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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
I highly recommend it. It made me question how the different generations have been brought up and educated about sex, which is to say, there was or has been no education. I also question if I will be ready to break the trend. For the sake of my children, I hope so.
Not my cup of tea for writing style. But there was really good information!!
I did it! Whew. It's amazing how I can read a 200-page fiction book in two days, but this one took me some time. My reading tactic started by reading a little bit at night before bed, but this book is, at times, a difficult bedtime story. That being said, it's must-read material for just about everyone. I found myself reflecting on my own sex education classes, wishing I had a more open dialogue with my parents and even my friends about sex, and how important it is to talk about this stuff. It should not be so taboo. Lots of discussion of consent, pleasure, identity throughout these pages told from real people and their true experiences.
I wish I had had this book in high school, and god, I hope that sex ed is better in my school district than it was back then. (But even as an adult and particularly with the "letter to my rapist" going viral, it's an invaluable tool. And how as girls we are brought up to be polite and lovely, which seems to translate into never saying no. It's so dangerous. I hate this, and shifting that thinking is something I have to work on every day in multiple life situations.) Also a great reminder of how important it is to communicate with your partner AT ANY AGE. It doesn't just end at some point.
I wish I had had this book in high school, and god, I hope that sex ed is better in my school district than it was back then. (But even as an adult and particularly with the "letter to my rapist" going viral, it's an invaluable tool. And how as girls we are brought up to be polite and lovely, which seems to translate into never saying no. It's so dangerous. I hate this, and shifting that thinking is something I have to work on every day in multiple life situations.) Also a great reminder of how important it is to communicate with your partner AT ANY AGE. It doesn't just end at some point.
Should be required reading for all teenagers (female AND male) and their parents.
I could have done without Orenstein's White Feminist editorializing, which — up to the point I read — was at least 45% of the book? Eventually, it was the main reason I couldn't finish reading.
While her interviews and anecdotes were interesting and informative, her blatant failures at intersectionality verged on appalling. Praise for Lena Dunham baring her body but censure for Beyoncé doing the same because she's more ~conventionally attractive? How transparent. Let's ignore how designers refused to dress Beyoncé's body type for years, how her skin has been lightened in advertisements, and how infrequently black women in general are considered attractive because they don't meet our society's Euro-centric standards of beauty. For me, this one's a dud. Literally the only thing that keeps this from being a one-star book is the inclusion of a wide range of interviewees.
While her interviews and anecdotes were interesting and informative, her blatant failures at intersectionality verged on appalling. Praise for Lena Dunham baring her body but censure for Beyoncé doing the same because she's more ~conventionally attractive? How transparent. Let's ignore how designers refused to dress Beyoncé's body type for years, how her skin has been lightened in advertisements, and how infrequently black women in general are considered attractive because they don't meet our society's Euro-centric standards of beauty. For me, this one's a dud. Literally the only thing that keeps this from being a one-star book is the inclusion of a wide range of interviewees.
Inspired by reading “Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen.” Trying to figure out how best educate my tween/teen and learning along the way. Wealth of information - last chapter, best chapter.
Fascinating book that everyone should read. Knowledge and awareness on the topic is key.
This book has a great balance of statistics and anecdotes, making it a quick read - which I'd say was quite enjoyable, though the topic wasn't always so.
Overall, I'm incredibly glad I picked up this book, reccomend it highly, and do not regret a single moment, despite the strange looks I got while reading it.
This book has a great balance of statistics and anecdotes, making it a quick read - which I'd say was quite enjoyable, though the topic wasn't always so.
Overall, I'm incredibly glad I picked up this book, reccomend it highly, and do not regret a single moment, despite the strange looks I got while reading it.
it was sooo meh. like some parts were really good but I wouldn’t recommend it to people
I don’t really have any wise words of review other than I just think this is a really, really great book. It doesn’t have any answers, it’s not a heavily scientific book as much of it is antidotal but I don’t think those are a detriment to the book. I think every woman of every age can find something relatable in here and I think it’s a timely reminder to those of us currently raising children. (A reminder that we owe it to our children - male and female both - to have tough and uncomfortable conversations with our kids.)
I have thoughts! So many that I will now vent them into a rambling review! After enjoying Peggy Orenstein’s Schoolgirls, I was excited to read this book. Unfortunately, I did not love it. There were nuggets of really good stuff in here — some of her observations about virginity, sexual assault, double standards between boys’ and girls’ treatment among peers at school, were intriguing. But ultimately Orenstein’s disposition throughout the book is what really turned me off.
Maybe she lost me when she sincerely praised fathers who take their 13-year-old daughters off to Purity Balls for “at least having conversations with their daughters about sex at all, even though I disagree with the message.”
Maybe she lost me when she sincerely praised fathers who take their 13-year-old daughters off to Purity Balls for “at least having conversations with their daughters about sex at all, even though I disagree with the message.”