# And we wonder why young girls are so ashamed of their bodies? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 8, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341 "2005-10-08T21:00:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/1 "2005-10-08T21:00:21Z")
[Albertson’s pull Seventeen from shelves over health feature](http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0923seventeenmag23-ON.html) > [@](#): > > “Explicit” information on vaginal health has prompted Albertson’s stores in Arizona and 11 other states to halt sales of October’s Seventeen magazine. > > Concerned about the two-page “Vagina 101” section, the chain’s Intermountain Division pulled the magazines from shelves this week. What was the problem? > [@](#): > > The magazine’s section on yeast and urinary tract infections, vaginal discharge and pubic hair is meant to educate girls about their bodies. > > Three pictures have stirred surprise. The first is a color drawing labeling eight parts of the vagina. The second and third are photographs of vaginas. > [@](#): > > When Altagracia Rosa saw the pictures, she kept repeating, “It’s dirty. It’s dirty.” Rosa, whose 17-year-old daughter attends Sunnyside, said she wouldn’t want her child to see the magazine. Fuck you, bitch. Women’s bodies are not “dirty”. They are not pornographic, or explicit. They are our bodies. Young women growing up in our society are still being taught that their genitals are something they should be ashamed of. We’re not supposed to know what they look like, or even touch them outside of what’s required for cleanliness. You’d think we’d be past the day that health information is deemed “dirty” or “explicit”. I actually learned quite a bit by reading health articles in teen magazines. Not that my mother wasn’t open about answering my questions. But sometimes, there are things you’re too embarassed to ask about-no matter how open your mom may be, or things you don’t even think about. Some people aren’t so lucky to have parents that are honest and sharing. And we’re not learning this shit in school, even if you DO go to a school that doesn’t have an “abstinence only” policy. At least they get the info somewhere, even if it’s a frivolous teen periodical. Now, I understand that Albertsons is not in any way required to sell the magazine. Fine. But why are factual articles about health issues too explicit, and Cosmo is not? I just hope these girls whose parents call this “dirty” get the correct facts somewhere. It’s too serious to ignore. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/2 "2005-10-08T21:09:36Z")
Let’s extend this policy to Highlights for Children as well. The possibilities for Goofus and Gallant alone are unlimited. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/3 "2005-10-08T21:16:07Z")
I wonder what the SDMB policy would be on providing a link. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/4 "2005-10-08T21:33:38Z")
> [@Garfield226](#): > > Let’s extend this policy to Highlights for Children as well. > > The possibilities for Goofus and Gallant alone are unlimited. Are you suggesting there’s G/G porn out there? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/5 "2005-10-08T21:34:51Z")
Yeesh. Y’know, Albertsons, and their affiliated drugstore chain (Savon/Osco/Jewell) sell dozens of feminine hygiene and health-related items. Several of them come with instructions for use, printed right on the outside of the packagin. In the drugstores, you can pick up a card with illustrated instructions for performing a breast self-examination. I wonder if they’re planning to start requiring plain brown wrappers for all of that stuff. Call my broker, and have him buy as many shares as possible of producers of heavy brown paper. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/6 "2005-10-08T21:42:03Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Are you suggesting there’s G/G porn out there? To comply with the two-click rule, I can only suggest “‘goofus and gallant’ slash” as a google search term. And no, I actually did not know that existed before this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/7 "2005-10-08T21:42:37Z")
Oh for heaven’s sake. I had no idea we were still in the dark ages about women’s health. It’s no wonder we’re so fucked up. A woman’s body is a thing to celebrate and it’s not a dirty little secret. Gah. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/8 "2005-10-08T21:42:54Z")
> [@Garfield226](#): > > And no, I actually did not know that existed before this thread. I didn’t either, but as soon as I thought of it, I realized it probably had to exist. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/9 "2005-10-08T21:57:17Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Are you suggesting there’s G/G porn out there? Gallant practices safe safe. Goofus likes to ride bareback. Like that, you mean? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/10 "2005-10-08T22:02:51Z")
Didn’t Readers Digest run a companion piece to its 1970 Classic “I am Joe’s Man Gland” entitled “I am Jane’s Cootyhole” or some such? Why are we moving backwards in providing information on these bits? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/11 "2005-10-08T22:04:46Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Gallant practices safe safe. > Goofus likes to ride bareback. > > Like that, you mean? :smack: Obviously, that should read “safe sex”. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/12 "2005-10-08T23:15:37Z")
Normally when a publication is banned, or its existence challenged, I’m compelled to review first hand the source of the uproar. Not in this case I’m afraid. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/13 "2005-10-09T00:03:20Z")
That’s funny. I was unaware that Seventeen magazine included material other than embarrassing moments that involved exploding tampons/exploding bladders/bowel eruptions on the moment of one’s first kiss and advertisements for hip-hugger jeans and a rainbow assortment of eye makeup. Y’see, when everyone expects your content to be brainless clothing advertisements and ‘underwear IQ’ quizzes, you can’t throw them a curveball and put out something that might prove informative. Nay, even relevant and important. One who is raised on junkfood is disturbed at the prospect of a nutritious meal. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/14 "2005-10-09T00:24:44Z")
> [@Hung Mung](#): > > That’s funny. I was unaware that Seventeen magazine included material other than embarrassing moments that involved exploding tampons/exploding bladders/bowel eruptions on the moment of one’s first kiss and advertisements for hip-hugger jeans and a rainbow assortment of eye makeup. > > Y’see, when everyone expects your content to be brainless clothing advertisements and ‘underwear IQ’ quizzes, you can’t throw them a curveball and put out something that might prove informative. Nay, even relevant and important. One who is raised on junkfood is disturbed at the prospect of a nutritious meal. Now see, I used to read SEVENTEEN, and other like publications, and they always did articles like this. Like I said, I picked up a lot of stuff I didn’t know about otherwise, that I wouldn’t have felt comfortable asking my mother about. Most of them have advice columns about health issues and such. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/15 "2005-10-09T00:40:44Z")
Not enough rolleye smileys for this one. These are the same fuckwits who don’t want their kids taught about sex in school, and have so many hangups that their ability to properly educate their kids is dubious at best. When are these asshats going to wake up and realize that reading an article or book about their sexual organs isn’t going to result in an instant nymphomaniac any more so than reading about medieval Europe makes one build a trebuchet and lay siege to the neighborhood. Oy! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/16 "2005-10-09T01:29:03Z")
Good gravy this kind of crap steams my noodle! I was a well-informed child/teen, but I too appreciated the information I got from magazines like **Seventeen**. Actually to this day I clearly recall reading an exceptionally informative acticle that consisted of a detailed description of a trip to the gynecologist in the “We Did It” (experiential journalism) section of the late, lamented **Sassy** magazine. [sputter] that is the bullshittiest bullshit I ever… [/sputters] ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/17 "2005-10-09T01:36:38Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Now see, I used to read SEVENTEEN, and other like publications, and they always did articles like this. Like I said, I picked up a lot of stuff I didn’t know about otherwise, that I wouldn’t have felt comfortable asking my mother about. Most of them have advice columns about health issues and such. Fair enough. I remember breezing through copies my female friends had at school and not finding much informative stuff. But then, it’s a magazine aimed at a specific demographic of which I certainly am not a part. I’ll concede my general ignorance. Either way, it’s a silly stunt on the part of that grocery store to ban a magazine for including hygienic information. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/18 "2005-10-09T01:39:39Z")
> [@Hello Again](#): > > (experiential journalism) Is this just a synonym for ‘first-hand reporting’ or is there some difference I’m missing? ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/19 "2005-10-09T01:48:45Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > Not enough rolleye smileys for this one. These are the same fuckwits who don’t want their kids taught about sex in school, and have so many hangups that their ability to properly educate their kids is dubious at best. When are these asshats going to wake up and realize that reading an article or book about their sexual organs isn’t going to result in an instant nymphomaniac any more so than reading about medieval Europe makes one build a trebuchet and lay siege to the neighborhood. Oy! :smack: Tell that to my childhood neighbors, whose garage was laid waste when a text on the finer points of the ballistic principle of medieval weaponry was carelessly left on the coffee table… ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341/20 "2005-10-09T01:56:55Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Is this just a synonym for ‘first-hand reporting’ or is there some difference I’m missing? Same idea, but maybe not synonymous. First-hand reporting is more associated with hard news, and the trip to the gynecologist article sounds like it’s more in the ‘help for your readers’ vein. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-we-wonder-why-young-girls-are-so-ashamed-of-their-bodies/325341.md?page=2)