Girls & Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape

Orenstein suggests that while she’s concerned about the societal policing of girls’ sexuality through clothing, she’s also concerned about girls’ self-objectification. What do you think about these concerns? Are they mutually exclusive? Do you have ideas for solutions?

Katie Roiphe and Christina Hoff Sommers wrote books challenging the notion of date rape. They both took offense to the idea because the expanded definition of rape suggests young women are victims in situations where they have agency. Roiphe, for example, writes, “If we assume that women are not all helpless and naïve, then they should be held responsible for their choice to drink or take drugs” (172). What do you think about this take on date rape? What might be the repercussions if date rape was no longer illegal?

“[W]hen Emily Yoffe wrote on Slate DoubleX that girls should be warned that heavy drinking increases their vulnerability to having sexual violence perpetrated against them, she was pilloried for victim-blaming” (186). Where do you stand on this issue? Do you see Yoffe’s argument as “victim-blaming”? Why or why not?

Orenstein claims that affirmative consent policies create the opportunity to change conversations about consent in a positive way (see page 201). Do you agree? What other thoughts do you have about these policies?

There is much controversy concerning the idea of false rape accusations against young men. Where do you stand on this controversy and why?

What are your thoughts about Purity Balls and abstinence before marriage? Do you see these as harmful or helpful to adolescent girls?

Orenstein explores the notion of “genderqueer,” and suggests a need to expand the boundaries of girlhood—what it means to be a girl—rather than create new genders. What do you think about this idea? Do you see more benefit from building new gender identities? Would Orenstein’s idea be possible?

In the last paragraph beginning on page 231, Denison, the sex education teacher, gives a teenage boy direction on how to have sex so as not to hurt his partner. Orenstein admits her discomfort with the fact that Denison is explaining how to have sex to minors. Does that make you uncomfortable too? Why or why not? Do you believe Denison’s response to the boy is valuable?