Research dump: Confidential Talks With Young Women, Lyman B. Sperry, Chicago, 1893.

[sapote]

"The proper course for every girl or young woman to pursue, is to learn concerning all the organs of the body as much as is necessary for understanding their position and use, and especially what habitual or special conduct is conducive to their best good; then promptly to form the habit of doing, invariably, the best things, while thinking about the organs as little as possible. Remember always that careful, anxious watchin gof the condition or activities of the sexual organs, and especially all lustful or lascivious thoughts, are seriously injurious not only to the organs themselves, but to the entire body and mind." Eep, this must have been terrifying to read as a fourteen-year-old in 1893.

(Oh wow the chapter on masturbation is particularly dreadful. It will derange your body and mind and eventually drive you to suicide. Also it causes acne. The chapter on taking care to protect your reputation also mentions that romantic novels will lead to self-injury.)

It should be noted that this book also advocates wearing your corset loosely, bicycling or hiking for exercise, and pursuing some education. Also it is big into God.

Comments

[giandujakiss]

On the bright side, you've read "The Technology of Orgasm" right?

[sapote]

I actually read this as lead-up context to start in on Marie Stopes - I read Married Love on Thursday, it was... pretty awesome. (There's a whole chapter on how sleep is the most necessary thing for humans and how Marie Stopes has observed that women whose husbands do not attempt to, um, bring them to their crisis when they, um, have union tend to lie awake all night, "much vexed" and complaining of achings and flutterings, and how this was to her view ruining womens' health. There is still not a word for the female equivalent of blue balls, but Marie Stopes sure thought there should be.) I am tackling her writings on parenthood and birth control next, which is apparently where she gets objectionable, but I've read way worse this year so I feel I am braced.