Fucking = Freedom?

Rebecca Walker’s article, “Lusting for Freedom,” explores her experiences with sex and relationships, beginning at age eleven. The author, who lost her virginity at age eleven, discussed how sex was a vehicle of freedom and empowerment for her. As Emily stated within her blog, the author was not promoting promiscuity, although it is often difficult to draw the line. Ms. Walker explains that women should be given the opportunity to make their own choices and become familiar as well comfortable with their own bodies. The author is well aware that teenagers will have sex regardless of societal or parental rule. “The question is not whether young women are going to have sex, for this is far beyond any parental or society control. The question is rather, what do young women need to make sex a dynamic, affirming, safe and pleasurable part of our lives?” (Walker 23). I share certain similarities and differences with Ms. Walker. Individuals are going to have sex. Therefore, a network should be developed in order to make women, as well as men, more aware of their bodies and sexual possibilities. Ms. Walker’s sexual behavior can be classified as promiscuous. An eleven year old is too young to make this decision. A decision that one may make at eleven may be regretted five years later. While sex and sexuality may be liberating, participation needs to be an educated choice. Many women feel that they need to openly embrace sex for acceptance. More accurate information needs to be available so that individual can be aware of their choices and the potential outcome of their actions. Sexual activity between partners is for late adolescents as well as adults who well aware of the decisions they are making. Sexual participation should always be voluntary.

Sonia Shah shares her experience of growing up in a suburban Indian family within her article, “Tight Jeans and Chania Chorris.” As a feminist, she was disgusted by her sister’s narcissism and self-objectification. This disgust often transitioned into jealousy. It was impressive that as a feminist, the author was still supportive of her sister’s sexual endeavors and tried to educate her sister with respect to sexual activities. The author comes to terms with her sometimes rash thinking near the end of the article. “I was analyzing the situation on white feminism’s terms, which don’t recognize cultural duality. So I though my sister was buying into sexist myths about beauty and female sexuality, when she was seeking an appropriate cultural expression of her sexuality in a society that doesn’t recognize anything outside the monoculture of “Americanism”’ (Shah 228). One must acknowledge that sex is a common activity within society. Its participants, though, deserve a valid education. Propaganda needs to be separated from factual information.