I felt that Gwenn's case might well be one the resolution of which could provide important insights into other cases. As such, I was able to have my psychologist
friend interview Miss Henderson without accepting a fee. The meeting was arranged and he was able to speak at great length with her. During a series of interview and consultations with her, he was able not only to verify the validity of the actions which she had previously told me, but was presented with her diary as well. She indicated to him that she was willing to have me publish the diary in order to ease the minds of girls who may be suffering the same emotional problems as herself.
Although Gwenn's desire for the feeling of a male penis in her mouth may be somewhat stronger than usual, the act itself is not, of course, so unique. It is, after all, only a variation from the "standard" position usually assumed by human beings during the act of love. And that position is far from universal.
According to Maxine Davis, in her book, The Sexual Responsibility of Women, other cultures have decidedly different ideas about what IS "standard."
She writes, "The most usual position in this country and in England is the man above and the woman beneath… " The author then adds that, "Many people have the impression that any other is abnormal if not an actual perversion. Nobody is certain just where that idea came from but it has been widespread for centuries." Contrasting this view with that of another culture, the author points out, "Some primitive people in the Southwest Pacific islands even think (the "standard" position) is comical and call it the "missionary position."
In a 1962 article in Sexology Magazine entitled "What is 'Normal' Sex Behavior?" Albert Ellis writes, "Normal sex behavior, from whatever point one views it, amounts, in the last analysis, to socially approved sex behavior. For any group to state, therefore, that certain sex acts are 'abnormal,' 'immature,' or 'immoral,' or 'biologically unsound,' is for this group to make this act what it has been declared to be for most of the individuals living within the group who (consciously or unconsciously) are influenced by its statements.".
Unfortunately for Gwenn, her mother obviously regarded the act of fellatio with such an attitude. And this feeling resulted in Gwenn's unusually strong desire for the act.
On one level, of course, we may view Gwenn as simply an extremely promiscuous young woman. But to dismiss her problem that perfunctorily would be an injustice not only to her, but to the precepts of psychiatry as well. We should not be concerned so much with labeling a person's psychological malady as with investigating the relevant underlying causes of it, and, hopefully, with correcting or curing it. Unfortunately, it proved impossible to actually cure Gwenn, for she suffered from a self-perpetuating, traumatically induced erotic compulsion. She did not really desire to behave differently, in other words;
She was at least able to consciously understand the motivation behind her sexual excesses and this in itself was some comfort to her. Today she is as happy and
productive as possible, under the circumstances, and she lives a relatively normal life in spite of her depraved erotic acts.
Although she allowed herself to be involved in many different kinds of sexual relationships with many partners, sometimes even enjoying coitus to some extent, the ultimate experience of a better and grander orgasm dangled in front of her like a carrot on a string-always desired but never attainable.