(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
 . . . . . . . . . .



A short essay about birth control and the phenomena of Good Girls Do. [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags']

Date: 2023-04-12  

The social phenomenon of "Good Girls Do" refers to the societal expectation that women must adhere to a specific set of behaviors and attitudes to be considered "good" or virtuous. This expectation often extends to women's sexual behavior and can lead to shame, guilt, and judgment if women do not conform to societal expectations. The development and availability of birth control have had a significant impact on challenging this phenomenon and allowing women to make informed decisions about their sexual health without the fear of societal backlash.

Before the advent of modern birth control, women's sexual behavior was often heavily regulated and controlled by societal norms. Women were expected to remain virgins until marriage and then become sexually active only within the confines of a heterosexual marriage. Women who did not conform to these expectations were often labeled as "sluts" or "whores" and were subject to social ostracism and condemnation. These societal norms were particularly oppressive for women, as they were often held to different standards than men, who were free to engage in sexual activity without the same level of scrutiny.

The availability of birth control methods has allowed women to take control of their own reproductive health and make informed decisions about their sexual lives. Women who have access to birth control are able to engage in sexual activity without the constant fear of pregnancy, which allows them to explore their sexuality and make choices based on their own desires and preferences. Additionally, birth control allows women to plan their families and pursue their educational and career goals without the fear of social stigmatization or financial insecurity.

The availability of birth control has also challenged the societal expectations placed on women's sexual behavior. Women who choose to engage in sexual activity outside of marriage or who have multiple sexual partners are no longer subject to the same level of social condemnation as they once were. The ability to control their reproductive health has given women the agency to make choices based on their own desires, rather than societal expectations.

The development and availability of birth control have challenged the societal phenomenon of "Good Girls Do" and given women the agency to make informed decisions about their sexual health. By allowing women to control their reproductive health, birth control has empowered women to make choices based on their own desires and preferences, rather than conforming to societal norms. As a result, women are better able to explore their sexuality, plan their families, and pursue their educational and career goals, leading to greater gender equality and empowerment.

In other words, “No means no, yes means yes."

In my youth, this concept was not recognized by men. The idea that a woman would not want to take the risk to her reputation without being “persuaded”, i.e., aroused to the point of acceding to sex, was the norm. “No” could be the beginning of negotiation, not the end. Ideally, a woman’s trust was not betrayed by acquiescence, i.e. “A gentleman never tells.”, but often the urge to brag was also not uncommon.

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/4/12/2163564/-A-short-essay-about-birth-control-and-the-phenomena-of-Good-Girls-Do

Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/