Solitary Pleasures: Sexuality, Childhood and Youth in Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth- Century Greek Enlightenment

Abstract

In this article, I examine a corpus of eighteenth- century Greek medical and pedagogical texts in an attempt to show that during the period of the Greek Enlightenment several scholars developed a special interest in childhood and sexuality. Emphasizing the importance and the benefits of a “rational” upbringing, these texts, whether original or translations, focused on childhood and gave special attention to the risks following children’s exposure to “deviant” sexual activities, especially masturbation. I will argue that this interest in masturbation was due to a common belief among Greek Orthodox scholars of the time that children were morally and mentally “imperfect” beings, in need of close guidance and supervision. Special emphasis is also given to gender issues. I will argue that scholars’ concern about masturbation was based upon the idea that boys’ and girls’ mixing in “deviating” sexual activities disrupted established hierarchies between the genders. In this context the article argues that at a period of significant cultural and social transformation regulating sexual behavior particularly that of boys as future citizens, was considered important for the progress of the emerging Greek nation. Along with the medical and pedagogical discourse of the Greek Enlightenment, this article also examines specific, albeit limited, evidence of private-family life (autobiographical texts and private correspondence). I will argue that, despite strong attachment to traditional perceptions and practices, we can trace modern social behaviors related to the life and sexuality of children and youths, originating during this period.

Keywords: Childhood, Youth, Sexuality, Masturbation, Greek Enlightenment