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Childhood Sexuality in the Psychiatric Textbook

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Abstract

In spite of a marked liberalization in adult attitudes toward sexuality over the past thirty years, there has been little change in cultural attitudes toward childhood sexuality. An analysis of fifteen psychiatric textbooks in current use reflect this bias as these books continue to associate childhood sexuality with various pathologies. Overall, the most positive view is provided by child psychiatric textbooks, those authored by women and those in the area of child psychiatry. The author illustrates these contentions through a statistical analysis and quotes, from various textbooks. She discusses how the negative bias toward childhood sexuality influences other aspects of residency training.

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Yates, A. Childhood Sexuality in the Psychiatric Textbook. Acad Psychiatry 6, 217–226 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03399861

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