planet of the arts volume 7 issue 7 page 15 coping with lesbianism among schoo By John Mary Originally appeared in the India Express Thiruvananthapuram, India. . Jan. 29, 1992 Submitted by Susan Harman Condensed by Jeff Griffiths -India adopts a 50'S style approach to sexuality Seven students ofa government girls high school in the city were recently found by the school authorities to have developed among themselves a lesbian grouping. They were from the ninth and tenth stand- ards and found time for the amorous acts after school hours. An attender at the school who found three girls in a classroom some one and a half hours after the classes had dispersed, re- ported the matter to the head of the insti- tution. A notebook seized from the girls had en- tries made by one of the girls which tells everything about the group and who all were its members. The notebook belonged to the girl, whom the rest of the group has identified as a sort of headgirl who had a very amiable disposition. Besides other details, the diary also con- tains names of a few other girls whom the headgirl had named as prospective mem- bers but had been kept waiting for they ~ were not “yet big enough.” The head of the institution said that the jottings in the diary point to the fact that the girls were united in a strong mutual bond, which was more thanjusta physical relationship. Theinstitution head, though embarrassed at an incident for the first time in her career as a Government school teacher, felt relieved at being able to pre- vent the growth of the group and at the fact that none from the eighth standard or below had gotten into the group. She felt sorry that that the parent-teacher association may not liketo retain the group cally as the Martina Navratilovas. According to the head of the institution, most ofthe girls were children ofestranged, lower middle class parents, with the fa- ther being alcoholic in almost all cases. _ Exceptin onecase, the parents cooperated with authorities and wanted to shift the girls to other schools. But they pleaded with the authorities not to let anything The main strategy in controlling [lesbianism | must be denying opportunities for homosexual activities by disallowing girls to sleep together or bathe together. in the school for fear that the “menace” will spread. But the final year students would be allowed to write the SSLC ex- ams. The others could join a different school and openanewchapter. The news of the group had spread especially among of the high school classes despite teachers’ attempts at hushing it up. They had sensed what had gone wrong and refer to the members of the group euphemisti- out about their children. Aninvestigation revealed that lesbianism was not an uncommon phenomenon among school girls in the city. Only teachers, parents and children themselves are em- barrassed to talk about it because of the social stigma attached to what is gener- ally perceived as both moral and physical perversion. We asked Dr. Dev Das Menon, the head of the department of psychology, girls Kerala university to give us a more scien- tific view of the whole thing: “The news does not shock me. This is a normal phenomena. It does not require any kind of treatment. The teachers in question need not panic.” “Around the age of ten, children enter a stage of development called adolescence. Thereis a sudden spurt of physical growth in this age. Particularly, the glands re- lated to sex become fully active, and sexual interest reaches its peak at this stage. Consequently, a young individual desper- ately seeks sexual expression and gratifi- cation. But even before she attempts them, she discovers to her chagrin that sex is taboo in society. So she is forced to control it “Control consists of sublimating sexual energy. Not all are capable of doing this. Those who cannot successfully check their sexual impulse, look for opportunities for sexual gratification. If at this time, any opportunity. heterosexual or homosexual presents itself before them, they greedily grab it.” In our country, it is heterosexual opportu- nity that presents itself before the young more frequently. But, making use of this necessarily means generating scandals about oneselfand running the risk of preg- nancy. In homosexuality, there are no such hazards. So, if offered such an oppor- tunity, most girls fall for it.” “Occasionally, there may be a girl who suffers from a glandular imbalance and is more masculine than feminine. If such a girl offers to play the male role to a sex- hungry but meek girl, the latter agrees to play the female role.” One or two girls in a hostel or school can spread this to their peers. Thus, small groups of lesbians may formin these places. Membership in a group gives a girl not only sexual gratification, but also a sense of belonging and a feeling of being adven- turous. These additional benefits reinforce the homosexual.bond. “Normally, adolescent lesbianism is a pass- ing phase. (Of course, the girl with the glandular imbalance must be shown to an endocrinologist). Most girls grow out of this stage. Only if they do not do so even at the age of 20 or 21 need they be given psychological help.” : “Controlling lesbianism consists of mainly of having an eye on the activities of the girls, and breaking suspicion arousing groups. The main strategy in controlling must be denying opportunities for homo- sexual activities by disallowing girls to sleep together or bathe together:” planet of the arts volume 7 issue 7 coping page 15 with lesbianism among scho Seven students ofagovernment girls high school in the city were recently found by the school authorities to have developed ‘among themselves a lesbian grouping. ‘They werefromtheninth and tenth stand. ards and found time for the amorous acts after school hours. An attenderat the school who found three girls in a classroom some one and a half hours after the lasses had dispersed, re- ported the matter to the head ofthe insti- tution. ‘A notebook seized from the girls had en: tries made by one of the girls which tells everything about the group and who all ‘were its members. The notebook belonged tothe girl, whom therest of the group has ‘identified asa sort of headgirl who had a very amiable disposition. Besides other details, the diary also con- tains names of few other girls whom the headgirl had named as prospective mem- bers but had been kept waiting for they were not “yet big enough.” ‘The head of the institution said that the {jottings in te diary point to the fact that the girls were united in a strong mutual bond, which was more than justa physical relationship. The nstitutionhead, though embarrassed at an incident for the first timein her careerasa Government school teacher, felt relieved at being able to pre- vent the growth of the group and at the fact that none from the eighth standard or below had gotten into the group Shefelt sorry that that the parent-teacher association may notliketoretain the group By John Mary Originally appeared in the India Express Thiruvananthapuram, India Jan, 29, 1992 Submitted by Susan Harman Condensed by Jeff Griffiths -India adopts a 50'S style approach to sexuality cally as the Martina Navratilovas. ‘According to the head of the institution, rmostofthegirls werechildren ofestranged, lower middle class parents, with the fa ther being alcoholic in almost all cases. Exceptin one case, the parents cooperated with authorities and wanted to shift the girls to other schools, But they pleaded with the authorities not to let anything The main strategy in controlling [lesbianism] must be denying opportunities for homosexual activities by disallowing girls to sleep together or bathe together. in the school for fear that the “menace” will spread, But the final year students would be allowed to write the SSLC ex- ams. The others could join a different school and open anew chapter. The news of the group had spread especially ‘among of the high school classes despite teachers’ attempts at hushing it up. They hhad sensed whathad gone wrongandrefer to the members of the group euphemisti- out about their children. Aninvestigation revealed that lesbianism ‘wasnt an uncommon phenomenon among school girls in the city. Only teachers, parents and children themselves are em: Darrassed to talk about it because of the social stigma attached to what is gener ally perceived as both moral and physical perversion, Weasked Dr. Dev Das Menon, the head ofthe department of psychology, Lgirie Kerala university to give us a more scien tific view ofthe whole thi “The news does not shock me. This is @ normal phenomena. It does not require any kind of treatment. The teachers in question need not panie.” “Around the age of ten, children enter @ stage of development called adolescence ‘Thereisa sudden spurt of physical growth in this age. Particularly, the glands re. lated to sexbecome fully active,and sexual interest reaches its peak at this stage Consequently, a young individual desper ately seeks sexual expression and graf cation. Butevenbeforesheattemptsthem, she discovers to he chagrin that sex is taboo in society. So she is forced to control it “Control consists of sublimating sexual energy. Not all are capable of doing this. ‘Those whocannot successfully check their sexual impulse, lok for opportunities for sexual gratification. If at this time, any opportunity heterosexual or homosexual presents itself before them, they greedily grabit.” Tnour country, itis heterosexual opportu: nity that presents itself before the young ‘more frequently. But, making use ofthis necessarily means generating scandals about oneselfand running theriskofpreg- naney. In homosexuality, there are no such hazards, So, if offered such an oppor tunity, most girls fall for it” “Occasionally, there may be a girl who suffers from aglandular imbalance and is more masculine than feminine. If such a girl offers to play the male role toa sex. hungry but meek gir, the latter agrees to play the female roe.” ‘One or two girls in a hostel or school can spread this to their peers. Thus, small sgroupsoflesbians may formin these places Membership in a group gives a girl not only sexual gratification, but also as ofbelonging and a feeling of being adven- turous. Theseadditionalbenefitsreinforce the homosexual-bond, “Normally, adolescentlesbianismisapass- ing phase. (Of course, the girl with the glandularimbalance must be shown toan endocrinologist), Most girls grow out of this stage. Only ifthey do not do so even at the age of 20 or 21 need they be given psychological help.” *Controllinglesbianismeonsists of mainly of having an eye on the activities of the girls, and breaking suspicion arousing groups. The main strategy in controlling ‘must be denying opportunities for homo- sexual activities by disallowing girls to sleep together or bathe together.”