The New Female Sexuality
The Sexual Practices and Experiences of Social Nudists, ‘Potential’ Nudists and Lesbians
Manfred F. DeMartino
Reports of various aspects of female sexuality are not new. As an example, Sex Variants, by Dr. George Henry preceded the famous Kinsey report by seven years. This book differs from previously published studies. It brings, for the first time, detailed findings about the sexual attitudes, practices, experiences and desires of female social nudists and ‘potential’ nudists which includes lesbians. These findings were gained through objective scientific research. The inclusion of verbatim responses is a commendable feature of this book. Albert Ellis, in his foreword, comments on this aspect by writing, ‘The perusing of these verbatim
responses gives the book’s reader a feeling of really entering into the heart of the study; and it also gives him an insight into the sexual attitudes and reactions of what largely appear to be quite healthy American women which he would often fail to get in many other sex books.’
Social nudists are women who frequent nudist camps and sunbathing clubs primarily for social (not necessarily sexual) reasons. The ‘potential’ nudists as used in this study, are the lesbians who had not frequented nudist camps but who showed an interest in such ‘nude’ activities. In other words, the sample population for this study was composed of heterosexual and lesbian nudists and those who confessed a strong potential towards nudism.
The study covered a span of three years. 102 female nudists and 73 ‘potential’ nudists from all parts of the United States participated. The average age of these women was 34.7. Participants were recruited through notices in the ‘Bulletin of the American Sunbathing Association,’ ‘Nude Living’ and ‘The Continental Spectator.’ Data were elicited through interviews and the administration of psychological tests which included the Maslow Self-Esteem and Security-Insecurity Scales.
The results are more than gratifying. The author concludes that the groups studied ‘seemed to be of relatively sound psychological health and tended to be oriented rather strongly towards sexuality… a number of sexual practices and desires were found to be significantly related to feelings of self-esteem.’ Although this study does not allow for broad generalizations about all female nudists in this country, ‘it would appear that among other reasons a liking for, and an interest in, social nudism, is to a fairly large extent related to an interest in sensuality.’
This scientific study which reveals attitudes, desires and actual sexual practices of female nudists should be in the hands of every person whose professional activities bring him or her in any contact whatever with women. Dr. DeMartino, a member of the S.S.S.S., is to be congratulated for having carried out successfully research in an area where more knowledge is sorely needed. ~ A. Gus Woltman, The Journal of Sex Research, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Feb., 1970)
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Details
| Genre | LGBT Studies/Social Sciences |
| Copyright Date | 14-Nov-69 |
| Publication Date | 1969 |
| Publisher | Julian Press |
| Format | Hardcover |
| No. of Pages | 236 |
| Language | English |
| Rating | NotRated |
| Subject | Nudism |
| BookID | 8778 |
