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bited of both sexes are a large group； and the bulk of the prostitutes are deficient in this respect rather than in intelligence。 Sometimes inhibition arrives late； after sexual immorality has commenced。 In men this is common； but unfortunately for women； society stands in their way when this occurs with them。 〃Youth must have its fling〃 is a masculine privilege denied to feminine offenders。 The desire for a good time plays havoc with the uninhibited girl。 Unable to find interest in her work； which too often is uninteresting； desiring good clothes and excitement； she discovers that these are within her reach if she follows her instincts。 What starts out as a flirtation ends in social disaster； and a girl finds out that some men who give good times expect to be paid for them。 Since our study is not a pathological treatise； we must omit further consideration of the offender and dismiss without more comment the whole range of the perverter。 It suffices to say that the perverted are often such congenitally； in which case nothing can be done for them； and others are the results of certain environments； which range all the way from girls' boarding…schools to the palaces of kings。 In ancient times； and in many countries to…day； certain perversions were so common as to defy belief； and we are compelled to associate with some of the greatest names； practices＇1＇ that shock us。 These same ancients would denounce as unnatural in as hearty terms the increasing practices of child…limitation among us。 ＇1＇ I pass over as out of the range of this book the question raised by Freud； whether or not we are all of us homosexual as well as heterosexual。
The sex desires and instincts struggle with； overcome or harmonize with the social instincts。 It would be impossible to portray even the simplest sex life from the mental standpoint。 The chastest woman who is unconscious of sex desire is motivated by romance and the sex feelings and customs of others in her ideas of happiness and right behavior。 The cynical profligate； indulging every sensual urge； in so far as he can； must guide himself by the resistance of society； by the necessity of camouflage； the fear of public opinion and often the impediment of his own early training。 Men and women start out perhaps as romantic idealists； enter marriage； and in the course of their experiences become almost frankly sensual。 And in the opposite direction； men and women wildly passionate in youth develop counter tendencies that swing them into restraint and serene self…control。 There are those to whom sex is mere appetite； to be indulged and put out of the way； so as not to interfere with the great purposes of success； there are those to whom it is a religion； carried on with ceremonials and rites； there are those to whom it is an obsession； and their minds are in a sexual stew at all times。 There are the under…inhibited； spoken of above； and there are the over…inhibited； Puritanical； rebelling at the flesh as such； disguising all their emotions； reluctant to admit their humanness and the validity of pleasure。
The romantic ideal； glorifying a sort of asexual love of perfect men and women； asceticism which permits sex only as a sort of necessary evil and sensuality which proclaims the pleasure of sex as the only joy and scoffs at inhibition influence the lives of us all。 The effect of the forbidden； the tantalizing curiosity aroused and the longing to rise above the level of lust make the sex adjustment the most difficult of all and produce the queerest results。 Sex is a road to power and to failure； a road to health and sickness。 As in all adjustments； there are some who are conscious of but few difficulties； who are moral or immoral without struggle or discontent。 Contrasted with these are the ones who find morality a great burden； and those who； yielding to desire； find continuous inner conflict and dissatisfaction and lowered self…valuation as a result。 Our society is organized on chastity and continence prior to marriage； purity and constancy after marriage。 That noble ideal has never been realized； the stories of Pagan times； of the Middle Ages and of the present day； as well as everyday human experience； show that the male certainly has not lived up to his part of the bargain。 Legalized prostitution in most countries； illegal prostitution in the United States and England； in addition to the enormous amount of clandestine relationships； are a sufficient commentary on the results。 The increasing divorce rate； the feminist movement； the legalizing of the 〃illegitimate〃 child in Norway and Sweden and the almost certain arrival of similar laws in all countries indicate a softer attitude toward sex restrictions。 The rapidly increasing age of marriage means simply that continence will be more and more difficult； for I am not one of those who believe that the repression of this vital instinct is without harm。 Continence is socially necessary； but beyond a certain age it is physically and mentally harmful。 Man is thus placed on the horns of a dilemma from which it will take the greatest wisdom and the finest humanity to extricate him。 But I cannot lay claim to any part of the knowledge and ability necessary to formulate the plan。 Let us at least be candid； let us not say grandiloquently that the sexual urge can be indefinitely repressed without harm to the average individual。 We may safely assert that there are people； men and women both； to whom the sex impulses are vague and of little force； but to the great majority； at least of men； sex desire is almost a hunger； and unsatisfied it brings about a restlessness and dissatisfaction that enters into all the mental life。 On what basis society will meet this situation I do not pretend to know； but this is certain；that all over the civilized world there is apparent an organizing rebellion against the social impediment to sexual satisfaction。 For it must be remembered that sexual satisfaction is not alone naked desire。 It is thatbut sublimated into finer things as well。 It is the desire for stability of affection； for a sympathetic beloved； an outlet for emotion； a longing for respectable unitary status。 The unit of respectable human life is the married couple； the girl wants that social recognition； and so does her man。 Both yearn to cast off from their old homes and start a new one； as an initial step in successful living。 The thought of childrena little form in a little bed； and the man and woman gazing in an ecstasy of pride and affection upon itmakes all other pleasures seem unworthy and gives to the ache for intimacy a high moral sanction。 This brings us to the point where we must consider those characteristics that make up domesticity and homekeeping。 Early impressions and the consistent teaching of literature； stage； press and religion have given to the home a semi…sacred character； which is one of the great components of the desire to marry； especially for women。 The home is； in the minds of most of those who enter into marriage； a place owned； peculiarly possessed； and it offers freedom from the restraints of society and the inhibitions of ceremony and custom。 Both the man and woman like to think that here is the place where their love can find free express