Sexuality in traditional China: its relationship to child abuse.

The sexual and marital history of China for 3000 year is reviewed, indicating a general open humanistic attitude about sex, with little perversion, sado-masochism, or denigration of sexuality. Foot fetishism (particularly foot binding) has been extensive in the past, but less so since World War I. Respect for women and their sexual rights and importance has been related to the low rate of child abuse. Currently, restrictions on sexual freedom and psychological injury to children is increasing in the urban areas (20% of the population) with resultant increase in infanticide particularly of little girls.