Conclusion
It is evident from the case histories we have read that analism, like any form of sex, appears to be without a positive causal factor. People do it, and the "deep-seated reasons" can often only be conjectured. In many cases, early indoctrination can lead to a preference on the part of the individual, just as any sex practice can be the result of early experience.
Basic sexual activity is a natural expression of man's desires. For man, it is the insertion of his penis into an orifice that will give him the gratification of eventual climax and ejaculation. Originally considered only a mating urge for procreation of children, the sex drive is now recognized as part of a more subtle human need, including the biological and psychological.
Freud's theory indicates that all of man's actions stem from his sexual drive. A great creative talent will be sparked by a strong sex drive, according to Freud. Lack of physical outlet results in sublimating the urge into creative endeavor in other areas than procreation. There are even those who believe that sexual activity can weaken a man physically, and some extreme health addicts (such as fanatic weight lifters) will denounce any form of sex practice as debilitating. However, the medical profession, sensibly, has established that lack of sexual emission can give rise to many health problems in a man's excretory system. Some doctors will even advise regular masturbation for patients without regular sexual outlet.
So sex is composed of the physical and the mental. Psychiatrists claim that without the proper mental release, the physical act of seminal emission can be meaningless, leaving the man as frustrated as before the act.
Accordingly, the manner of receiving the sex act can have its varied facets with a woman. Prostitutes will readily admit to complete lack of feeling with certain men who may be enjoying intercourse while the woman reads a book, oblivious to the physical enjoyment. But with a different man, one who "turns the woman on," the act can be completely fulfilling. Yet in both cases, the biological processes are the same. What causes the difference? It appears to be strictly the mental; so, applying this to the matter of analism, it is quite possible to conclude that women who indulge in and enjoy anal intercourse, receive their ultimate satisfaction from the mental fantasies involved.
"With many, the practice may begin only in adulthood, as a result of sexual experimentation within the marriage bed; many claim analism to be a spark that can revive a waning marriage, just as any other form of experimentation can bring new excitement to a relationship. As we have seen, however, analism among the poor can be the result of more basic instincts, especially when a father sodomizes his children, or brothers assault their sisters. The physical proximity within most poor families, living in overcrowded conditions, lends itself to sexual intimacy at an early age.
The moral issues are undeniable, but the situation exists nonetheless, and it must be accepted sociologically. There is a vast difference between girls or young women who discover anal intercourse at an early age, and those who try it as a variation to their regular sexual experiences. Many of the women we have met in the preceding chapters have been not only from poor families, but have had a basic lack of education and moral values. This is not to say that if an individual finds anal intercourse pleasing and satisfying, he should not continue it because of a superimposed moral code. We are here to discuss, to reveal, but not to pass judgment, for that is an individual matter. The only social context that applies to this subject comes from the forced submission of young women to a practice they may not desire, or which may be harmful to them.
Sexual offenders who are apprehended and processed according to existing laws, are invariably of lower intelligence levels. We refer to the majority, naturally, because there are always exceptions to every rule. But in most cases of sexual assault that come before the courts, the offender displays an inability to discern the existing moral codes relative to the act. With the poorer classes, especially in the rural areas, analism ("cornholing") is a legendary practice, always joked about, but commonly practiced both between those of the same sex (males) and between males and females.
It is quite common as a poor man's safeguard against unwanted pregnancy, especially with young girls.
Where there is no discomfort, it is obvious the recipient may well develop a liking for the act, and in some cases, even a preference.
In poorer sections of the cities, prostitutes will admit to a preference for analism, stemming from the fact that vaginal intercourse has lost its attraction because of its being connected with their livelihood. This gets back to the mental attitude we mentioned earlier.
The sexologist can only examine the problem of analism as a social phenomenon, for to those who indulge, it is obviously not a problem, but merely another form of pleasure. The fact that it is accepted and practiced more commonly among the poorer classes gives rise to the theory that anal relations are the prerogative of the morally unscrupulous, but then, morals do not necessarily have any class boundaries; however, with the lower income and lower intelligence levels of the poor, it does seem to indicate that analism and poverty go hand in hand, at least among the rural segments of the population.
With today's expanding awareness of man's basic nature, all aspects of sexual activity are becoming more understood. The entire subject is not being swept under the carpet as it has been for generations. Rather, it is being brought out into the light for study, analysis, and rationalization. However, any conclusions relative to sex can only be in the realm of theory. The only basic fact that is established refers to the biological mating between man and woman, an inherent instinct of all animal species. Variations from the norm, however, are the exceptions which every rule possesses. In this respect, analism could be classified as a variation which has always existed. It has seldom been the subject for much public attention, except perhaps during the hedonistic days of Greece and Rome when sodomy was as popular a diversion as any other sexual activity between the same and opposite sexes. Strict moralists today are presuming a warning from history, noting that the fall of the Roman Empire was prefaced by a wave of sexual laxity such as we have today. These same moralists point a finger at analism as a perversion of the basic intent of the sex drive. One cannot condemn a sexual practice, however, merely because it might be practiced by a minority of the population. Analism could well be more widely spread were it not for the fact that vaginal intercourse has been proven to be man's most pleasurable and appealing form of sexual expression, the one that most heterosexual men seek, prefer, and instinctively desire.
We have seen how members of the poorer classes can be exposed to anal relations, how it can affect their future sex lives, and how it is a common occurrence amongst certain segments of society. In the ultimate assessment, we can only conclude that when the standard of living and education is improved, the moral fiber will--likewise be raised; but again, it can only be stated that every sex act, and the instinct behind it, stems from individual preference. Society may frown, and point an accusing finger, but the final decision must rest with the individuals concerned, irrespective of their social, financial or educational background.