I figured that before I start posting stuff on the new book I read I should probably post something on the first chapter of Prude: How the Sex-Obsessed Culture Damages Girls (and America, Too!). Since the first chapter in both books provided an overview of book I figured it would probably be a good idea to post something on the first chapter.
Carol Platt Liebau starts off by discussing just how amazing the modern American woman really is. "By most measures, young women in America have never had it better" (p. 2). She mentions that girls are more likely to graduate from high school, attend college, and graduate from college. Just a short while ago it was uncommon to find girls on a college campus let alone consist of 56% of the undergraduate student body (p. 3). She also points out how more girls are attending high-level math and science courses than boys. And don't forget about all the accomplishments made during the waves of feminism. So what?
"Given the breathtaking opportunities before them and the magnificent advantages they enjoy, it would seem that American society has treated young girls with enormous generosity. And in many ways, it has. But not all the changes in recent years have been to the good" (p. 3). So what are these bad changes? Well in Liebau's opinion it's the changing attitudes towards sex that the 'do-me feminists' brought into the picture.
“Today, American girls are forced to navigate a minefield more challenging, difficult, and pressure-filled than ever before when it comes to one vital topic: sex” (p. 3). Sex is everywhere” form music, to magazines, to movies, to books, to tv, and even to school. Does anyone remember Paris Hilton’s famous catch phrase “That’s Hot”? Just like her observation, everything from lipstick to cameras is now ‘sexy.’ Sex has basically become unavoidable. Society is completely saturated with it (p. 7). And this transformation into a sex obsessed society began with the sex revolution in the last half of the 20th century. But how could a simple movement with only good intentions turn sour? Unfortunately Liebau does not answer this question with great detail. The point of her book is to examine the negative effects of the sex revolution rather then discuss the history of it. She does mention that the privatization of religion and its disappearance from the public has left girls with little understanding of chastity (p. 9). She also believes that parents today are not as quick to criticize for correct sexual behavior in young girls because they do not want to be seen as overly judgmental or hypocritical. I personally believe it was the free market but maybe I've been influenced by Wolf too much.
So what exactly are these negative effects? What's so wrong with being sexually aggressive? What exactly is so wrong with talking about a part of human nature in the same carefree manner as talking about the weather? Well "this relentless emphasis on sex has eroded the standards by which young women have traditionally been able to win appreciation and recognition for something more than their sexiness" (p. 7). Furthermore, because sexiness is based upon appearance and appearance goes hand in hand with the trendsetters (designers, celebrities etc.) girls become obsessive about their looks; and rarely is an obsession ever considered healthy. There goes the emotional and mental health of girls everywhere down the tubes. And let's not forget the physical health complications, like STD's and pregnancy, girls everywhere face.
She doesn't really say much else. She does go into a tangent on clothing, books, and the media and how they have become sexualized. In later chapters she goes into detail how these ever present elements in the lives of young girls do damage, but her reasoning is not a good as another book I'm currently reading. So I'm not going into detail. However, I would like to share with you her final statement in chapter one (it's really mind boggling): "Like the concept of chastity itself, it seems that prude -- derived from a term that used to denote honor and virtue-- has almost become a badge of shame. Apparently, scarlet letters still exist in American life. But ironically, it's now the chaste who must wear them" (p. 13).
After reading this abstinence promoting feminist book I am left with a few questions. Why aren’t there more books or ad campaigns that aim abstinence at guys? Why does abstinence only apply to girls? Why is it one-sided?
Carol Platt Liebau starts off by discussing just how amazing the modern American woman really is. "By most measures, young women in America have never had it better" (p. 2). She mentions that girls are more likely to graduate from high school, attend college, and graduate from college. Just a short while ago it was uncommon to find girls on a college campus let alone consist of 56% of the undergraduate student body (p. 3). She also points out how more girls are attending high-level math and science courses than boys. And don't forget about all the accomplishments made during the waves of feminism. So what?
"Given the breathtaking opportunities before them and the magnificent advantages they enjoy, it would seem that American society has treated young girls with enormous generosity. And in many ways, it has. But not all the changes in recent years have been to the good" (p. 3). So what are these bad changes? Well in Liebau's opinion it's the changing attitudes towards sex that the 'do-me feminists' brought into the picture.
“Today, American girls are forced to navigate a minefield more challenging, difficult, and pressure-filled than ever before when it comes to one vital topic: sex” (p. 3). Sex is everywhere” form music, to magazines, to movies, to books, to tv, and even to school. Does anyone remember Paris Hilton’s famous catch phrase “That’s Hot”? Just like her observation, everything from lipstick to cameras is now ‘sexy.’ Sex has basically become unavoidable. Society is completely saturated with it (p. 7). And this transformation into a sex obsessed society began with the sex revolution in the last half of the 20th century. But how could a simple movement with only good intentions turn sour? Unfortunately Liebau does not answer this question with great detail. The point of her book is to examine the negative effects of the sex revolution rather then discuss the history of it. She does mention that the privatization of religion and its disappearance from the public has left girls with little understanding of chastity (p. 9). She also believes that parents today are not as quick to criticize for correct sexual behavior in young girls because they do not want to be seen as overly judgmental or hypocritical. I personally believe it was the free market but maybe I've been influenced by Wolf too much.
So what exactly are these negative effects? What's so wrong with being sexually aggressive? What exactly is so wrong with talking about a part of human nature in the same carefree manner as talking about the weather? Well "this relentless emphasis on sex has eroded the standards by which young women have traditionally been able to win appreciation and recognition for something more than their sexiness" (p. 7). Furthermore, because sexiness is based upon appearance and appearance goes hand in hand with the trendsetters (designers, celebrities etc.) girls become obsessive about their looks; and rarely is an obsession ever considered healthy. There goes the emotional and mental health of girls everywhere down the tubes. And let's not forget the physical health complications, like STD's and pregnancy, girls everywhere face.
She doesn't really say much else. She does go into a tangent on clothing, books, and the media and how they have become sexualized. In later chapters she goes into detail how these ever present elements in the lives of young girls do damage, but her reasoning is not a good as another book I'm currently reading. So I'm not going into detail. However, I would like to share with you her final statement in chapter one (it's really mind boggling): "Like the concept of chastity itself, it seems that prude -- derived from a term that used to denote honor and virtue-- has almost become a badge of shame. Apparently, scarlet letters still exist in American life. But ironically, it's now the chaste who must wear them" (p. 13).
After reading this abstinence promoting feminist book I am left with a few questions. Why aren’t there more books or ad campaigns that aim abstinence at guys? Why does abstinence only apply to girls? Why is it one-sided?
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