In the early s, a therapist named Robert Longo was treating adolescent boys who had committed sex offenses. Their offenses ranged from fondling girls a few years younger than they were to outright rape of young children. As part of their treatment, the boys had to keep journals — which Longo read — in which they detailed their sexual fantasies and logged how frequently they masturbated to those fantasies. I sexually offended against a year-old boy; I made him lick my penis three times.
Puberty in Boys: From Physical Changes to Masturbation
NPR Cookie Consent and Choices
No one did anything. There are some experiences that sound so extreme, so shocking, that there is a general consensus they must be very rare indeed. People would like to assume, understandably, that this story is a horrifying anomaly. But when I retweeted one woman's experience of being masturbated at this morning, the response was overwhelming.
The impact of porn on men has been studied, but little is known about how it could affect women. Between the ages of 11 and 16, Neelam watched porn most days. She quickly got over that initial shock.
Boys grow and develop both mentally and physically at different rates and ages. Ideally, you should begin introducing your son to his body, including his genitals, at an early age. Then, when it is time to talk about the sexual function of his body, it may not be as difficult. Use your judgment in determining when your son is ready for a conversation about puberty and sexuality.