New research based on the interviews of 70 young women between the ages of 15 and 20 explores their attitudes and early experiences with physical intimacy.
It was found that pop culture sexualizes young women by creating undue pressure to look and act sexy. These pressures affect both the sexual expectations that girls put on themselves and the expectations boys project onto them. Girls are often navigating between being considered “slutty” or a “prude,” and that their own desires were often lost in the shuffle. It can be difficult for them to find a comfortable spot between slutty and prude.
In addition, girls are being taught to please their partners without regard to their own desires and pleasure.
Parents can help by speaking about girls anatomy. Some parents will jump from their daughter’s navel to their knees without mentioning other body parts. It is important and helpful to have language to use in sorting out one’s feelings. In addition, parents could try to help their daughters sort out their own desires and their own pleasure in addition to discussing the potential dangers of engaging in various sexual acts. And of course, parents need to speak to their boys about their desire and also pleasing their partner.
Read more…http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/03/29/472211301/girls-sex-and-the-importance-of-talking-to-young-women-about-pleasure?