Speaker's Corner - Victorian Sex
Susan Heimlich

On Wednesday, May 12, 1999, Greater New York Mensa was treated to a talk by Al Gregory of New Jersey Mensa entitled "Victorian Sex Was Not an Oxymoron." Al documented that the common view of the Victorian era of proper behavior and repressed attitudes is in sharp contrast with the realities of the day. Starting with a 1787 Proclamation of Piety and Virtue (60 years before Victoria's day), he traced sexual activity in the countryside, in the industrial working class, and seen as prostitution in the cities.

Al talked about the issues of female sexuality and the roles denial of women's desire and women's rights played in the climate of the times. Though he didn't bring his pictures, he also described pornography of the era. He also described the use of male chastity belts and foods created to curb the male libido - Graham Crackers and Kellogg's Corn Flakes. He discussed the techniques used for birth control and the problems they brought. He also mentioned sexually transmitted diseases of the day, the very young age of consent for females (based on the shorter life span, this made sense), and the advantages to families who had children early (better salaries to husbands than to single men, children began working at age 5 and brought in added income).

Al was thorough in his presentation, using vignettes to make his points. The time flew quickly, though Al graciously took questions from our members. Was the evening interesting? You bet. Was Al knowledgeable, and did he impart it well? Certainly. Do we want him to return with more stories of the Victorian era. Absolutely. Many thanks, Al, for such a good presentation.