Threats to Girlhood
Threats to Girlhood
If members of peer groups or cliques are having sex with their boyfriends, girls feel pressure to conform and engage in sex with their boyfriends as well. Saying no to sex can jeopardize a girl’s relationship with her entire circle of friends in addition to her relationship with her boyfriend.121 2000.122
Conformism
A Girls Inc. study revealed that girls feel an intense pressure to fulfill the role of a “good girl” which demands that girls must be followers instead of leaders, skinny, wealthy, popular, always be busy, not have an opinion or not share their opinion, have a façade that never cracks, always follow the rules, and be a people pleaser.123 The pressure to conform to this good girl role, the pressure to be perfect, please everyone, do everything right, and never make waves, “leaves many girls uncomfortable with feedback and failure” which makes it more difficult for girls to work through difficulties and overcome challenges.124 The pressure to conform to this good girl role causes many girls to “hide their true feelings, go behind each other’s back, and explode in uncontrolled anger.”125 What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids.” New York: Ballentine Books, 2008. P. 43; Maria Puente. “From the Sandbox to the Spa.” USA Today. August 1, 2006. 121 Kuttler, Ami Flam; and Annette M. La Greca University of Miami, P.O. Box 249229, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA 122 Simmons, Rachel. “The Curse of the Good Girl: Raising Authentic Girls with Courage and Confidence.” New York: Penguin P., 2009. p.3. 123 Simmons, Rachel. “The Curse of the Good Girl: Raising Authentic Girls with Courage and Confidence.” New York: Penguin P., 2009. p. 2-6. 124 Simmons, Rachel. “The Curse of the Good Girl: Raising Authentic Girls with Courage and Confidence.” New York: Penguin P., 2009. p. 2-6. 125 Simmons, Rachel. “The Curse of the Good Girl: Raising Authentic Girls with Courage and Confidence.” New York: Penguin P., 2009. p. 7.
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