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Promiscuity, Illegitimacy, and Abortion

Promiscuity is neurotic; it is a constant change of partner in the hope of finding the right partner at last. But the right partner never is found, for the fault lies in the impotent, neurotic attitude of the Don Juan or his female counterpart.

If the term free love has a sinister meaning, it is because it describes sex that is neurotic. Promiscuous sex--the direct result of repression--is always unhappy and shameful. Among a free people, free love would not exist.

Repressed sex will attach itself to any likely object: a glove, a handkerchief, anything connected with the body. Thus, free love is promiscuous because it is lust without tenderness or warmth or real affection.

A young woman, after a period of promiscuity, said to me, "With Bill I have an orgastic life for the first time." I asked why this was the first time. "Because I love him and I didn't love the others."

There is a tendency among those children who come late to Summerhill (thirteen or over) to be promiscuous in desire if not always in practice. The roots of promiscuity go far back in a child's life. The chief thing we know is that they are unhealthy roots. Such behavior leads to variety, but seldom to fulfillment and almost never to happiness.

Real freedom in love does not lead to promiscuity. Love may not last forever. However, with healthy people while love does last, it is true and loyal and happy.

The illegitimate child often has a hard road to travel. To tell him, as some mothers do, that his father was killed in the war or died of disease is definitely wrong. He develops a sense of

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Publication Information: Book Title: Summerhill: A Radical Approach to Child Rearing. Contributors: A. S. Neill - author. Publisher: Hart Publishing. Place of Publication: New York. Publication Year: 1960. Page Number: 236.
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