Conclusion
Having taken an intimate look at five cases of oralism as it occurs among individuals from the lower income levels of our society, can one form any opinions, ideas, or rationales regarding the occurrence of oral urges and its relatedness to the limiting conditions of background and environment?
Perhaps one can, if a few important aspects in the growth and psychosexual development of the individuals in the preceding histories are pinpointed, aspects that seem to have a direct bearing on their sexual behavior patterns and sexual attitudes. In this way, perhaps some basic conclusions regarding the formation of those patterns and attitudes can be reached.
In the case of Tom and Frank, the two young Negro males who moved from their Kansas City background to the big metropolitan area of New York City, there are several factors that bear upon their inclinations to indulge in oral sexual activities. First of all, they grew up on a small farm in a rural area outside of Kansas City, during which time they were able to observe the sexual activities of various animals on and around the farm. Tom revealed that-he and his brother had, on many occasions, observed all manner of oral activities among animals, from simple nudging with noses to actual mouth-genital contacts in the form of licking and nuzzling. Thus, their first knowledge of oralism in sex came from their youthful observations of oral activities as it occurred in nature among animals. This "naturalistic" experience was to lay the foundation for their later adolescent oral experimentation. Tom, of course, was greatly influenced by his older brother's sexual behavior, and so one must admit the importance of sibling influence. The exhibitionism and voyeurism that frequently occurred during their double-dating activities as young teenagers, persisted even after they moved to New York City together and shared an apartment in Harlem. Coming from a poor rural background, living on a small farm, being thus closer to nature than their city counterparts, Tom and Frank were conditioned from a very early age to consider oral activities as something natural rather than unnatural.
What about the case of John, the young man who grew up as an only child of a struggling couple who lived in rather isolated conditions in West Texas? What experiences occurred in his life to set the stage for his later oral compulsions? First of all, as John related, he observed his father performing cunnilingus on his mother, and grew up with the fixation that females are greatly pleasured in this way. By the time he left home and made his way to big-city life, where he strived to make a career for himself as a gardener and landscape artist, John was a prime target for older females lonely wives, middle-aged widows who found it quite easy to seduce him into various sexual trysts with the maids who worked for his wealthy clients. In John's case, one cannot minimize the importance of his childhood observations of his parents' sexual activities in laying the groundwork for his later oral proclivities.
In the above two case histories, there was little evidence of sexual repression in the psychosexual development of the individuals concerned. Instead, the forces involved in the formation of oral urges were more positive than negative. In the following three studies, however, one can see the effect of negative factors on the psychosexual growth and maturation of individuals, negative factors that, in combination with direct experience, seemed to play an important part in forming patterns of oralism.
For example, in the case of Maria, the Mexican-Italian girl who grew up in a very low income environment, one sees the results of prejudicial and erroneous ideas, the lack of adequate affection from parents or parent substitutes, and the influences of an older male cousin, Pepe, who guided Maria into the performance of fellatio upon him and various members of his gang. Maria, hungry for acceptance and affection, was conditioned by her cousin at an early age to believe that the way to win a man's love and affection, and thus develop a relationship which would lead ultimately to marriage, was by pleasuring him with her mouth. It wasn't until she was in her early twenties that she came to realize that her sexual prowess and expertise, and her sexual aggressiveness, was more of a hindrance to her goal of marriage than a help. Thus, one can see the conflict that arises among the less educated and lower income groups in regards to sexual mores, for as a number of researchers and sociologists have pointed out, sexual codes are generally based on repressive religious doctrines, and erroneous concepts handed down from generation to generation within the low-income groups.
What, then, are some of the basic conclusions that may be set down regarding oralism among the poor?
First, the biological genesis of oralism, as it occurs not only in man but in many lower animals as well, must be understood. Second, the observations of parental sexual patterns that a young child must inevitably experience under crowded living conditions must be taken into consideration. Third, the gang influences, which seem to occur much more frequently among low-income groups than they do among the higher income groups, must likewise be considered. Fourth, the importance of sibling influence in the initiation and continuation of oral activities must be recognized. This kind of sibling influence, as one would naturally expect, is more frequent and more direct under the crowded living conditions of the poorer classes.
Finally, the importance of repression in the psychosexual development of any individual, whether from the lower classes, middle classes, or upper classes, must be understood. If a child is conditioned to feel guilt about a certain kind of sexual expression, be it oralism, masturbation, normal sexual intercourse, or homosexual involvement, that repressed need or feeling may find expression later on in his adult life.