NCJ Number
56618
Date Published
1978
Length
196 pages
Annotation
FOR THE PAST TWO CENTURIES AMERICANS HAVE DESCRIBED A NUMBER OF SELF-ABUSING BEHAVIORS IN SIMILAR FASHION. THIS CONTINUITY OF STEREOTYPING IS TRACED FOR OPIATE USE, ALCOHOL USE, AND MASTURBATION.
Abstract
A MEDICAL TEXTBOOK OF THE MID-19TH CENTURY DESCRIBED THE RESULTS OF MASTURBATION IN ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME TERMS WRITERS OF THE MID-20TH CENTURY USED TO DESCRIBE THE RESULTS OF OPIATE USE--HOLLOW-EYED, SUNKEN CHEEKS, SLOUCHING POSTURE. THESE SAME ATTRIBUTES WERE USED TO DESCRIBE THE USERS OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY. ANALYSIS OF THE LITERATURE OF THESE PERIODS SUGGESTS THAT DURING PERIODS OF ECONOMIC SCARCITY, SOCIAL UPHEAVAL, OR ACCELERATED SOCIAL CHANGE, CERTAIN BEHAVIORS ARE LABELED AS DEVIANT AND THESE LABELS SERVE AS DEFENSES OF THE STATUS QUO. THE LABELS ALSO SERVE TO DISCREDIT LOW STATUS GROUPS. THROUGH THIS STEREOTYPING, THE MAJORITY CULTURE IS ABLE TO AFFIRM ITS STANDARDS OF CONDUCT AND TO ATTRIBUTE ANY DEVIATIONS TO FLAWED CHARACTER. THE OUTCRY AGAINST MASTURBATION AROSE DURING TIMES OF ECONOMIC DEPRESSION WHEN CHILD LABOR COMPETED DIRECTLY WITH ADULT LABOR AND, IN EFFECT, DEPRESSED ADULT WAGES. THE PROHIBITION MOVEMENT BEGAN UNDER SIMILAR ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES, ONLY THIS TIME THE THREAT CAME FROM IMMIGRANT GROUPS WHO WORKED FOR LOWER WAGES AND ALSO, INCIDENTALLY, USED ALCOHOL MORE OFTEN THAN NATIVE-BORN AMERICANS. THE CRY AGAINST OPIUM, WHICH LED TO THE DRUG LAWS, ACCOMPANIED THE IMMIGRATION OF ORIENTALS. LATER IN THE 20TH CENTURY COCAINE AND HEROIN BECAME CODE WORDS FOR BLACKS, MARIJUANA FOR MEXICANS, AND 'POT' AND LSD FOR HIPPIES. AMERICANS USE LIMITED IMAGERY TO DESCRIBE SOCIETY'S DEVALUED PEOPLE AND THE SYMBOL IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE IN ITS COMPLEX HETEROGENEOUS SOCIETY. FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)