Prude

Today's featured book "Prude" on MySpace caught my eye. As a performer and writer who does a lot of sex-focused material I was intrigued by this book's title. Written by political analyst and commentator Carol Platt Liebau "Prude" explores how the sex-obsessed culture damages girls (and America, too). Kind of ironic to feature such a book on MySpace, considering the countless underage members posting sexy self portraits all over their pages, right? But I digress.

Here's the book synopsis according to the authors site:

What do Britney Spears, "Laguna Beach," and the best-selling Gossip Girl books all have in common?

Commentator Carol Platt Liebau cites all as contributors to our culture's oversexualization. Such examples cue America's young girls to believe that sexiness trumps intelligence and character at even the highest levels of influence and power.

Liebau argues that relaxed attitudes toward sexuality are damaging girls in their formative years and ultimately harming America by increasing social ills. "Once upon a time," Liebau writes, "'slut' was one of the greatest insults. But now, being a 'prude' is deemed to be even worse."

Smart, timely, and compassionate, PRUDE argues for the restoration of common sense values to our sex-saturated society.

I agree that teens in America are having sex and/or acting sexy at increasingly younger and younger ages is alarming. However I don't see how sexualizing women is new problem to be blamed on Britney Spears and Laguna Beach. Teaching girls to falsely beleive "that sexiness trumps intelligence and character at even the highest levels of influence and power" is an issue that has always plagued pop culture.The MySpace review notes"while Liebau cares deeply about America and its girls, she has an agenda to push. In her perfect world, sex would not occur between unmarried men and women or, presumably, between members of the same sex. In other words, in the name of chastity, Liebau may be after some cherished liberties." While I have yet to read the book, it seems Liebau has some strong conservative views to sell. While I think all opinions deserve their chance to be shared (hence the beauty of blogs an freedom of press) I do wish that there were more published opinions supporting positive female sexuality. Why is it that we only seem to offer girls one of two messages: either "sex is wrong" or "sex is all you have to offer." What about "sex is a healthy and natural part of life?" Or "being sexy and sexual is okay as long you are safe and smart about it?" Liebau is arguing that young girls fear the label "prude" more so than "slut"but in doing so I fear she is somehow saying those are the only two choices for what a girl can be. I have a feeling this is a topic that's going to be around for many, many years to come. For information on helping young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health visit advocatesforyouth.org