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Puberty Blues. Still reality for teenage girls?

Erin Barry

by Erin Barry

12 Sep 05:40am

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Filed under: Puberty Blues, Relationships, Sex, Sexual Assault

83 comments

As fireworks erupt at a night beach party, socially isolated teenager Frieda lays prone and sad in the back of a panel van, while a string of boys “take turns” with her. Others stand around and watch, and as Debbie and Sue wander past they remark: “There’s Frieda”.

Some things have cahnged…

They look back at her for a moment and then turn away, pinky-fingers linked, to rejoin their boyfriends. Frieda gazes sadly at them as the two best friends walk away.

This was the final scene of episode three of Puberty Blues, and at work the following day I mentioned how horrified I was by this scene and many other sexually violent situations depicted in the show. My colleague suggested that the experiences of female characters in the show are not the norm for girls of that age*.

It cannot be denied that female sexuality and feminism have evolved over the last 30 years, including in relation to women’s rights to sexual pleasure. But our progress in these areas should not detract from the fact that unwanted sex and sexual violence still occur too frequently for young women. 

A study of secondary school students by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University  found that 38 per cent of sexually active females had experienced unwanted sex. The most common reason cited for the unwanted sex was: “My partner thought I should”. Followed by “too drunk”.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, young people under the age of 25 comprise over 70 per cent of all recorded sexual assaults. Young women aged 10 - 19 comprise the highest sexual assault victimisation rate, at three times that of the general female population.

Key to the development of healthy relationships is effective sexual education; that engages young people (both males and females) in discussion about safe sex, safe sexual behaviours, and safety in relationships – education that goes beyond the mechanics of preventing pregnancy and STIs.

In their 2011 report on sexual education in Australia , the Research Centre identified that effective sexuality education provides young people with the ability to make sound decisions about relationships and sexual intercourse (and stand up for those decisions), deal with pressures for unwanted sex; recognise situations that may turn risky or violent, know how and where to ask for support or help and know how to negotiate protected sex and other forms of safe sex.

They note that this agenda is generally endorsed by education authorities in Australia and is in curriculum guidelines; but is not consistently taught to all Australian young people.

Academic institutions, advocacy bodies and youth sexuality experts have identified that the national education curriculum, currently in development, provides an opportunity to review how sexual education is delivered in schools.

“The implementation of the new national curriculum is an opportunity to reinvigorate this area by giving teachers some really exciting material to teach, that they can see has real relevance and value to their students,” says sexual health education expert, Associate Professor Anne Mitchell from La Trobe University.

“Connecting it in to human rights and empowering students to feel they can challenge gender stereotypes, for example, or think through issues of sexual diversity, are all valuable ways of enabling young people to take control of relationships and develop a personal sexual ethic.”

The unique value of Puberty Blues lies in its ability to draw viewers into its warmth, humour and nostalgic reflections on retro fashion, food and beach culture; effectively setting up the stage to then ambush them with ugly scenes of sexual violence and destructive relationships.

This is enormously valuable in provoking viewers to consider the serious issues that lie beneath the entertainment.

However, in order to enable these discussions to shift into changed behaviours for young people, it is crucial that our education system provide them with the opportunities to engage in quality, responsive, and evidence-based sexual education that supports the development of safe and healthy relationships.

* I contacted Channel Ten to ask how old main characters Debbie and Sue are supposed to be, having been 13 in the original novel and 16 in the 1981 movie. I received the perky reply: ‘…their age isn’t actually mentioned! Mysterious, right?’ Yes, it’s mysterious - and very convenient.

Comments on this post close at 8pm AEST.

Most commented

83 comments

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    • Richard M says:

      08:16am | 12/09/12

      Yet another fact free feminist whinge.  In fact, girls are doing better than boys by any measure you care to choose.  Girls fill most of the top school results.  More girls are going to University than boys.  In fact, it is estimated that within 10 years, 70% of students at Uni will be girls.  Boys are more likely to die young.  Boys are more likely to be the victims of crime.  By a huge margin, boys commit suicide more often than girls.  In fact, young male suicide is an epidemic in this country which no-one seems to care about, because after all they’re only boys.
      Enough feminist complaining.  Girls are thriving.  Boys are failing.  Society will pay a heavy price for this in the future.

      Reply

    • trevor says:

      08:59am | 12/09/12

      erick returns.
      nothing has changed

    • M says:

      09:19am | 12/09/12

      It is a fact free fembot whinge though.

      She was outraged that a girl would give it up so easily for a group of boys. I get outraged when government throws money away. Christians get outraged when they gays say they want to tie the knot. The greens are outraged when we all don’t kowtow to their socialist utopian ideals.

      Doesn’t mean the rest of society actually cares about what we’re outraged over.

    • Richard M says:

      09:23am | 12/09/12

      I am not Erick.  More importantly, though, can you point to anything I have said that is untrue or inaccurate?  If not, isn’t it just possible that we should declare the feminist war against males over and that they won?  As I said, on any measure, girls are on top.  In the long run, however, even the feminists will find that the victory won’t make them happy because the ultimate impact on society of the failure of boys will be drastic.

    • Sandra says:

      09:41am | 12/09/12

      poor wittle fella.
      did some big bad girl rob you of your manhood.
      poor thing, come here and I’ll give you a real big hug and some zesty man love.

    • Muggles says:

      09:43am | 12/09/12

      Can you imagine the outcry by feminists in our society if 90% of our teachers were male?  Or if girls were routinely underperforming at school, across the board?

      There’d be a condemnation of patriarchal, blokey, boys-club, conservative values.

      There’d be outrage by the Tanya Pliberseks and Pru Gowards of the world.  The usual suspects around here would be up in arms, and complaining about gender oppression.

      But girls are doing OK in school. More than OK.  So who cares about the obvious gender imbalances and the poor outcomes for males? Certainly not most vocal feminists.

      They’re probably too busy worrying about fictional characters on TV, doing things that no normal girl (or boy) do, and using them as examples of real life.

    • iansand says:

      09:54am | 12/09/12

      I’m trying to follow the logic here.  I think that he means that if more young boys are coerced into unwanted sex (hard to imagine, I know) they will do better at university.

    • SydneyGirl says:

      10:37am | 12/09/12

      Richard this article is about sexual education and that young women may be more prone to sexual assault than other segments of the population.

      If you have any facts to the contrary on this please share. Otherwise reserve your ire till a pertinent article comes along.

    • amy says:

      11:05am | 12/09/12

      funny how you didnt mention sexual assult there at all..its still a problem regardless of other issues/non-issues

    • trevor says:

      11:15am | 12/09/12

      iansand
      I think your trip through the possible convolutions of poor little me brigade have yielded gold.

      Standby for the poor little me men’s brigade to arrive en masse.
      The tweets have gone out and soon they will start to badger tory and stage their “occupy the thread” protest.

    • M says:

      11:33am | 12/09/12

      “and that young women may be more prone”

      Are or May? Which is it?

    • colin says:

      11:47am | 12/09/12

      @Richard M 08:16am | 12/09/12

      Oh, yes, let’s all have a good ol’ whinge about the “Unfair” way that girls are now - finally - being treated better than they have been for the last two-thousand-odd years of human history, shall we?

      What the hell is wrong with you? Men have ALWAYS been in a position of power over women. Men have ALWAYS been the stronger gender. Men have ALWAYS et the rules for women…What would you prefer,that we go back to a fundamentalist Taliban-style of treating women?

      I don’t understand the likes of you and the other “Men” on here who complain about the so-called “Power” of women; it seems to me that you are scared of your own manhood or were you all frightened by a female sheep when you were babies? Why is it so damned important that you try to undermine even the tiniest amount of fairness and equality that women are now being afforded? Are you THAT scared of losing your power over women..?!? You all sound like bullies.

    • M says:

      12:11pm | 12/09/12

      I absolutly cannot believe you posted that article rose. Where does it say in any part of it how it is advantageous to be a straight white male besides making childish comparisons to a video game? Not one solid example at all.

    • SydneyGirl says:

      12:18pm | 12/09/12

      Hullo grammar/spelling/ambiguity police.

      Are

    • M says:

      12:33pm | 12/09/12

      @ Colin, Oh goodie.

      <Oh, yes, let’s all have a good ol’ whinge about the “Unfair” way that girls are now - finally - being treated better than they have been for the last two-thousand-odd years of human history, shall we?>

      How is past injustice a good reason for modern injustice?

      <What the hell is wrong with you? Men have ALWAYS been in a position of power over women. Men have ALWAYS been the stronger gender. Men have ALWAYS et the rules for women…What would you prefer,that we go back to a fundamentalist Taliban-style of treating women?>

      Erm, a minority of men have held the power over EVERYONE. Not just women. As for position of power, I know asian families have a cultural meme about the wife being the head of the household behind closed doors.

      <I don’t understand the likes of you and the other “Men” on here who complain about the so-called “Power” of women; it seems to me that you are scared of your own manhood or were you all frightened by a female sheep when you were babies?>

      This is why I think you are a woman. Firstly, you question our manhood just because you hold an opinion different than ours. Classic tactic to try to invoke guilt and get the man to sit down and heel to all your womanly/feminist wisdom, despite spouting little in the way of facts and lots in the way of insults and specuous reasoning.

      There is a power women have over men, its called access to sex. Every woman knows this. Every man knows this. Control access to sex and you control men.


      <Why is it so damned important that you try to undermine even the tiniest amount of fairness and equality that women are now being afforded?>

      Exactly where are we doing that? We are saying you feminists have taken things too far, and the sexes are now unequal again.

      <Are you THAT scared of losing your power over women..?!? You all sound like bullies.>

      Again, woman.

    • Sarahh says:

      12:41pm | 12/09/12

      Rose that article was brilliant, thanks!

    • colin says:

      01:06pm | 12/09/12

      @M 12:33pm | 12/09/12

      And you, M, are simply one more “Man” who has some amazingly skewed view of equality, fairness, human rights and common decency.

      Shame on you accusing me of being a woman as if that would make me a lesser person, unable to have any “Real” opinion on this subject.

      I AM a male, as it happens, which makes it all the more galling to you, I am sure, that one of your “Own” could possibly “Side” with The Others…as if they were of a different species to be trampled under foot.

      So, I so look forward to a day (unfortunately, probably somewhere in the distant future) where misogynist, sexist, misanthropic oiks like you are bred out of the gene pool and we have a world where pig-ignorant 16th Century male attitudes are no longer acceptable, pervasive, or tolerated.

      Until then, I will champion the rights of women and happily point out the sexist proclivities of your type.

    • Rose says:

      02:07pm | 12/09/12

      M, it is a metaphor, not an academic paper, just to give those of you who are a little slow at looking around you and analysing what’s there.
      Let’s give some examples then, firstly, if two people turn up for a job interview and have exactly the same credentials, education, experience etc, but one was Indigenous and one was Caucasian, you can almost guarantee that in any normal circumstance that the job would go to the white guy. If the Indigenous guy was in fact female, gay or from a non-English speaking background, chances are the job would still go to the white guy. Of course it wouldn’t be because of gender or race, they would say stuff about the one that would best fit into the team or that the white guy had some intangible qualities that somehow just edged out the other candidate.
      Look at who is reading the TV commercial station’s nightly news, who has the highest paid positions in most of Australia’s largest companies, who are held up as role models and who aren’t.
      Your other post:
      “How is past injustice a good reason for modern injustice?”
      How is redressing the balance a modern injustice? Straight, white men aren’t entitled to their traditional lofty position and now the fact that some have to work harder to keep up to the others isn’t them being ripped off, it’s just that the playing field is becoming a little more level.

      “Erm, a minority of men have held the power over EVERYONE. Not just women.”
      That minority of men made rules that benefited other men, voting was men only, women had to leave the workforce when they got pregnant, women couldn’t take out mortgages in their own name etc etc etc. Everything was set up for blokes to have control.

      “As for position of power, I know asian families have a cultural meme about the wife being the head of the household behind closed doors.”
      The women only had the power when the men allowed it. I also know Asian families where the father is the head of the household, and where the wife has zero say in decision making. In my home (Australian with Irish heritage) my mum was the boss when it came to the kids but dad was the boss when it came to finances etc.  Families have variations but the legal framework all supported men having control.

      “There is a power women have over men, its called access to sex. Every woman knows this. Every man knows this. Control access to sex and you control men.”
      What an absolute load of shit, there are a dozen ways for men to get sex if their partner is withholding it, most of them legal. Besides which, if men are so weak that access to sex is the key to manipulating them, why would any body respect them?  You show men significant disrespect by bringing your whole argument down to this level!.

      “Exactly where are we doing that? We are saying you feminists have taken things too far, and the sexes are now unequal again”.
      Rubbish, the sexes are not equal yet. There is no doubt that some feminists are too extreme and too one sided, but feminism has improved the world for everyone, its just that some are so self focussed and have such an entitlement complex that they refuse to see it.

    • Tim says:

      02:14pm | 12/09/12

      Colin,
      ironic post is ironic.

      Somehow you have this strange belief that pointing out areas where females have poor outcomes is right and equitable whereas doing so for men is a sign of sexist patriarchs trying to take us back to the dark ages.

      You are far more of a sexist than the vast majority of people here.

    • egg says:

      02:20pm | 12/09/12

      @M, “...and all of this has ________ to do with the sexual assault and bullying of young females.”

      Please fill the gap with something worthwhile, or go post on a thread that relates to your personal issues with women. If you are unable to read and respond to the article at hand, you shouldn’t be here.

    • Tim the Toolman says:

      05:13pm | 12/09/12

      “Until then, I will champion the rights of women and happily point out the sexist proclivities of your type.”

      And happily watch the stats of male suicide climb and shout down anyone who wants to discuss them.  Good work, that!

      I’m personally looking forward to when this stupid victim one-uppedness is consigned to history and issues are addressed based on their social impact, rather than whether the people suffering from them are men or women.

    • Tim the Toolman says:

      05:27pm | 12/09/12

      “it’s just that the playing field is becoming a little more level.”

      Yeah,  That’s it.  Guys who were born well after things have changed are killing themselves and failing school and that’s because…what?  They expected to receive a privilege that they never knew of?  Or is it just that guys are inherently inferior to women?  I’m guessing you subscribe to the old “Men are just women whose brains are damaged by testosterone” joke as being the height of hilarity?

    • M says:

      08:24am | 12/09/12

      Why were you horrified? She could have left the panel van any time she wanted.

      Reply

    • Why? says:

      01:12pm | 12/09/12

      M, just because someone allows a violent act, doesn’t stop it being a violent act. I didn’t see the show but I read the book 30 years ago and that scene has stuck in my mind since.
      I knew girls then that allowed that kind of thing to happen to them and their background of abuse was usually even worse. Thats why its horrific. I’m surprised you have to have it explained to you.

    • Tim the Toolman says:

      05:09pm | 12/09/12

      “I’m surprised you have to have it explained to you.”

      Nothing like a bit of condescension to help the point across the line, eh? 

      “doesn’t stop it being a violent act.”

      No.  It makes it a consensual violent act.  Which is a very different thing all together, and quite legal and even socially acceptable within subcultures and within boundaries.  Let’s see.  Boxing.  That’s violent, but consensual.  Young guys rough-housing for fun.  That’s consensual, and violent.  Violent sex can be consensual, but violent as well.  All can also be non-consensual.  Toss someone in a ring with a boxer when he doesn’t want to fight.  Not good.  Kids bullying another.  Not good.  Rape.  Not good.

    • ByStealth says:

      05:31pm | 12/09/12

      This just in: BDSM is now rape.

    • Emma says:

      08:26am | 12/09/12

      It disturbs me that my young teenage daughter (14) is encourages to watch Puberty Blues by bloggers like Pip Lincolne. I watched last weeks episode and was horrified by the depiction of rape - it’s not “Unwanted sex”, it’s rape.

      Reply

    • Rose says:

      10:17am | 12/09/12

      My 16 year old daughter watched it with me last week, she said (paraphrasing) “How old are these kids meant to be? 15/16?” After which she quickly said, “what is wrong with them, this is not normal and it’s not OK!”
      I have spent years teaching my kids (male and female) that they are the ones who control their behaviour and that if something feels wrong, it probably is. I am pleased that, for the most part, they all seem to have the a high enough opinion of themselves not to get led into behaviours that are potentially as damaging as these kids in Puberty Blues are engaging in.  Fingers crossed that keep being mostly sensible in their actions.

    • Ange says:

      10:43am | 12/09/12

      Emma - I think young girls should be encouraged to watch PB as it hightlights the pitfalls of young relationships where girls try to please other people (boys and girls) in order to be accepted. I would hope your daughter watched that episode and was equally horrified and that it would help her make informed decisions about how she interacts with boys.

    • amy says:

      11:06am | 12/09/12

      isnt the show set in the 70’s? I would have thourght that would be a factor…different times and all

    • Rose says:

      11:19am | 12/09/12

      Absolutely right Ange, kids need to see what really happens.My eldest daughter told me about one of the girls she knew who had given blow jobs to several boys in one group of mates, on one night,  and how now she was firmly entrenched in that group. I remember talking to my daughter about how sad it was that nobody had ever told that girl that she was worth more than that.
      I think though Ange that boys should be shown as well, all kids need to be aware that there comes a time when they are ramifications for your actions, even if you can’t see them.

    • M says:

      11:36am | 12/09/12

      I think boys have been shown and taught enough already. I treat women as equals and respect their right to say no. What more do you want?

    • Rose says:

      11:48am | 12/09/12

      M, i want all boys to be taught what you were taught, just as I want all girls to be taught that ‘putting out’ is not the key to having friends and being popular, at least not in any group worth being in!

    • M says:

      12:10pm | 12/09/12

      I think you’ll find that most of Gen Y think the same as I do.

    • Markus says:

      12:19pm | 12/09/12

      @Rose, “at least not in any group worth being in” is a No True Scotsman fallacy.
      As for the lesson, unfortunately for some girls, particularly those that are not all that smart, or interesting, or attractive, or even pleasant people, ‘putting out’ is their key to being popular.

      Trying to teach them that it is not key when they have already confirmed for themselves that it is, is not going to be particularly effective.

    • Rose says:

      12:49pm | 12/09/12

      Markus, it’s a parent’s job to help their kids grow up with enough self esteem to overcome destructive peer group pressure. Not easy, but incredibly important.

    • M says:

      01:08pm | 12/09/12

      Not always possible rose. Two of my sisters started school at a private catholic girls college, both left after a few short years because of bullying. Both were girls who not only had a great family life, but had high self esteem and positive image before they went to that school. As soon as they transfered to public schools, they transformed again.

      Women are their own worst enemies.

    • Markus says:

      01:14pm | 12/09/12

      @rose, the assumption there being that girls who sleep with popular guys are lacking in self esteem, or being peer pressured to do so.

    • Nathan Explosion says:

      01:36pm | 12/09/12

      @M

      The fact that so many women are sexually assulted shows that many men don’t think like you and I.

      In my wife’s core group of 7 friends, you know how many have been sexually assulted? 4 of them. 2 were family members, one was a random attack and one was a date rape. None of them were reported, and for fairly common reasons - ‘no one would believe me, I was too ashamed, the police said they couldn’t catch him and there was no point, etc etc’.

      So yes, it is still a problem and not every man thinks that everyone should be offered respect.

    • Sarahh says:

      02:12pm | 12/09/12

      I’d like to pose the question as to why when a girl wants to have sex it’s considered “putting out”  but boys just want/get to have sex?  I feel it is demonising sex for girls and teaching them that you’re not really supposed to want sex, only boys are allowed to want sex and as a girl it’s your job to withhold it so they respect you and blah blah blah.  I’m certainly not saying that mutual respect isn’t important, but this mindset is why when a woman has slept with a few people she’s a slut yet a man in the same position is a stud.

      I know it’s a bit off topic, but it just irritates me.

    • Rose says:

      02:19pm | 12/09/12

      No Markus, the assumption is that girls who allow themselves to be used as the sex toys of boys in order to be accepted into a peer group are lacking in self esteem, massive difference.
      Girls who enjoy sex and who partake regularly is one thing, but when certain behaviours are expected or forced and if rejected the non-compliant girl is ostracised, bullied or otherwise adversely treated, then you know that the situation is seriously wrong.
      The only way girls (and boys) can avoid being putty in other’s hands is to have the self esteem required to rise above it and not need to be in the popular group to know they have worth.

    • Tim the Toolman says:

      05:35pm | 12/09/12

      “I know it’s a bit off topic, but it just irritates me.”

      I concur, it’s an absolutely ridiculous double standard that no doubt goes back to control of female sexuality.  It loses much of its power if women are too ashamed to use it.

    • Tim says:

      09:15am | 12/09/12

      “A study of secondary school students by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University found that 38 per cent of sexually active females had experienced unwanted sex”

      Can you keep the faux statistics out if you want to then start talking about sexual assaults?
      It’s deliberately misleading to compare this kind of data to sexual assault data because self reported unwanted sex in a survey are not even close to being similar.

      And I notice that you conveniently left out the fact that ~20% of males had experienced unwanted sex as well. But I suppose that wouldn’t fit your narrative now would it?

      Reply

    • TChong says:

      10:30am | 12/09/12

      my thoughts as well Tim.
      38% of those surveyed CLAIMED they were subject to unwanted attention, not 38% of alledged perpetrators were found to be guilty.
      As you say, a very big differnce between the claim , and reality.

    • marley says:

      11:08am | 12/09/12

      Well, but I thought the point she was making is that both sexes need better sex education in order to make sound decisions about whether to have sex and with whom.  A 16-year old girl doesn’t want to be pressured into having sex, and a 16 year old boy doesn’t want to become a father, either.  Healthy sexual relationships need both parties to be making informed decisions.

    • Tim says:

      01:00pm | 12/09/12

      Marley,
      I disagree.
      If she wanted to make a general point why did only relate statistics with relation to females? The headline of the article? The tags?

      “Healthy sexual relationships need both parties to be making informed decisions.”

      And I think mostly they are, it’s just that people like the author don’t like the decisions that sexual freedom for both men and women have allowed.

    • Alfie says:

      09:30am | 12/09/12

      “unwanted sex” is that the same as, “seemed like a good idea at the time sex”??

      Just askin.

      Reply

    • Muggles says:

      09:38am | 12/09/12

      Wait a minute… was this girl being raped?

      I haven’t seen the show, and don’t intend to, but by the the description given, it seems that the girl was a willing participant. That she was (foolishly) using sex as a way to be “part” of the scene; to be socially accepted.

      Who forced this (fictitious) girl in to this panel van?

      It appeared to be consensual and most certainly “wanted”.  Or have we come to the point where girls wanting sex (gasp!)  is an automatic indicator of sexual oppression?

      And if it was rape, why didn’t her “friends” call “rape!”, instead of walking away?

      Or is this article just a load of bullcrap?  Blogging/editorialising about a TV show that has been created for prurient entertainment?

      Do we really need to analyse the supposed social messages of a show that is designed to show teenagers in sexual situations, in order for the show to make money?

      Reply

    • PsychoHyena says:

      01:04pm | 12/09/12

      @Muggles, this has always been my issue. A woman wanting sex is seen as being a woman under the control of men. Feminists are using sexist attitudes in this situation against their own gender.

      I know women (both submissive and dominant) who are right into the BDSM scene, and yet they feel they have to hide this because they will be accused of their feelings and attitudes being directed by society rather than their own free will.

    • the cynic says:

      03:32pm | 12/09/12

      PsychoHyena says: “A woman wanting sex is seen as being a woman under the control of men.”  Can’t say as I agree to this point, this is not the case. When ‘she who should be obeyed ’ asks or takes I obey no questions there about mere man me controlling her.!!!!

    • PsychoHyena says:

      05:44pm | 12/09/12

      @the cynic, I was thinking more about those like the article author and MTR et al. Those like you and me who have experienced women who embrace their needs recognise the difference between an oppressed woman and a “sexually deviant” woman.

      Generally those that view women wanting sex as coming from male pressure are those that are uncomfortable with their own desires because those desires don’t fit with how they think they are or how their gender should be.

      But here’s the real kicker, only a woman who truly accepts themselves for who they are and not what they are can reach their full potential. Though that of course also goes for males, women (in general) appear to not grasp it.

    • Muggles says:

      09:49am | 12/09/12

      “According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, young people under the age of 25 comprise over 70 per cent of all recorded sexual assaults. Young women aged 10 - 19 comprise the highest sexual assault victimisation rate, at three times that of the general female population.”

      And what percentage of people 10 to 19 who experience assault, are male? And what percentage of that violence is doled out by other males?

      And what are the comparative percentages for each gender’s chances of ending up in jail?  Or suiciding? Or suffering from a Major Depressive Disorder (likely leading to suicide or social/relationship disasters)?

      And what are the percentages, by gender, of people who feel socially disconnected, without hope, without any support? Of people who think that social systems are failing them; that their problems are not being addressed?

      Or we only interested in percentages when it relates to females?

      Reply

    • AJ in Perth says:

      02:08pm | 12/09/12

      Muggles, I suggest you get number-cracking and submit a counter-punch.

    • Jeremy says:

      09:55am | 12/09/12

      Whilst I know that there are many girls who are sexually assaulted, girls are also much more freely promiscuous than they used to be.
      I’ve heard 15-16 year olds bragging at school about who they shagged, or how old they were, or many people watched - some of it was a bit overboard for me. But mostly girls and boys generally just want to explore sex, nothing wrong or devious. Being put in a professional situation where I have been able to talk to them, only the smallest few are doing it for serious lack of self-esteem reasons (which I discourage).
      I’ve heard others say things like, ‘no young teen (15-17) in her right mind would want to have sex with anyone’. ICB. We are rightly encouraging girls who don’t want to have sex not too, it’s damaging then to vilify those that do.

      Reply

    • Jeremy says:

      09:59am | 12/09/12

      p.s. What the F*** is wrong with her friends? I’ve never seen that. Where I live it’s pretty okay to knock on the window and see if strangers are okay when you see a back seat tryst.
      Is it because in those days she must automatically have been a huge slut, and therefore wanted it?

      Reply

    • Ange says:

      11:03am | 12/09/12

      I grew up in the 70’s beach culture of Wollongong and Puberty Blues is very much a true representation of the times. Girls were considered by young men as commodities and less important than their Sandman Panel Van. I dealt with ‘Moles’ at school and minding the towel and wallet while my boyfriend surfed at the weekends smile

      But it’s comforting to see that young women today are much more empowered and confident. Girls today may have lost some of the innocence we had as teenagers but equally they are less likely to put up with the things we put up with and that should be heartening to those who dissmay at today’s generation of young people.

      Reply

    • Muggles says:

      12:32pm | 12/09/12

      “I grew up in the 70’s beach culture of Wollongong and Puberty Blues is very much a true representation of the times. “

      I grew up on the beaches too, and girls having “unwanted sex” in the back of panel vans for a line-up of boys was completely unheard of.

      Yes, there were “good time” girls, and guess what?  They very much wanted sex. 

      (I mean, that’s OK to say right?  We’re at that point of women’s sexual liberation where it’s now politically correct to point out that women actually ENJOY sex? And that some women aren’t too choosy?)

      And then there were girls who weren’t much interested in sex, but were very much interested in gaining the affections of males.

      Of course there were some (SOME!) males who didn’t mind sharing a girl.  And there were many more guys who wouldn’t touch such a girl with a barge pole. And girls who called other girls “sluts”.

      And yes there were rapes.  Committed by an extremely FEW number of males, given the total beach-going male population.

      Puberty Blues was not an accurate reflection of real life. It was spicy entertainment, drawing on real life, but amplifying it for a paying audience.

      “But it’s comforting to see that young women today are much more empowered and confident.”

      Are they?  I don’t think they are at all.

      This generation’s crop of women seem just as self-involved, just as eager to please and desperate for male attention and the adoration of their peers as those of my generation.

      Don’t confuse “confidence” with the ability to speak loudly. Girls still read Dolly and still move on to Cosmo and thus ensure they’ll have self esteem and body issues for the rest of their lives, they still dress up for other girls, they still make really bad choices regarding men, they still get pregnant at the wrong times (but now we have the morning after pill, so it’s not such a biggie…) and they still make all the same mistakes young girls have always made.

      The difference now is that they Twitter and Facebook about those mistakes.  Or their “friends” do. 

      I don’t think people change much.  But circumstances do.  And I don’t think young women today are any more confident or in charge of their lives.  It’s hard to see this supposed “feminism” or “empowerment” given such slavish devotion to self image. If anything, I think the situation for young women has become even worse. They are told on one hand that they are now empowered and free to make their own choices, but then they look at the reality; women are treated by sex objects by BOTH men and women.  And women can be most vicious towards other women. They rate each other on their sexual desirability, their status, the success of their man, their homes, their cars, their iPhone model.

      And when some bitter coot like Greer is attacking the bumsize and dress sense of a female Prime Minister, something is very wrong with the fundamental idea that women have evolved…

    • M says:

      01:04pm | 12/09/12

      @ Muggles, in addition to that, the over riding impression I get from feminism is that women are free to do whatever they want in life, as long as it’s a career.

    • Ange says:

      02:46pm | 12/09/12

      M - Not sure I agree with you there. Feminism had its radicals there’s no doubt about it and they were all about career over everything else. But the overriding initial message of feminism was to highlight the differences between the way men and women were treated when it came to pay, voting rights, access to education etc. Although I have what would be considered a career, I’m not a career person and am only here out of necessity -  can’t wait to escape the rat-race and exchange it for the life of a smelly-bummed hippy in the hills.

      I personally think Feminism is dead (or should be) and is no longer required. That’s not to say there isn’t still room for improvement in some areas but overall I think we have it all pretty well worked out.

    • actually says:

      11:26am | 12/09/12

      I wonder if Frieda was part of the 67.0% of female students who believed that most girls have sex and wanted to fit in rather than the reality that only a third of her females friends have. Wanting to fit in is a huge driver for sex, way more than the 3.2% of females who have sex because her friends think she should or the 8.5% who had unwanted sex because of drugs and alcohol (4% for males).

      Hopefully she was part of the 67.6% of girls who had not regrets at all rather than the 8.1% of girls who do. At least then she would know she is part of the 91.1% of females who wanted to have sex last time they had sex. It would be even better if she was part of the 34.8% of girls who felt fantastic afterwards.

      Just because she had multiple partners, like 27% of females in a single year, doesn’t mean we should look down on her choice, even if her choice was being part of only 4.1% of girls who’s last sexual encouter was in a car.

      Reply

    • Billy says:

      11:41am | 12/09/12

      I share the frustration of some posters that the difficulties faced by men are swept under the proverbial carpet, but I also hope that we might be able to have an article that deals with gender without the comment section turning into the opression olympics.

      We really should be able to talk about sexual pressures on young girls without the majority of comments being about how tough it is for boys when it comes to school, suicide, crime, and so on.  All of those subjects are worth discussing, and I hope they will be, but maybe it belongs in a different article.

      With that said, I’ve been fascinated and appalled by Puberty Blues.  What bothers me isn’t so much the age of the girls involved, as much as the way they are treated (or how they allow themselves to be treated) by the guys.  When Frieda is lying in the back of a van, she is nothing more than a body to the guys taking turns with her.  I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen a slack jawed guy shagging a disinterested girl without even looking at her.

      Reply

    • Scotchfinger says:

      03:10pm | 12/09/12

      you must go to some wild parties Billy.

    • sam says:

      03:53pm | 12/09/12

      “I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen a slack jawed guy shagging a disinterested girl without even looking at her”

      Porn addiction is a problem in our society….

    • SydneyGirl says:

      05:04pm | 12/09/12

      I think Billy is talking about the TV serial.

    • Inky says:

      05:37pm | 12/09/12

      Hah, silver from Scotchy but the gold goes to sam

    • Scotchfinger says:

      07:19pm | 12/09/12

      Silver? *sob, sob* I feel like I’ve let my parents and coach down!

    • BJ says:

      12:03pm | 12/09/12

      The definition of rape seems to be expanding a little bit every day and it is damaging the very worthwhile cause of rape prevention.

      Most people have had sex while drunk. Most people have initiated sex while their partner was asleep. Now that group sex is also assumed to be rape, there aren’t many non-rapists left. Just as people shouldn’t use the term rape as a euphamism for other things (eg that mining company is raping that piece of land), people should be careful about throwing rape allegations around too freely.

      Secondly, it is all a bit paternalistic. Waking up with a hangover and thinking “I cannot believe I did that” might be embarrasing, but it isn’t something that society needs to protect young women from like rape is.

      Women also need to remember that this isn’t merely a discussion about the conditions under which men can have sex. It is also a discussion about when women can have sex. If any group sex is assumed to be rape, women cannot have group sex. If sex with a drunk woman is always rape, then drunk women lose the right to chose to have sex. Lets see how many feminists are hard line on this issue when they also pay the price.

      I am not defending the indefensible. I am just standing up for the fine Australian tradition of stupid drunken sex.

      Reply

    • Ange says:

      12:40pm | 12/09/12

      I agree BJ. Poor Frieda wasn’t being raped. However misguided her actions were she willingly participant and that is not rape. Yes the guys took advantage of her compliance but why wouldn’t they? 

      I think too we need to touch on the age thing that a lot of people are raising. There seems to be a lot of stigma attached to the age of young people having sex (putting aside legalities around age of consent etc).  I was 14 when I lost my virginity in the back of a Panel Van to the strains of Fleetwood Mac smile It wasn’t something I particularly wanted to do but neither was I forced. I became sexually active from that point on but there have been no long term (or even short term) damaging effects. I’m now 50 and have a very healthy and well adjusted attitude to sex and relationships.

      I think we can place too many emotional attachments onto something which is essentially what we were all designed to do and that is rather enjoyable. We have far too many stigmas around sex and society seems hell-bent on making us feel bad for what we feel or want to do and this is more likely to lead to emotional problems than the mere fact of the age of the person involved.

    • M says:

      01:10pm | 12/09/12

      “I think we can place too many emotional attachments onto something which is essentially what we were all designed to do and that is rather enjoyable. “

      And lets be honest about who is placing the emotional attachement and pressue on the first time.

    • PsychoHyena says:

      01:20pm | 12/09/12

      @BJ I agree with everything that you have said, except for the use of the word rape… The word rape is actually the original word to describe steal.

      This use of being inebriated as an excuse is ridiculous. Given that alcohol does affect a person’s judgement does this mean then that people busted for drink-driving should be allowed to go to court and claim temporary loss of judgement due to being inebriated?

      The proposed laws regarding a woman (that’s the specific wording) being able to remove consent after the fact due to being in a mind-altered state (if you ask me, once you’re turned on your mind is well and truly altered towards sex) actually enables the use of a mind-altered state as an excuse for a wide-range of offences.

      Personally I have never engaged in alcohol induced congress, though I hear it can be fun, I feel it’s more fun knowing that the person is choosing you while completely sober.

    • Scotchfinger says:

      05:54pm | 12/09/12

      ‘Most people have initiated sex while their partner was asleep’. BJ, maybe if you paid more attention to the arts of love, you wouldn’t have to wait until she is in dreamland smile Also, perhaps the definition of rape is expanding along with our definition of many crimes, in keeping with society’s expectations.

    • Old person says:

      12:31pm | 12/09/12

      I was a teenager in the 1960’s and although ‘Puberty Blues’ is set in the 1970’s it is pretty true to what life was like for girls back then. The girl having sex with lots of boys in the van would not have been regarded as being raped but she would have been thought of as a slut, particularly by the boys. Girls were as interested in sex as boys but fear of being considered a slut and fear of pregnancy kept most from indulging their desire. The advent of the contraceptive pill in the late ‘60s brought more sexual freedom for teenage girls in the 1970’s. When rape did occur it was usually on drunk, unconscious girls at parties and was not thought of as rape by the other girls and boys at the party. These days I hope it would be seen as rape and would be stopped.

      Teenage girls are interested in sex and more are likely to have sex at a young age these days. They should not be called sluts (perhaps they aren’t any longer) but they should be well informed. The new sex syllabus sounds great because it owns that teenagers are sexual beings and encourages them to think more expansively about sexuality in all of its aspects. In particular I am pleased that it includes all sexual orientations. Hopefully that will help to break down homophobia in high schools and suicide rates in GLBTI teenagers.

      Reply

    • willie says:

      12:54pm | 12/09/12

      Is unwanted sex analogous to self harm or is it more like that last drink. The one that sounds great when you start but goes downhill halfway through and ends with a good spew.

      Reply

    • TheRealDave says:

      01:00pm | 12/09/12

      Sadly, there will always be young girls - and lets not forget plenty of older women, who will willingly lay on their back to fit in (no pun intended) with social groups or be in a relationship with a bloke - no matter how much physical, sexual or emotional abuse they will cop. And we will always have arsehole blokes around who will take advantage of that.

      What can we do? Be better parents. Be better educators. Be better role models. For both young women AND young men.

      I get sick to my back teeth of the whiny ‘woe is me’ blokes around here that seek to turn every thread into a ‘what about Mens rights’ bitchfest every chance they get, no matter how obscure or tenuous the link. Fair dinkum - grow a set, or ask for joint custody of them. I’d be willing to bet the same blokes whining about perceived unfair treatment would also be the blokes 4th or 5th inline outside that Panelvan.

      Reply

    • willie says:

      01:38pm | 12/09/12

      Is unwanted sex analogous to self harm or is it more like that last drink. The one that tastes good when you start gets worse towards the middle then makes you spew at the end.

      Reply

    • Ray says:

      02:25pm | 12/09/12

      It is of concern that early sexual activity is promoted by the socalled sexual health educators. Consequently, it is not surprising that teenage girls feel that they are somehow odd if they don’t indulge in that activity. Irrespective of the use of safe-sex methods, there is a high incidence of sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancies among teenagers. This is because those socalled safe practices are not fail safe, irrespective of what they say.

      Sadly, a high number of those pregnancies are terminated by abortion. Not only does this entail the killing of the unborn baby, but the aborting mothers are candidates for psychological problems later in life.

      In the interests of promoting better health and lower national health expenditure, to which we as taxpayers have to contribute , the sexual health educators should be promoting chastity as the first priority, not early sexual activity and promiscuity.

      Reply

    • Old person says:

      04:25pm | 12/09/12

      Ray,
      Sexual health educators are not promoting early sexual activity for kids. It happens of its own accord because kids are sexually interested and curious. If sexual health educators promoted chastity they would be laughed at and would be ineffective as educators.  Really, you sound like a well known dinosaur named Fred!

    • Inky says:

      04:27pm | 12/09/12

      Ah yes, of course. The solution is to ban things, that way the teenagers will listen.

      As someone who’s actually been through the education system in the last 10 years, unlike Ray here, I can state that they don’t encourage early sexual activity. Rather, they inform of the risks and promote safe sex. And sure, safe sex may be failsafe, but obvious Ray here thinks we’d be better off if they weren’t taught safety and were left to their own devices, which will apparently promore better health, somehow.

      Refusing to teach safe sex practices is kinda like giving everyone a car, a biological urge to drive and then telling them not to use them, rather than teaching them how to drive safely.

      How about we DON’T go back to the stone age? Just as an idea.

    • Tim the Toolman says:

      04:28pm | 12/09/12

      “the sexual health educators should be promoting chastity as the first priority, not early sexual activity and promiscuity.”

      How’s that working in the US….oh, wait…the states spruiking your line are currently recording increasing teen pregnancy rates well above states that undertake sensible sex education programs.  So…it doesn’t work, does it?

      Please stop spreading lies because of your religion.

    • Inky says:

      04:16pm | 12/09/12

      I could only be bothered skimming this, so could someone fill me in, am I an awful person because I’m male?

      Reply

    • Tim the Toolman says:

      05:39pm | 12/09/12

      “am I an awful person because I’m male?”

      More or less.  Unless you’re a male who thinks that men always have it better, and we’re basically women whose brains are damaged by testosterone.  But thankfully, that’s only the view of a very small and angry vocal minority.

      Most men and women are just normal people.

    • Steph says:

      07:18pm | 12/09/12

      Can I just say that at this current moment I am in the the age group of 10 -19 of females mentioned; While I’ve never allowed such a thing to happen to me let alone engage in sexual activity I know there are some girls that do. It’s not feminism - there is a constant pressure on females to conform to expectations by guys (mostly older) there are some very very respectful males - about 70% of guys I personally know but for the remaining 30% if you’re a virgin you’re a frigid - if you don’t “put out” you’re a self righteous b**ch and if you are active you’re a s*** - I have friends who have come crying to me absolutely devastated because they went further with a guy then they intended and only because they so desperately wanted to “fit in” - Maybe Puberty blues is a little extreme as a generalisation but this stuff actually happens. It is not feminism to feel the right to respect your own body and to recognise that there are males out there that view girls as purely sex objects and relish in playing their little games. I’m not saying all girls are innocent but no one - girl or boy deserves to be played. 

      So to the frankly offensive sentiments out there regarding feminism - I do say to those guys speak the hell out and stop the irony - you whinge that we “whinge” just because you have a d**k does not mean you are a villain.

      Reply
 
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