Age and Social-Class Differences in Children's Knowledge of Sexuality

Abstract

Abstract Investigated the sexual knowledge of 130 children between the ages of 2 and 7 years. Significant age differences were found for all areas of knowledge (gender, sexual and nonsexual body parts and functions, sexual behavior, pregnancy, and abuse prevention). Younger children generally knew less than older ones. None of the children demonstrated much understanding of adult sexual behavior. Lower-class children had less knowledge than middle- and upper-class children in the areas of sexual body parts, pregnancy, and abuse prevention. Lower-class parents reported more restrictive attitudes toward sexuality, had done less sex education with their children, and reported that their children had less sexual experience.