All human encounters have consequences. It is difficult to deal with the consequences of sexual-erotic encounters apart from other aspects of the encounters, but it is important to do so if we are to evaluate the quality of adolescent sexual life and the effectiveness of current socialization, including current sex education. Are adolescents themselves satisfied with their sex lives? According to Sorensen (1973, p. 46), 60 percent of adolescents agree that they get a lot of satisfaction out of their sex lives (80 percent of the non-virgins and 38 percent of the virgins), and they are usually confident about their sexual attainments (Sorensen, 1973, p. 47).
In this chapter and
the next, we will see to what extent our case data support Sorensen's generally
optimistic findings about adolescent sexual experience. We deal with outcomes as seen
by the participants (the adolescents), not as seen by the parent generation nor as seen
by professional people watchers. Data are presented on 152 cases in which adolescents
themselves evaluate the outcomes of their various sexual encounters. The cases, all
from the author's files, are chosen because they are evaluative rather than merely
descriptive.
The evaluative words and phrases in each case are underlined. These
words and phrases are presented in tabular form at the end of the second chapter,
under the heading of positive and negative reactions. The author made decisions as to
whether a response is categorized as positive or negative. In some cases the decision
may appear to be arbitrary, but in most cases the adolescents' intentions are clear
from the context of the case.
Puberty and Sexual Identity
By and large adolescents in the United States are not prepared in advance for
the changes that come with puberty, especially sexual awakening and other sexual
changes; it is part of the identity problem as the adolescent experiences growth, bodily
changes, the appearance of pubic hair, change of voice, among others. In Wolford's
study of adolescents (1948, p. 322-323), two fifths mentioned physical features that
worried them. The bodies that they inhabit trouble adolescents; they do not only
inhabit bodies, they are bodies (Remmers, 1957, p. 61-62).
The hardest part for me was accepting myself as a sexual being
after the long period of ignorance.Underlining is that of the author.
Reactions of adolescents are presented in tabular form at the end of chapter 14.
Just about anything that pertained to sex embarrassed me.
I was brought up in what might be classified as a strict Judaeo-
Christian atmosphere. I spent a good deal of time being ashamed of
my feelings and rebuking myself for ever having thought certain
things.
I could not eradicate from my mind that sex was dirty. This attitude
was the hardest that I had to overcome in my adolescence.
For boys, nocturnal emissions are often traumatic because of ignorance as to
what is occurring. Nocturnal emissions are a personal rather than an encounter
experience in that there is no other person involved and the emission happens when
the person is asleep. However, the experience is apt to be an encounter in that the
accompanying fantasy involves another person. The situation is also social in that the
person's reading of the reaction of society to this sexual outlet has something to do
with his feeling toward the experience.