THE SEX INSTINCT

     The feeling of hunger which animals and human beings have drives them to seek food.  The sex instinct leads them to create life and continue the race.  There exists between men and women a strong attraction.  This attraction is often described by the word love.  Love is due in a large measure to the sex instinct.  All the fine emotions such as love of mother for a child, of husband and wife, friendship, devotion to a great cause, and the joy which one finds in every day work are closely related to it.

     For the boy and for the girl the creative or sex impulse finds satisfaction in constructive activities.  School work, reading interesting books of romance and adventure, clubs, games, outdoor sports with boys and girls, all furnish outlets for creative energy.  Such outlets are also to be found in hobbies, the making of collections, or the cultivation of special talents in dramatics, music and painting.  These hobbies have the additional advantage of helping a girl to make herself a distinct individual.  If she participates in pageants or plays or debating, or is known as a girl who paints posters, she is somebody, and therefore has more respect for herself and receives more respect from others.  The unmarried woman finds an outlet for her creative energy in work, recreation and service for others.  But because this impulse is related to the creation of new life its most complete expression is found in building up a home and family.

     The sex instinct is a tremendous power in life.  Used rightly it will bring to the individual and to the race the greatest joy; used wrongly it will  not only fail to produce this result, but also it will probably lead to serious suffering and unhappiness.