As Boys Grow (1957) Part 1 of 2

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Prior to the period of frankness that began in the mid-1960s, relatively few sex education films were actually produced in the United States. Most of these films concentrated on the physiology of sex and reproduction and were replete with animated "plumbing" diagrams. It was unusual to show children speaking relatively freely about sexuality, and because of the necessity of educating girls about menstruation, more addressed girls than boys. As Boys Grow, produced in the relatively liberal San Francisco Bay Area, presents regular boys asking regular questions and contains frank discussion of such topics as nocturnal emissions.

Apparently the gym is a safer place for sexual discussion than within the family, and we get a strong sense that Fifties men were supposed to learn about sex in and around the gym while Fifties women worked it out with their mothers. (The coach just seems to carry charts of the female reproductive organs where ever he goes. Handy!)

As Boys Grow also differs from other sex ed films (and most strongly from those directed at girls) by admitting specifically that sex is linked with pleasure. It speaks explicitly of sexual excitement, of erections and the "hard penis"; and addresses male masturbation without mystery. While girls' films (like Molly Grows Up) focus on menstruation to the exclusion of sexual pleasure and speak of coping with the physical preconditions of gender rather than coming to terms with desire, As Boys Grow admits the existence of pleasure and its gratification. Following the liberal line that was emerging at the time, Coach states "Sometimes you hear that masturbation affects your mind or your manhood. It isn't true. For kids your age, it's just...something normal."


Producer: Medical Arts Productions

Channel: Education
Uploaded: December 23, 2007 at 2:17 am
Author: shaggylocks

Length: 00:10:38
Rating: 4.46
Views: 72682

Tags: sex education gender roles children masturbation nocturnal emissions school teachers

Video Comments:
tacosamurai1 (November 19, 2008 at 12:37 am)
Lmao, you took the words right out of my mind.
Trepyebyeb (November 17, 2008 at 9:06 pm)
"hey I had a wet dream last night...sperm came out of my penis.." What teenage boys talk to each other like this??? weeeiiirrrddd
twinsouls (November 17, 2008 at 10:32 am)
LOL @ "Mickey Mouse".Punking the little kid.That would have been gangsta if he would have beat his A**
johntehkokmaster (November 12, 2008 at 8:36 pm)
Why do their coach have a diagram of a penis in the lockerroom?
Tcamp95818 (November 14, 2008 at 5:25 am)
Because he wants sexy Petes body :-)
ligz0987 (November 2, 2008 at 6:11 pm)
rhythmic motions like uhh horseback riding LOL!!!
Individualism101 (November 2, 2008 at 5:40 pm)
I never worked out why this sort of education is done in groups.

Do you have sex in groups?
Do you watch porn in groups?

No. So why is it inconceivable that group sex education might be awkward? It goes against social norms.
jonnygb4 (November 4, 2008 at 6:25 pm)
shhhhh
katsumomoto (November 6, 2008 at 7:26 am)
No we don't. But why is it inconceivable that somethings people do go against "social norms"... because social norms don't necessarily represent what people really think.
ThaSchwab (November 1, 2008 at 7:14 am)
"Hey, I coughed last night. Y'know, when sperm comes out of your ear."