Open    Access



Mesmerism, Sexuality, and Medicine: “Karezza” and the Sexual Reform Movement






Author(s)

Heinz Schott

Full-Text PDF XML     1324 Views

DOI:10.17265/2328-2177/2015.04.004

University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

Within the scope of certain social and religious movements, mesmerism had a considerable impact on the American way of life during the last decades of 19th century. A famous example is the Christian Science of Mary Baker Eddy. But also less known groups adopted mesmeric ideas and practices. The paper focuses on the concept of “Karezza”. It combined a specific sexual practice with religious ideas of divine love, birth control, social reform, women’s emancipation and health education. It was created by Alice Bunker Stockham (1833-1912), an obstetrician and gynecologist from Chicago. Among other authorities, the writer Leo Tolstoy and medical psychologist Havelock Ellis appreciated her approach. She was a pioneer of the sexual and marriage reform promoting practical advice for everyday life. As a doctor, she stressed especially the disastrous consequences of a brutal sexual life destroying body and mind (not only of the women). As an antidote, she propagated the “Karezza love” avoiding ejaculation ad a punctual orgasm (climax) during intercourse. The leading idea was the imagery of a mesmeric “fluidum” uniting individuals spiritually. Bunker’s publications were translated into German. They corresponded to the Lebensreform movement, but never became popular. Also the early sexology about 1900 ignored Bunker’s concept as well as the sexual medicine later on. It is worthwhile to reconsider it within the context of the history of medicine, culture, and anthropology.

mesmerism, sexuality, Karezza, Alice Bunker Stockham (1833-1912), sexual reform, Lebensreform movement, women’s emancipation