Several times in the chapter it came up that parents both feel uncomfortable talking about the specifics of puberty with their kids and that the expectation often exists for schools to take the full responsibility of explaining puberty to kids. This is really just sad. I think the importance of real parental involvement and parent/child communication is really underappreciated in our country. This is an issue that seems to cross racial and socio-economic lines and is prevalent throughout the nation. While I believe that schools should absolutely incorporate sexual education into the curriculum for students, parents need to step up to the plate and do something to change the stereotypical view of puberty as a frightening, mysterious process. Open communication about the fact that EVERYONE goes through it and the specifics of what it involves seems to be a pretty easy or at least tesion-easing fix. The wonderful world of literature even provides a plethera of book options both geared toward the kids themselves as well as toward parents who don't really know where to begin the puberty conversation. I think this proves that we are making progress from the comment in the chapter from a woman who believed herself to be hemmorhaging during her first menses experience. At least there is hope that someday we will change this unfortunate circumstance.
A bit of a tangent--Who was glad that our society frowns upon the rubbing of stinging nettles all over the bodies of adolescent girls and then shoving one in her vulva for good measure? I sure was. OUCH!
One more tangent--There were SEVERAL typos in this chapter, the stupid little ones that if any educated person read over once they would notice. It really bothers me that we pay hundreds of dollars for books that haven't even been proofread. There is something wrong with this! GRRRR!!!
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You are absolutely right!! About the books and the education thing. I agree that sexual education needs to be taught in the home and reinforced at school. The only problem is that it is a very sensitive area and some people are either too afraid to talk to their kids or else it goes against some sort of belief they have, mostly religious. Obviously, talking about puberty shouldn't be a problem, but it can lead to conversations about sex. Although, you'd think with t.v. being as risky and garbage-filled as it is today, that parents would feel like they WANT or HAVE to talk to their kids.
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