Right or Wrong? Are There any Absolutes? Is Sexual Abuse Always Abuse?
If morals are imposed by external (sociological and cultural) factors, and there is no intrinsic right and wrong, is the following behaviour immoral?
In some tribal communities it’s been discovered that it’s perfectly normal for mothers to masturbate, fondle, and even perform oral sex upon an infant male – in fact, all the women in the tribe will take part, in the belief it will benefit the child when he grows up and wishes to have children of his own. Strange, weird, and probably disgusting to anyone reading this article – but absolutely true!
It’s not hidden; everyone does it, everyone knows about it and it’s not seen as immoral in any way – quite the opposite, in fact. It’s known as “nurturant,” not abuse – as it would be clearly be by most “civilised” societies.
So, if it’s perfectly normal (to them) and not causing any damage to the children, can it actually be considered abuse? Our society has conditioned us to believe it’s wrong or immoral, and we might even have come to that conclusion alone should it not have done. However, that’s very unlikely because we’re programmed by the society in which we live from such an early age as to what is right and wrong, normal and abnormal, and so on.
This has been clearly illustrated in a response to another article published on Triond, about homosexuality, where someone explained how the society she grew up in, in Africa, taught children about sex and relationships with a member of the opposite sex only. In her culture homosexuality simply wasn’t an option, unless you were molested when you were young. Her current position regarding the matter is obviously a result of this indoctrination and, should any member of her community ever find themselves being attracted to a person of the wrong same sex, I’m sure they’d suffer serious psychological issues because they’d know exactly how wrong they were to feel this way.
Anyway, I digress… apologies. So, my question is: if right and wrong are determined by the society one grows up in – as apposed to being intrinsic values/morals held by all human beings, how can what these tribes are doing to young males be considered wrong?
Source: http://www.psychohistory.com/originsofwar/07_childAbuse.html
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CaSundara
On August 24, 2009 at 9:16 am
I’m very interested to hear the opinions of others so I hope someone might comment soon. I’ve known about this for some time so the shock has worn off and I’ve almost got my head around the concept but, even then, trying to acknowledge this practice as acceptable is very difficult.
Aimee Larsen Stoddard
On August 24, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Very thought provoking! I often wonder if our values are all just imposed on us from outside. But this is problematic because then everything is relative. You start asking the big “what if”s. What if there is no objective truth? What if there is no absolute morality? What if there really is no right and wrong? Ultimate freedom is a terrifying prospect. I think that societies set up the value system they adhere to, as opposed to a value system being handed down–for lack of a better phrase–from God or from some ultimate source. I think the quickly changing values of modern societies illustrate this point. I’m not convinced any behaviors are right or wrong in any absolute sense but are assigned to one side of the fence or the other by the society. However, I don’t think this is bad per se–there’s no way around this since this is how a society defines itself. I only think it becomes problematic when certain people are labeled as bad, sinful, etc. for behaviors that are not harming anyone.
CaSundara
On August 24, 2009 at 5:09 pm
“What if there is no objective truth? What if there is no absolute morality? What if there really is no right and wrong? Ultimate freedom is a terrifying prospect.”
That’s exactly the way I believe it actually is. And terrifying is precisely the right word, when you understand the full implications.
We think very similarly…
I notice no-one else is prepared to indulge me with their position on this topic – and no-one else likes it, either… LOL
Aimee Larsen Stoddard
On August 24, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I think the others are collecting their thoughts and will be responding in a few days.
Keep posting the controversial topics. So very interesting! I love that you don’t rehash the same old, same old. You are very courageous.
CaSundara
On August 28, 2009 at 7:48 am
Still no takers…
NabeelNadeem
On August 28, 2009 at 3:22 pm
There are different ways of interpreting any given situation, I believe. And that interpretation, without a doubt, depends upon the upbringing of the interpreter.
This is not the only practise which would shock the civilized world. There are many more customs and traditions followed which are more bizzare, more outlandish in their nature.
But coming to your specific question, the tribe is perfectly correct ‘in their opinion’. In such cases, I believe it is better to mind one’s own business, If, however, there is a practise which harms the child, such as offering one of its foot to the crocodiles to appease the river diety, I whole-heartedly object. What I mean to say is if the traditions and customs followed are ancient but harmless, there is no objection for them to go on. But it would be preferable of course that the women stopped giving the children handjobs and concentrated on the men!
oldster
On September 21, 2009 at 10:10 am
I think it is right and proper to introduce youngsters to sex very early–but so called society and religious beliefs condemn it.
Sex it a natural progression to breeding–If it is taught as such then it can’t be harmful, Especially if taught by people who actually care about you and can influence you.
Sex has nothing to do with love, they are seperate entities in my humble opinion.
Where you have “aural” sex–is that –telling–or blowing or sucking their ears? Or a typo?
CaSundara
On September 21, 2009 at 12:36 pm
LOL – it’s a typo, and the exact same one I made on another article! (What’s the matter with me???) *off to correct…*
NabeelNadeem
On October 16, 2009 at 12:37 am
Hey do me a favor. I added my email and cell # in my comment. Delete it please. And my e-mail’s there in the comment. Just let me know when you have deleted it. I’ve been getting a lot of spam since I posted that.
Thanks.
CaSundara
On October 17, 2009 at 1:08 pm
All done NabeelNadeem – I’d not do that again in future, if I were you…
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