To the reader; this description of Homo intelligens' sexual behavior is strongly influenced by the behavior of Bonobos. Bonobos are on the one hand, the primate species whose sexual behavior is most like Homo sapiens and on the other hand, the primate species which shares the most non-human characteristics with my fictional Homo intelligens. The reader is reminded that I aim for coherence in the model, not for my 'ideal' society.
HI sexuality is the subject of much leering speculation by non-Nowans, speculation built upon ignorance. Despite many myths to the contrary, Nowan homes are not the arena for wild sexual orgies nor are Nowans obsessed with sex. These ideas are largely a result of misunderstanding the nature of the basic unit of Nowan society, the Family Band and also of the nature of estrus in Nowan females. Sexuality simply does not hold the symbolic importance it does for Homo sapiens. Nowans do not read so much into its practice, non-practice, nor the sexual acts themselves. As with Homo sapiens, it is important for bonding and for pleasure but not in the same ways.
Sex drive in Nowans is largely triggered by pheromones. Without their presence, the sex drive in both genders is much reduced. Even during estrus, neither gender becomes sex crazed fiends. Men can, and do, work around women in estrus with attacking them. Most report it as distracting but not incapacitating. Women, in any case, will use perfumes or scents to mask the pheromones when they are in public. Similarly, a woman in estrus does not attack every male in sight. Pregnancy in HI, is in evolutionary terms, very expensive. Under that circumstance, self control is relatively easy to maintain.
Except during periods on estrus, women in general, are non- receptive to intercourse although not to intimacy. Nowans do hold each other simply for the pleasure it affords. This is often accompanied by the stroking or finger combing of hair, 'kissing' and gentle growls of pleasure. Kissing is not the same as Homo sapiens kissing. Nowans will lick or gently suckle on necks, lips, ears, faces, etc. Deep kissing or 'french kissing' is reserved for actual intercourse.
The lack of general female receptivity leads to the widespread practice of masturbation and of homosexual behaviors by both genders. Living largely segregated as they do, both genders have ample opportunity for these behaviors. No particular symbolic importance is attached to either type of activity. Particularly in the environment of the Men's House, several males may pair off but 'lover' seems the wrong term for these pairings, which are almost always temporary, especially amongst the not yet married. The relationship goes beyond friendship though and the partners usually refer to one another as ttír.lhe.wár, a difficult to translate term taking in the whole range of friendship, brotherly love, and romantic love.
True, exclusive homosexuality is rare in either gender but does occur just as it does for other mammal species. Many Men's Houses have a resident ma.long, (berdache), a male who dresses and acts the part of a woman. As in many Homo sapiens societies, this role is a regular part of society and not treated as being particularly odd. As with Homo sapiens, female homosexuality is much rarer but does occur, often with bands of women setting up their own households in the manner of conventinal Longhouses.
It is sometimes said that Nowans have no incest taboo. This is quite false. They do not have a strict sexual incest taboo but they do have a strict reproductive incest taboo although it is based upon the clan and lineage rather than the Family Band. As in many Homo sapiens cultures, children often play at sex with one another and even with their parents. No harm seems to come from this and especially in the latter case, it ceases with first estrus in females. Most such play is just that, play, it is brief, joking, and exploratory, rather than being driven by lust.
Sexual dysfunction is largely absent from Nowan sexuality.
Similarly lacking are pornography, rape, pedophilia, and most of
the other countless Homo sapiens fetishes. The occasional
occurance of the milder of these things in Nowan culture is
viewed with a mix of humor, nervousness, and anger, depending
upon how severely it impacts the ideal of kol.qá,
Harmonious Existence. On the other hand, both rape and sexual
predation upon children are crimes subject to the death penalty.
In sharp contrast to Homo sapiens societies, Nowans blame
the criminal and not the victim. To the Nowans, Homo
sapiens are sex obsessed and Homo sapiens sexuality is
the butt of many jokes told by Nowans about Homo sapiens.
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© 2001 Brad Coon