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"Girls and Sex" by Wardell B. Pomeroy Essential reading for adolescent girls and full-grown Sex Kittens. I’m astounded at the volume of information packed into this tiny little paperback book. Originally published in 1969 and revised in 1981, Pomeroy’s facts are surprisingly relevant today.
How could a book written for adolescent girls teach so much to a seasoned old pro like me?
Pomeroy is very thorough and doesn't flinch in the face of this subject at all. He covers everything from menstruation and anatomy to teen pregnancy to hermaphrodites. If there’s anything you still don’t know about sexuality, it’s probably in this book.
Girls and Sex demonstrates a remarkable understanding of females in general. For instance, in the chapter entitled “A Girl’s Sex Life” the author notes, “I’m convinced a girl will come to understand that she must be something of an actress in life...given three roles to play. One is her role in society...the second is her relationship with boys...The third role is perhaps the most difficult—the role she must play as herself. No actress in the theater could have a more difficult combination of roles.”
At times, though, I sense an undercurrent of personal hostility toward girls, possibly rooted in the author’s own adolescent history. He comes down pretty harshly on girls who “prick-tease” the boys and he grants a lot more responsibility to the female victim for sexual assault than I feel comfortable with. When an older man makes advances on a young girl, for example, Pomeroy cautions “Her silence might be taken for consent.” and “Sometimes girls, whether they know it or not, encourage a man to make the advance.”
I would have liked to see more empowering information given to his young readers about how to protect themselves from or respond to rape. Pomeroy defines rape as “to have intercourse by force” and then goes on to say “Theoretically it’s impossible to rape a woman, but there are all kinds of possible force.” I’m not sure I even understand that statement. Rape is intercourse by force and there are all kinds of possible force a man could use on a woman, but theoretically it’s impossible to rape her? Someone explain that to me. Seems to me force equals rape, and it’s by no means impossible.
The pages of this book contain frank details about subjects girls and women of all ages want to understand. Read it to get a feel for the level of comfort you need to develop when talking to your children about sex. With practice, it should be no more awkward talking to your daughter about sex than talking to your 40-year-old best friend.
Girls and Sex, by Wardell B. Pomeroy.
Review by Tess.
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