[ladysycamore]

Originally posted by OnyxCougar
How many girls in western society are self respecting? It's probably not as many as you think. Teenage girls are bombarded with images of what a woman "should" be, like Jessica Simpson, Brittany Spears, Mandy Moore, or Aaliyah, Brandy, etc.

Ok here is where I feel I have to defend Aaliyah (R.I.P. baby girl). Actually, I'll defend Jessica, Mandy and Brandy too. Unlike Ms. Spears, those young ladies didn't turn on the "sexy" factor until they were just about "of age" (read old enough to start exploring the idea of being sexy). Brittany came out of the gate as a little miss "hottie" with her schoolgirl getup in her first video. And since she became so big at that point, that seemed to be where a lot of teen girls wanted to look "trendy", as you put it. Some of the clothes aren't that bad. Hell, I remember in the 70's there were plenty of young girls I knew that wore halter and tube tops. I would think *that* would be considered "racy" by some, even back then.

All the trendy clothes are (IMO) slutty. If you want to wear trendy clothes (what teenage girl doesn't), you have to have a "body" to go in them, and that means you have to conform to the trendy look.

As someone who would have never conform to the trendy look (back in my HS days, the 80s), I *have* noticed that the body type isn't as "perfect" as it once was. I see now that having a "fatty" and being a bit on the thick side isn't looked down on anymore. I mean, I know that girls will still go on diets and try to be stick skinny, but it doesn't seem to be *as* dire anymore (plus why diet when you can ask mummy and daddy for money for plastic surgery..but that's a WHOLE 'nuther thread!).

The trendy look came about because sex sells. Music sells. Music + sex sells alot. Watch BET or MTV (videos) for 30 minutes and try to count all the girls in slutty clothes, dirty dancing and shakin that thang.

True, but the thing one must remember is that those women are GROWN, adult women, and are able to wear whatever they choose. Young ladies (girls) certainly should not be wearing such clothing, and it's up to parents to make sure that their child is not leaving the house with less than what is acceptable. Now, what they do after they leave the house is the individual's responsibility.

The teenage boys want the teenage girls in the trendy clothes with the great bodies, because society is telling them that is what they want, and that it's ok to have sex.

Not necessarily. It's been my experience that some boys will go after the girls who are no so trendy and great bodies. I had my fair share of offers, I just said no to random sex because that wasn't what I was into.

Back in the 50's and 60's, kids were having sex, but the girls who were having sex were known as the trashy ones, and all the boys knew who were easy and who wouldn't put out.

True as that may be, remember: some guys love a challenge, so not putting out didn't guarantee no offers (or at least, the opportunity to try to get the girl to put out).

Now MOST of the girls are having sex in high school, if not before, and if they aren't, they are ridiculed and pressured. ("What's wrong with you??")

*from the NYTimes article*
"Among them is Caity, a thin, 14-year-old freshman with long blond hair and braces, who says that she is a virgin but that she occasionally ''hooks up'' with guys. Caity doesn't make clear what she means by ''hooking up.'' The term itself is vague -- covering everything from kissing to intercourse -- though it is sometimes a euphemism for oral sex, performed by a girl on a boy. Sitting next to Caity is her best friend, Kate, also 14, whom everyone affectionately refers to as the ''prude'' of the group. Outgoing and attractive, she's had a boyfriend for a couple of months, but they haven't even kissed yet.

In her New England exurban world, where, I was told, oral sex is common by eighth or ninth grade, and where hookups may skip kissing altogether, Kate's predicament strikes her friends, and even herself, as bizarre. ''It's retarded,'' she says, burying her head in Caity's shoulder. ''Even my mom thinks it's weird.'' "
http://tinyurl.com/2xtmm

Weird? weird???? Even the mother says it's "weird"??? Good grief!! Well, that says it all, dudnit?