Sexual Encounters In Early Childhood
With Preadolescents and Adolescents
In sex, as in most other aspects of life, the older teach the
younger. In the vast majority of cases such encounters are with some
one close to the child-a family member, another relative, a neighbor,
a "baby-sitter." If the "teaching" situation is sexual in nature it
most often involves fondling or oral relations; attempted intercourse
is relatively uncommon. (Mohr, et al, 1964). If intercourse is at
tempted, it is often of an exploratory nature and becomes part of the
initiator's learning experience rather than being highly purposeful,
aggressive or violent.
One day I remained at home to watch my sister's
kids. I "messed" with my little niece since she
was about two years old. I would put the boys to
bed and let the girl stay up. I would insert my
finger in my niece's vagina and move it around.
She enjoyed it. I would masturbate at the same
time. Sometimes I would imagine that I was going
to attack her and devour her at any second. Then
I would climax. Then I would withdraw my finger
and lick it. (Berest, 1970, p. 217-218).
My (a girl) earliest experience with sex
occurred when I was approximately five years
old. One day a buddy of my brother's came over,
who was eleven years old. My brother was not
home at the time so he asked if I would play
with him. I said I would. Somehow we ended up in
the haymow sliding around in the hay. Later,
resting on top of the hay, he asked me if I
wanted to play doctor.
Thinking all was in fun,
I said yes. He informed me, that he was the doctor,
and I the patient. I was about to have a
baby and he was going to operate. He unzipped my
pants, took them off, and proceeded to do the
same with his. He tried to have intercourse but
did not succeed. Thinking it all was a game, and
of course knowing nothing of sex at that time, I
thought it was perfectly all right.
In both of the following cases, as well, erotic advances are made
to a female child by an adolescent male, but the advances are not mark
edly aggressive or exploitative. In both cases the female child demon
strates her socialization into adult repressive sexual roles.
When I was seven years old my parents asked a
thirteen year old boy to come and "sit" with me
while they went out.... He got on top of the
covers next to me. After trying to sleep I
turned around to tell him to quit squirming
because I couldn't sleep, when I noticed his
pants were unzipped and his penis was out.
Being a seven year old, I bluntly told him that that
was not nice and that he better get off my bed.
From my kindergarten year, there is one
particular incident which stands out in my mind.
It involved my uncle, who was about sixteen, and
me. My parents were out for the evening and he
was baby-sitting. I was ready for bed and he
came in and asked me if I wanted a back rub. I
said yes, and I lay down on the bed.
He rubbed my back for awhile and after he had done this
for a few minutes he pulled down my pants. He
told me not to say anything and then he
proceeded to examine and finger my genital area.
He said that he just wanted to see something. I
don't exactly remember my reactions, although I
know I was too embarrassed to tell my mother
about it.