|
|
|
Basic InformationLatest NewsQuestions and AnswersSexAnxiety and SexSexual Obsession? OCD?Is The Word 'Not' Missing?Help me Fight With my Sex DriveAnxiety Over Sexual FantasyWhen I Talk to Women My Eyes Fall on Their Boobs AutomaticallyDifferences in BedMy Boyfriend Cannot Have SEXEx-Girl Friends Pictures on Boyfriend's ComputerHow Can We Stop Our relationship From Falling Apart?Husband Never Wants Sex, Prefers to Masturbate. I'm Lonely...How to Prevent Any Relapse Into Pornography?Should I be Discouraging my Girlfriend's Masochistic Fantasies?Lack of Sex Drive at a Young age?Strange Sexual Fantasies Sex Feels Wrong Now That I'm PregnantFriends with BenefitsIs My Boyfriend Suffering From Some Kind of Sexual Problem or Is He Lazy in Sex?Intercourse Doesn't WorkSexual Genetic Programming Difficult to ControlCan a Marriage Survive Without Sex?Can We Make This WorkCan Attraction Come Back?Fear of Sex in Hubby Due to ED and Constriction in ChestWhy Won't He Have Sex With Me?Alcohol, No Sex, No Intimacy...Why Am I Here?Is He Gay?I'm Really Lost Too Different?No Sex Drive - EverHe Doesn't Feel the Same Way About Me But... HELP, With My Sexuality?My Boyfriend Has NO Sex DriveSame-Sex (Gay Boyfriend) Doesn't Desire Sex... Why?I'm 21, Female, With No Sex Dive, and it is Ruining my MarriageHow do I Reconnect With my Partner?Growing Apart In A Marriage Is It Him Who Is Too Hard To Trust Or Is It Me?What Is Happening To Me?No SexSingle Mom in Relationship, Withholding Affection, Stand-Off?My Boyfriend Wants to Experiment With MenMy Fiancee, The Wall Is UpI Think My Husband has Sex and Intimacy IssuesHow Can I Talk About My Greatest Fear?Husband and DaughterInorgasmiaOverdriven and Uncontrolled Sex Drive Needs Daily MasturbationHow Can I Recover My Sexual Drive that has Diminshed Severely Post-Surgery?Is it Transference or A Real Crush?Bipolar and sexual dysfunction?It Just Keeps Getting Worse, SarahMask and Encasement Fetish, MeteNo Sex DriveFiancee is bi-sexual I feel ugly and smell and smell down below. Is this normal?Holding ThroatSadistic Sexual Fantasies - Erotica.My wife and her sexualityI can't stop jerking off! How can I stop masturbating?My girlfriend and I have been having intercourse for over 2 1/2 years and she has yet to orgasmHow Can I Aviod Sexual Anxiety?My depressed husband won't sleep with me. What should I do?Religious wife is conflicted over husband's desire for anal playA wife writes: "Somehow, we have not yet had sexual intercourse"Rough SexWhy is he ruining our relationship?Religious wife regrets premarital sex; won't sleep with husbandSexual AnxietySex is great, but I dont like to do it.I beg you to give me your suggestions - Saman - Aug 4th 2008 "A Man's Perspective," Nick H. July 9, Men, Women, Marriage and SexI am a beautiful girl.....so why is my boyfriend selfish in bed?Alarming childhood issueRough SexChronic User-NEED ADVICE - Bryan - Mar 12th 2008Low Sex DriveSmoking fetish- looking for helpIs My Husband Gay ?Husband has low sex drivegender hatredBored husbandLooking at other women's breastsMy fiancée left me because of my past porn useSame Sex CuriosityNever been kissed but wanting sex ... (please help advise)Can I become a virgin again?Asexuality?Nude women an issue?swingerI have to imagine I'm a sex victimWe don't get much enjoyment from sexIs something wrong with me? (sexual question)Sexually Frustrated in KansasTerrified I'll Do something Sexually InappropriateHow can I stop using Porn?Boyfriend Talks DirtyOnline GamesFrustrated LesbianGay PornBondage and DisciplineCompulsive SexDecreased InterestCompulsive Internet Porn UseProper Sex Not HappeningTroubled MarriageI Rarely Want To Have SexMy Husband Won't Touch MeA Sexual ProblemLacking In IntimacyAmbivalent ExhibitionistI'm 40 But Still Feel Like A Teenager When SexualPornography #1Is Male Interest In Pornography Normal?I Think He May Be GayHusband Hates SexWants To Cross DressAntidepressants and Sexual DesireLow Sexual DesireIt's Not The PillsAftermath of the ThreesomeSexual Disorder?Sleep TalkerAm I A Prude?MasturbationLack of InterestCross-Dressing BoyfriendNo Desire For Sex 2Was I Sexually Abused?Can A Marriage Withstand Group Sex?Sex and IntimacyUncomfortably NumbNot There for MeI've Lost Interest in SexLosing My Sex Appeal?Orgasm Without Sex?!My Sex Drive is Out of Control!Sexual FantasiesTumultuous RelationshipMy Husband is a Cross-DresserArousal Disorder?Recovery TimeShould I Swing?Orgasmlessjb writes: VideosLinksBook Reviews |
| |
by Kate E. Reynolds Jessica Kingsley, 2014 Review by Kristin Nelson on Oct 7th 2014 
Written by health educator Kate E. Reynolds, this book is part of a series on sexuality and sexual safety for boys and young men on the autism spectrum. The UK author recommends this book for use with people who have a severe form of autism. By US conventions, the book is squarely targeted at those with moderate symptoms of autism. This may be a reflection of the difference in the way autism spectrum disorders are viewed in the UK and the US. With support, the text is accessible to people who fall within a wide range of language comprehension abilities and social development. It is intended to be read with an adult though the inviting illustrations and friendly text will likely draw readers back to review on their own.
Reynolds’ easy going, positive narrative belies the careful attention paid to both the structure and substance of the content. Sentences and terms are relatively simple, key concepts are repeated for emphasis and the parallel structure of the writing underscores the idea that masturbation is a normal and enjoyable thing to do just like the many other things that the main character likes to do (such as singing and playing on his computer.) Situating masturbation as an activity to always be done in private is the main point of the story. Along the way to making this point, the author uses concrete examples to help the reader understand which things (activities, behavior, body parts) are private and which are public. For instance, the reader learns that private body parts are those that are typically covered by underwear and that one reason for wearing clothes in public is to hide these private zones. Imparting the reasoning behind social expectations – we are expected to wear clothing in public in order to keep others from seeing our private zones - is a critical element of social cognition. While many books on puberty tell the reader not to touch his penis in public, this one takes the crucial next step which is to tell the reader what to do instead – in this case, wait until he gets home to touch himself. This may be an insignificant matter to many neurotypical readers but it’s a fundamental need for people on the spectrum who are at a loss for what *to do* when they are told to refrain from doing something. This book scores high for its accessibility and use of strategies to address social learning differences.
Jonathon Powell’s illustrations match the friendly tone of the text. The topic calls for accurate, believable drawings that are relatable and engaging to adolescents who may have already encountered negative messages about touching their own bodies. His images convey anatomical detail in a non-sexualized and body-positive fashion.
While there are many reasons to recommend this work there are some perplexing problems too. Proper use of terminology is a big deal for people on the autism spectrum who may experience inflexible or literal thinking. Inexplicably, Reynolds completely avoids using the words “masturbation” and “erection” in the body of the text. The term “masturbation” appears in the book’s subtitle and nowhere else. Erections are not mentioned by name anywhere though they are featured prominently in the story and illustrations. Another questionable word choice appears regarding the private zones on girls’ and women’s bodies which are identified as their “breasts”, “vaginas” and “buttocks.” In this case, I think the term “vagina” is at least misleading. As any well-informed adolescent on the autism spectrum will be the first to point out, female genitalia are not collectively known as vaginas. Somewhat less of a quibble, but still inaccurate, is the use of the word “sperm” as a substitute for “semen.” Using loose, imprecise language with a population of people who benefit from clear and consistent terminology could easily result in misunderstanding or socially inappropriate behavior. Adults intending to read this book with a boy or young man on the autism spectrum are advised to review the vocabulary first and edit as needed.
© 2014 Kristin Nelson |