Andes, Ruth Elizabeth

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Clinical Sociology ReviewVolume 6 | Issue 1 Article 231-1-1988Journey into Sexuality: An Exploratory VoyageRuth Elizabeth AndesGenesee Community CollegeFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/csrThis Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@WayneState. It has been accepted for inclusion in Clinical SociologyReview by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@WayneState.Recommended CitationAndes, Ruth Elizabeth (1988) "Journey into Sexuality: An Exploratory Voyage," Clinical Sociology Review: Vol. 6: Iss. 1, Article 23.Available at: http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/csr/vol6/iss1/23BOOK REVIEWS 175Flanagan's Boys' Home, discuss the positive role of the mass media in creatingawareness, setting agenda, changing attitudes, imparting information and pro-moting action. Unfortunately, they do not discuss the negative role of media insensationalizing maltreatment or reinforcing stereotypes. Sullivan and Scanlantouch on this, but I would have liked more in the chapter devoted to mass media.The section on working with the media, however, is excellent, particularly thepart on preparing for an interview.Overall, the articles are clear, concise and readable. The major contributionof this book is the extensive review of literature on child abuse in general,sibling and adult aggression, neglect within and outside the home, and the abuseand neglect of handicapped children in particular. A bibliography is includedat the end of the book for easy reference. The secondary contribution is thepractical aspect of the book. A number of authors present detailed suggestionsfor both prevention and intervention, suggested materials and relevant addressesare presented in the appendix.Because of the emphasis on structural rather than psychological factors, thebook should be of interest to class-room sociologists, as well as researchers,clinicians, and other professionals who work with handicapped children. Be-cause of its readability, it is also a book that would be useful for parents ofhandicapped children as well as other lay persons who come in contact withthese children and their families.Journey into Sexuality: An Exploratory Voyage, by Ira L. Reiss. EnglewoodCliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1986. 282 pp.Ruth Elizabeth Andes, Social Science Division, Genesee Community College,Batavia, New YorkThe author states his purpose in writing this book at the outset: to offer asocietal-level interpretation of human sexuality (p.1). The ensuing chapters are,indeed, devoted to an explanation of the social structural forces that relate tosexual practices in a society. For those of us who have tired of psychological,biological, or culture-specific explanations of human sexuality, this book pre-sents a truly sociological approach.The first two chapters set the framework. The search for cultural universalsthat reflect social system properties yet permit cross-cultural variation leads toa definition of human sexuality as "those scripts shared by a group that aresupposed to lead to erotic arousal and . . . produce genital response." Two keyelements of sexuality, physical pleasure and self-disclosure are linked to thisdefinition. The case for these definitions as a starting point is built by a discus-sion of the approach, research examined, theories considered, and the route to176 CLINICAL SOCIOLOGY REVIEW/1988the conclusion, including conceptual doubts and data limitations. Even if thereader does not agree with the formulations, it is a reasoned presentation; thatalone makes it valuable and enjoyable.Once the assumptions and definitions are specified, the next three chaptersidentify three dimensions of the social order that the author believes influencehuman sexual behavior: the kinship system, the power structure, and the societalideology. From each of these three broad dimensions the author extracts acrucial aspect that represents the direct link with sexuality. Within the kinshipsystem, sexual jealousy is the crucial aspect; within the power structure it isgender role definition; and within the ideology of society it is the definition ofthe normal. Each aspect is discussed separately to document the premise matsexual behavior can be explained by societal-level variables.Marital sexual jealousy is examined first as a boundary maintenance mecha-nism within the kinship system. It protects the union of sexuality and marriageand is necessary to the kinship structure that defines the institution of the familywithin any society. Individual sexual behavior is universally bound by theseelements, but may show wide variation since the content of kinship structuresis not universal.Several dimensions of sexual jealousy are explored and the causes of ahusband's sexual jealousy are contrasted with the causes of a wife's sexualjealousy in a path analysis diagram. Variables presented as influences on sexualjealousy are: importance of property, importance of marriage, extent of male kingroups, and extent of female premarital sexual permissiveness. The authorworks hard, and with reasonable success, to demonstrate that societal-levelvariables can explain the sexual behavior of individuals. As he points outthroughout the book, he is presenting an "exploratory journey," not a con-firmed arrival. The chapter accomplishes that goal.The next two chapters are not as full of insight. The power differential ingender role definition is well documented. That this difference is reflected inthe sexual behavior of men and women is not surprising. Interesting explana-tions of the development and support of A. the belief in female inferiority andB. the link between gender roles and kinship use societal level variables and areworth reviewing. However, the direct links between power, gender role defini-tions and sexuality, especially sexual rights and permissiveness, are not new.The argument on cultural ideology and its tie to definitions of normality isa clinically useful chapter. Major societal ideologies are linked to particularsexual ideologies. A typology of gender and sexual equality is also presented.Together these give a perspective on social change which would be helpful inunderstanding and treating individuals who are having difficulties due to rapidlychanging definitions of normative sexual behavior for men and women. The"problem" of premature ejaculation is skillfully used as an illustration of thenormality analysis. Normality is judged by the extent of integration of the actBOOK REVIEWS 177within society. In a clinical sense this perspective encourages the practitionerto view many client problems as conformity problems not psychiatric distur-bances. This therefore results in a sociologically based intervention strategy.The next two chapters deal with the application of the three linkages,kinship, power, and ideology, to the specific cases of homosexuality and erot-ica. Since both areas are heavily value-laden within American society, theideological focus is emphasized. Cross-cultural variation is documented. A lookat class stratification, male dominance, and infant involvement as causal vari-ables in homosexuality again supports a societal level explanation of sexualbehavior. Most material will be familiar to readers who have studied the natureof homophobic societies.The erotica chapter is the stronger of the two illustrative chapters. There isa detailed examination of the evidence, or lack of evidence, linking erotica andviolence. This is followed by cross-cultural material, a brief societal-level ex-planation of rape, and concludes with the links between gender role definitionsand differing erotic fantasies among men and women. This chapter does notsupport the feminist analysis of erotica and its link to violence against anddegradation of women. Certainly the author views erotica as relective of thesociety, but does not view its removal or control as a useful tool in renderingthe society more egalitarian. Regardless of the reader's perspective on theseissues, there is much useful information in this chapter.The final brief chapter organizes the theory into a unified whole. Thepropositional structure of the theory, the basic assumptions underlying thepropositions and a summary narrative statement of the theory are presented inone place. However, it would be difficult to overlook earlier chapters and stillcomprehend the summary. It would be helpful if that were possible. It is anabstract discussion and even the experienced reader could benefit from moreintegration. The theory is, as the author notes, in the early stages of develop-ment and will need empirical support and refinement. The theory is a well-structured starting point.One of the strengths of the book is its coherent movement from beginningto end. Rarely is it possible to find a book that opens with a clear explanationof its goals and how those goals will be reached, and then proceeds toward thegoals in a way that moves the reader through a journey. The voyage is in thefirst-person, making the thought processes of the author evident. The structureof presentation is a model of the clarity needed in theoretical exploration.Additionally, the empirical support is well documented. The principle sup-port came from the data files of the Ethnographic Atlas and the Standard Cross-Cultural Sample. Other research data and conclusions are frequently noted andreferenced. Problems with the data or research methodology are cited. Theauthor gives his full explanation of the methodology employed in the Appendix,permitting the narrative to flow smoothly for the average reader and locating in178 CLINICAL SOCIOLOGY REVIEW/1988one area the issues of the most concern to the more sophisticated reader. Eachchapter has abundant references and comments. The extensive glossary in anon-text is a continuation of the author's commitment to fully define termswithin the narrative. While the material is very much sociological, one does nothave to be a sociologist to comprehend the message.This book is useful, in different ways, to the three most common audiencesin our field: the clinician, the instructor, and the researcher. Some clinical useshave already been identified. This is not a book on intervention techniques orthe physical aspects of human sexuality. It is, however, an excellent book forgaining a sociological perspective on human sexuality. This vantage point opensnew possibilities for applied strategies. While the book as a whole would notbe read by the average client, certain content areas could be modified fordiscussion, with the goal of freeing clients to see their behavior within itssocietal context. The book needs to be read and reread by practitioners as arefreshing reminder that a sociological perspective is crucial in an area of humaninteraction that has been dominated by other approaches.Any human sexuality instructor would find this book a valuable resourcefor lecture presentation and for identifying material to pursue in more depth.This is obviously an extension of the value of the book. It has been difficult tolocate a concise and well documented discussion of social structural influenceson sexuality. Students often find this viewpoint difficult to comprehend and tobelieve. Now, instructors have the support needed to accomplish mis task. Thebook could be used as a supplementary text in an advanced senior seminar orgraduate course. In any case, it is highly recommended reading for anyoneteaching a human sexuality course or facilitating skill training or personal devel-opment groups.The value of the book to a researcher should be evident. The theory is inthe developmental stage. The concluding chapter is a veritable smorgasbord ofresearch possibilities. Methodological explanations appear throughout the book.The references would assist a literature review and the book represents a modelfor how to present a theoretical position for consideration by others in thediscipline.In summary, the book is a solid addition to the field. Some chapters arestronger than others. Some positions will not appeal to all readers, and someadditional work may be needed to clarify the theoretical statement in the finalchapter. These limitations are minor compared to the value of the book and thesocietal level explanation of human sexuality it affords. The journey is wormtaking.

Journey into Sexuality: An Exploratory Voyage

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