Sex Emphasized

Sweden Ponders Relaxed Taboos

By EDWIN SHANKE

* STOCKHOLM (P) "It used to be that marriage led to children," a Lutheran churchman said the other day. "Nowadays, children lead to marriage.'

His comment came in the midst of a re-examination of what effects a broad easing of sexual taboos has had in Sweden.

Social workers estimate that every third bride goes to the altar pregnant. The rates of illegitimacy and venereal disease, and probably those of divorce, are rising.

Peddlers of pornography are becoming bolder all the time. Published estimates put their annual turnover at $8 million to $10 million.

NEARLY every every Stockholm street has shops with windows crammed with booklets and pictures. The portrayal of a naked female no longer seems to be enough. Photos now more explicit.

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Movies show extended nude sequences. Afternoon papers particularly are heavy with sex stories, nude pictures and sex advertisements. Some sample ads: "Homosexual club for men and women"; "Are you looking for uninhibited women eager for sex? You'll find them in the . .Club." Ads from "professional models" give telephone numbers.

A commission is studying laws that broadly prohibit all publications and pictorial matter offensive to "propriety and decency." This principle, Justice Ministry officials say, is open to wide interpretation because of changing public attitudes. But 39 pornographic publications have been confiscated this year, against none last year.

IS THIS flood of pornography and open discussion about sexual freedom damäging Swedish youth and the family structure? Psychologist Aake Edfeldt

says:

"During a certain period of youth, pornographic ii erature and photos are the normal form of sexual experience. In my view, it is a symptom of the fact that sexual instruction in the schools hasn't advanced fast enough, that it isn't sufficiently realistic. Instruction is limited too much to books on biology."

Sex education is compulsory from the age of 7. The teaching manual is under review. One issue is what children should be taught about contraceptives.

"There's no doubt our children have much greater

freedom in sexual matters than ever before,' before," commented a Swedish father, "but at the same time, if it's a comfort, they also know how to take better care of themselves then ever before."

THERE WAS an old tradition in Swedish rural society of getting married only after a child was on the way. Some Swedes say a tradition is tied to the housing shortage. If a baby is expected, the time on the waiting list can be reduced by a year.

Illegitimate children are officially called "born out of wedlock," with equal rights to adequate care, training and education. The mother has the right to be called "Mrs." and she and her baby are considered a family.

Over the last decade, the rate of such births is said to have been between 8 to 9%. During 1965, the highest annnual incidence of venereal disease was recorded since a 1919 law to combat it went into effect.

Officials say prostitution is declining and has little influence on the disease rate.

Compared to other European countries, the divorce rate is relatively high-one divorce every six to seven marriages. Stastics indicate the rate may be increasing.

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