Show Me Yours: 2understanding Children's Sexuality

According to the Goldmanshe a psychologist, she a sociologist, both respected Australian researchers in the field of child developmentadults have concocted the myth that children cannot or need not understand human sexuality in order to deal with their own discomfort in talking with children about sex. As a result, the authors contend, children use their limited experience and powers of deduction to create their own explanations of human sexual behavior. Though these are charmingly naive and inventive, as is amply illustrated by the numerous quotations here from children interviewed in Australia and other countries, the Goldmans see them as signs that adults have failed in a critical educational task. The lack of accurate information about sex leads to confusion and a dangerous ignorance ``when faced with sexual experiences for which they are unprepared''such as molestation by family members and acquaintances. In an AIDS-era when sex education is a life-and-death issue, this intelligent book offers a compassionate, enlightening perspective on children as sexual beings, and a well-documented, ably argued case for arming them with the facts. (Dec.)