As a romance writer, I deal with a very different kind of innocence than this #BlogFlash2013 image portrays.
Sexual innocence is an especially complex topic nowadays. Mixed messages are sent to and about women – a girl who has sex is promiscuous or adventurous; one who doesn't is prudish or virtuous.
Media addressing this topic of abstaining from premarital sex frequently have the heroine "slip" – have sex – and then "re-virginize", which I find deplorable, as it teaches either that it is impossible to remain a virgin by choice regardless of one's convictions, or that, once one has sex, amends must be made.
I totally agree; the view of women and sex needs to be on an equal footing with men. A healthy attitude to sex is what's needed without the labels. A very interesting post. x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lizzie!
DeleteIn some ways, it's almost worse for men - an 18 year old female virgin is either prudish or virtuous, depending on whom you ask, which gives her a choice of how to approach the situation. An 18 year old male virgin, though? "What a loser." I'm not sure we want to make everyone equally feel that the only acceptable option is to have lots of sex...
I write erotic fiction under a penname and I happy that my heroines (and heroes) have never had this issue. It is a stereotype that is long-since due for removal.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I also like to infuse innocence into encounters between experienced couples. It's great to have a man who has known this woman for two years stop and admire a feature that he pays little notice. Those are the scenes and emotions that make me sigh and smile
That is so true that even two experienced individual face a type of innocence when they first come together that can make the encounter either incredibly intimate or amusingly awkward.
DeleteVery interesting indeed. Yes, sex is portrait in such mixed ways today, it's no wonder so many (especially younger people) are so confused with it.
ReplyDelete