet and a few famous psychologists are writing about "healthy, consentual inter-generational intimacy". Then there are the Children's Rights Movement advocates who on one side fight all forms of sexual abuse while on their liberal fringe think children should be able to consent to anything they find fun. 

Much of the legality and propriaty of minor sex is sometimes based on the age of consent. 

Some laws and social taboos are based on the concept of age differential. A 13 year old boy might only receive a reprimand by having sex with a 14 year old girl. He might even be praised and encouraged in some cultures. However a 40 year old man doing things with the same 14 year old girl or the 13 year old boy might well spend years in jail or be linched outright on the nearest tree.  Some consider a child two or more years older than another to be potentially explotive by reason of physical size and/or intellectual development. If one child has crossed the age of consent line (ie. 18 years) the differential may not matter. Thus an 18 year old with a 17 year old could be serious legal trouble even if they have had a long-standing, sexual relationship prior to the one becoming 18. 

In 1930 Handy wrote a classic in anthropology called Marquesan Legends. Aside from the very detailed observations there was strong sexual content quite rare at that time. Robert Suggs followed this study up with his own Marquesan Sexual Behavior. A few curious insights follow.

Newly born females were prepared for their life as sexual creatures within just a few weeks after birth. Herbal astringents are used to not only clean the vagina but shrink the muscous membrances and tone the muscles. A tight, dry, odorless vagina is much prized by Marquesan men. Young girls were also massaged to produce a flat rather than bulbous or raised mons or pubic mound. No doubt some of this massaging took on pleasureful ends. The flat pubic mound was considered most attractive.

Roberts Suggs in his book Marquesan Sexual Behavior reports that boys start masturbating as early as three - often before than can talk. Saliva is used to lubricant the organ in the hand. Boys of 6 or 7 years join older boys in ejaculatory contests where the winner is the one who produces fluid first. Ther was also some mutual masturbation and sex play that is somewhat homosexual in nature. However fellatio between males was virtually unknown. 

Boys often had their first intercourse with 30 and 40 year old women, often in a serial intercourse (gang bang)  situation. Women whose husbands were away were often sought out groups of young men. Initiates or male virgins were often encouraged to join with their more experienced chums. As in many cultures, it was considered appropriate for older members of one gender to initiate young members of the other gender.

Young men were reported to increase their penis size by squeezing and pulling the organ during erections. "Comparative sessions" as Suggs phrased it were observed. Male sexplay with each other's organs often occured in baths and at fishing parties. 

Superincision (tene) of the penis was done on boys near puberty (12-14 years). A single, long slit was made in the foreskin. This was a milestone in a man's life. It was also considered vitual for hygeine. The foreskin was stretched over a splinter of bamboo. Then a razor or knife was used without anesthesia. Scissors were used in later times along with herbal preparation to act as a disinfectant. The penis was then dried on  a sun-heated stone. The boys would keep the splinter as a souvenir or sometimes plant them on pathways where the women walked. 

Male homosexuality was not uncommon but mainly occured as sexplay or when females were not readily available. Exclusive, perferential homosexuality when females are available was considered "mahu" or deviate behavior. 

In an odd observation Suggs reports young men copulating with "female torsos of wet sand at the water's edge". 

Handy in his work Marquesan Legends reported that women often masturbated with Pandanus roots. Bananas were also used and there was a standing joke about "the tired banana" in such cases. Female masturbation is much less public than with males and very little data has been obtained over the years.

However girls as young as 8 engaged in intercourse in public. They almost always start having intercourse before boys due the earlier sexual development of females. The average age of beginning intercourse was at one time 11 to 12 years - and frequently before menarche or the beginning of menstruation. There is one report of a young girl held by four older women when she refused to receive intercourse. Lisiansky in 1814 reported that naked girls as young as 10 had sex with his crew. As Suggs points out there state of undress makes this early age estimates likely accurate. There were even "loose gangs" of young girls and some report that parents encouraged their daughters to have sex with visiting Europeans. Some even took them to the ships. In one case a 14 year old girl gave up her virginity in exchange for much needed rifle cartridges! Becoming the mistress of an officer who lived in islands was often encouraged for its social and economic advantage.

Girls were encouraged to perform the daily breast massage to increase the size and firmness of those regions. This naku naku ritual was usually done at night before retiring or in the bath. Sizeable, firm breasts are considered ideal for a wife. 

Girls with "ruddy" vulva are not considered as desirable as those with lighter skinned labia. Chopped coconut has been used to lighten the color of those regions and also soften the public hair. Vulvic position is important too. Suggs stated that "some girls are singled out as having vulvas positioned far to the front, others to the rear". Mothers would even stretch their daughter's labia to make them more attractive. 

Young couples might even be encouraged by parents to have intercourse and cohabitation was provided for at times. Intercourse 2 to 3 times a day (and up to 10 times) were reported by Suggs. He reported that for all this frequency the average act lasted about 5 minutes but often as short as 2-3 minutes. 

Sex among adolescents may not involve total nudity. Younger girls are sometimes shy and even ashamed of their bodies. Suggs reports that girls may only pull up their skirts for the young men and rarely appear totally naked in public. 

Girls often have orgasms but females are not allowed to show much excitement or make loud noises. Rapid breathing and low moans are the most acceptable indication of sexual pleasure. Otherwise the girls may develop a promiscuous image. Biting and scratching (marking the lover) as known in India is also reported in earlier times. 

So-called promiscuous girls are those which often have serial intercourse with 5 to 6 males. Some girls become famous for this willingness and there is some prostitution too. Suggs reports that in one extreme example a young woman "served in a few hours the complete roster of two football squads" and later suffered pelvic pain. 

Bestiality was also recorded. One girl was reportedly licked by a dog at a time when males were not available to her. Males having sex with various quadripeds was reported. Males having sex with chickens was also known and the subject of some humor. 

"French kissing" (with the tongue) was reported to be common. Both cunnilingus and fellato were uncommon. Cunnilingus was sometimes the subject of jokes with "the clitoris is food of the Chief". Biting and scartching erections was also reported.

The myths arise from the idea that male-male anal intercourse introduces sperm deep into the male's body. Slightly more scientific notions involve the idea that the prostate or other organs are analogous to the ovary and might in rare cases produce a child. All untrue. 

Another theory states that in some males an unfertilzied egg from the mother has been trapped and lain dormant in his body. Suddenly it becomes active and produces a bloody fetus once active sperm attack it. A variant of this theory is that a twin brother or sister failed to develop and for some reason the tiny zygote trapped inside the brother's body suddenly develops. 

Some of the stories have supporting physical evidence. For example, a male who has been raped or is homosexual experiences rectal bleeding. This may be interpreted as menstruation or miscarriage. In rare cases where the bleeding is due to intestinal problems the man might also have a bloated, distented stomach as if pregnant! The rectal bleeding (sometimes with a gelatinous mass or feces) may be interpreted as a miscarriage or deformed fetus. Undigested food material in feces has been associated with features of the blood baby. It is certainly not ridiculous that some misinformed males equate extreme pain in bowel movements with maternal labor. 

It has been stated that the male pregnancy myth in some cultures may be circulated to discourage homosexuality. In other cases it seems to originate quite spontaneously from young males who have been raped, feel homosexual guilt, or are ignorant of basic sexual biology. 

Some would even consider the male pregnancy concept to be the ultimate evidence for ovary envy or vagina envy, a subject we discussed above. 

In females hypersexuality is usually called nymphomania. A woman may be called a nymph or nympho in popular culture if she has a reputation (justified or not) for enjoying lots of sex. True nymphomania is a compulsive disorder that is classically defined as woman having recurrent intercourse with males without love but outside the context of prostitution. In broader terms however nymphomania could apply to lesbian sex. In Victorian times nymphomaniacs were often institutionalized, alledgely mentally ill women who practiced compulsive masturbation. The term nymphomania has no relation to lust for young girls (immature, nymph-aged females) as one sometimes hears from misinformed people - that is hebephilia or in other cases true pedophilia. 

Among males the equilvant term is satyriasis or being a satyr. Based on the mytholgical Greek woodland diety who was half goat and half man, a satyr is one who has compulsive, recurrent intercourse with women without love and outside the role of male prostitute. It should be applied to both heterosexual and homosexual circumstances. The popular terms stud is related but usually infers a healthy, macho degree of sexuality rather than a paraphilic (deviant) compulsion. A giggolo is a close concept but often is synonomous with stud as well as male prostitute. Satyriasis is sometimes placed in synonomy with Don Juanism but in reality a Don Juan type character would have considerable romantic interest in his female partners - therefore not being a true satyr. 

Both terms, nymphomania and satyriasis, are loosely applied in psychiatry to any persons with insatiable sexual appetite. If one is not inclined to use the term hypersexuality the term erotomania is a gender neutral one covering both nymphomania and satyriasis. An extreme sick form, possibly involving mental illness or at least extreme compulsions has been termed erotopathy. 

Hypersexuality is roughly the same as sexual addiction but leading researcher John Money and Dr. G.F. Panzarone state SA is usually based on "high ritualized usage of the sex organs, under conditions of extreme specificity". The sex addict is not so much addicted to sex acts (as might a true nymphomaniac or satyriasis) but to the sexuoerotic stimulus provided by some ritual. The phrase sexual compulsivity is used for various degrees of sexual interest but usually one considered deviant or an illness.

Hyperorgasmia could be confused with hypersexuality but it refers to one having an atypically large number of orgasms (usually in women) during a short period of time. The two phenonomon are usually unrelated. 

One must also bring up the concept of sex bingeing which is modeled after the addiction to bingeing on alcohol. This where a person enjoys and actively seeks out sort periods of hypersexuality but later returns to more normal levels of sex and sometimes even chastity. For example, some people have swinger's weekends with lots of activity and many partners but during the week or rest of the month are quite moderate in their sexual practice. Sex tours and sex clubs also provide periods of hypersexuality for many people. 

Abasiophilia may overlap with acrotomophila which is arousal by a partner who has a limb amputation and thus may also be unable to walk and in a wheelchair. We have heard the term wheelchair sex but such may be offensive as it emphasizes hardware over the individual. For some acrotomophilia is a novelty that is quickly explored and then is over. For others sex with a life time partner of such ability becomes quite a desirable, even manditory experience over a long period of time. Some have used the phrase disabled sex though that too may offend some in recent times. 

Autoabasiophiia is a reverse condition where the aroused person is the one who is unable to walk or otherwise challenged. This may seem like an unnecessary term but it should be applied only to persons who are highly aroused by their own appearance and physical condition in an atypical manner. Simulated abasiophilia occurs where an abled partner may have legs bound or altered in appearance to arouse their lover. Occasonally a nurse-doctor fantasy may be developed using wheelchairs and other medical devices.

Apotomnophilia is a rare case where one commits self amputation for sexual reasons. In very extreme (usually criminal) cases sex slaves and prisoners of war have had limbs amputated to please the sadistic sexuerotic desires of their captors. We have heard stories about an entire specializaton of wartime prostitutes (such as Vietman) where young girls injured by landmines perform rather nimble, unusual sex acts atop willing soldiers; often for "special" prices. But most people would take offense at this being a reasonable means of putting to work challenged people. In one case we heard of a vet who sought out such a structured woman to marry upon his return to the US, so happy was he with his wartime sexual experiences. There are also reports (so far unconfirmed) of men with old style artifical limbs, modifying them in a phallic manner to provide pleasure to their female lovers - that is, a surrogate penis concept. 

What is the appeal of these sexual variations? There are as usual several answers and more than one may apply. Hopefully the real motivation is that the challenged person is as pleasant and desirable as a less challenged lover - that is, love transcending all obstacles. But often there is more to it. One answer is that "stumps" of amputed limbs may be visually arousing to some and even function for direct sexual stimulation. Small, narrow stumps, we are told by one man, have a dildo-like function for women so inclinded to experiment. This he called "a real boner". A second one is that being "confined to a wheelchair" (a frequently offensive phrase) appeals to those who have fantasies of less abled and helpless lovers. There is certainly some psychological overlap between simulated abasiophilia and B&D/S&M culture. Thirdly, there is an appeal with a partner who has special needs and may require special considerations and kindnesses. The trusting relationship that develops is one that may improve both one's love and sex lives. 

Fourth is a simple one of space and opportunity. Lacking limbs or having those reduced in size opens up new sexual positions or as one lady told us "less of me to get in the way". The light weight, different body type of paralized persons and amputees can open up lots of new possibilities for couples with imagination. The internet is well stocked with ideas on those wishing to share their experience and ideas. Fifthly and more rarely, these variations stray into the realm of medicine and personal hygiene where the "differently abled" partner's special needs for urination, menstruation, defecation, and other functions becomes part of sex play. There is an overlap (sometimes healthy) in caring for a lover's physical needs, intergrating sex into the process. 

Sixth is just the simple novelty even taboo aspect of having sex with a person much different from usual partners. One of your editors can recall a parallized girl in his college (though by no means typical) who let is be known she was readily available anytime anywhere. Some of the men in the dorm took "I'll try anything once" approach and not a few of them found the experience interesting and rewarding time after time. Two of the men were legally blind. 

The dominant force was puritanism that viewed any sex outside marriage to be sinful. Even marital relations had to be very restrained and if possible free of passion and all excess. Most of us are familiar with Scarlet Letter by Hawthorne which rather accurately describes one method of disgracing the adulterous by adding a scarlet letter "A" to he apparel.. Not many of us know there was also the scarlet letter "I" for cases of incest, both real or imagined. In extreme cases some of the puritans considered women to the source of most evil, adopting a very odd view of story of Adam and Eve. In the very least they consider women's more emotional nature to equivalent to dangerous, uncontrolled passion that might corrupt otherwise good men. Unmarried men were also taxed, discouraging batchelorhood. In some colonies there was much more to adultery than a simple, decorative letter "A'. One could get the death penality and some did.

In Massachusetts the Salem Witch Trials were charged with sexual tales attributed to Satanic influence. The connection between one being a witch and a seductress was often made in court. Indeed the freedom of the courtroom allowed for quite a bit of accepted sexual story telling - which we know from writings often stimulated the audience.  Yet these proceedings sometimes had a curious expression that transcended their normal concepts of modesty. It was considered more than acceptable strip an a accused witch naked in public to find the "mark of the devil" on her body. Ordinary birth marks or moles would suffice to convict her. No doubt this public spectacle when applied to young, attractive women rather encouraged more accusations to flow!

History records that in 1705 in Massachusetts black and "mulatto" slaves caught having sex with whites were sold out of the area. 

The so-called smock marriage is a curious chapter in American sexual history. A wife would be married wearing only a simple smock so that her husband would be free of any debt she had coming into the marriage. The lack of modesty was sometimes less important than economic implications. In other cases we know brides even stood nude in a closet during the exchange of vows. This occured in New England and Pennsylvania (perhaps elsewhere). The bride, naked or wearing a smock, would put her hand through a diamond-shaped hole in the door to receive the groom's hand. The similarity of this opening to a vagina has not escaped many who have studied the custom. 

More interesting still is the practice of bundling (also called tarrying) which was practiced over many years in even the most strict cultures. Fully clothed males and females would lie down in bed together under blankets. While not truly sexual in nature, this practice was to be carefully supervised by adults. Sometimes it involved courtship between the bundled couple. In other cases it was done with strangers to show hospitality. It was also considered a good part of frugality since it saved firewood in winter since persons might share their body warmth. Sometimes (though not always) boards separated the sexes. The practice is probably European in origin and has been connected with the Dutch practice of queesting. As we might all imagine bundling had some abuses. When siblings bundled for warmth there were no doubt temptations of both incestual and homosexual nature to be checked. Puritan clergy occasionally preached for the use of sofas (when available) instead of beds. It was largely abandoned as a formal practice sometime between 1800 and 1845. 

Adultery (extramarital sex without permission) was punished severely, often with death for BOTH the female and male offenders. That said, the practice of wife swapping (extramarital sex WITH permission) was not uncommon. Among the Kami laroi "women were lent to friends, visitors, but only with their [the woman's] consent". In some regions wives were exchanged to acheive some advantage in business, to impress, bribe, settle debts, or to avoid legal trouble. However many husbands termed "jealous" (some might add "moral") refused such requests and allowed nothing of the kind. 

Adultery might be excused in the case of wife swapping (approved by the husband and wife) or during tribal celebrations. Among the Arunta a man might even co-habit with his mother-in-law (!) on special occasions. The stories about the group marriages are perhaps something of a myth since wife swapping and sexual celebrations were only temporary arrangements. Still intermarriage among sisters and brothers of different families seemed to have taken place with some regularity. Incest was commonly avoided. However of one group Beveridge is quoted as saying "they are not the least bit particular, consequently incest of every grade is continually being perpetuated". 

In rare cases wives were converted to spousal prostitutes when economic times were difficult. Such is reported among the Dieri. Some people today might insist there is only a minor distinction between prostitution and using one's wive to swing a business deal or mediate a legal dispute. 

The author quotes Beveridge as saying that "chastity was quite unknown among them". Widows and unmarried girls did not have the restrictions on them that married women had. One report from Western Australia stated that "all the males of the tribe partook" before a young woman was considered fit for marriage. In some regions, such as among the Arunta, girls were subject to pubertal initiation, that is, physical sex lessons by older men when they reach puberty. She might attain both new social status and receive a new name after such an event. Yet there are many reports of mothers warning daughters about promiscuity and even the use of batchelor camps and "girls camps" to separate the sexes. Indeed reports of promiscuous girls being made social outcasts and called names confirm that sexual freedom was not a universal goal. 

SEX ED 601
Advanced Topics in Human Sexuality

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