101. (October Bonus) Gilmore Girls, Virginity & the Rules for Teenage Girls: good girl regrets & does boys’ virginity even matter? (Part 2 of 2)

What happens when a good girl decides to “lose” her virginity? Can her first time be pleasant or does society force penalties, regrets and guilt onto her? Exhibit A: Rory Gilmore and Paris Geller.

Today we’re back to discuss the portrayal of virginity of some of our other favorite young adult and teen heroines of the ‘90s and 2000s, like Felicity Porter, Blair Waldorf, and characters on One Tree Hill, Dawson’s Creek, and of course, Gilmore Girls. 

Television shows give us an important cultural framework for teens and sex. So, we have to ask -  what’s the role of boys in all this? We explore whether characters like Dawson Leery and Lucas Scott grapple with the same pressures as teenage girls, and feelings of entitlement that boys are raised with. 

It’s a serious topic, but we’re going to leave you with some positivity and hope for the future, but be sure to stay until the end.

This episode is Part 2 of 2.

Content warning: includes discussion of sexual assault and purity culture. Take good care of yourselves, friends. 

✨ This is an excerpt of a bonus episode. To access the full episode, join our Patreon, where you’ll get extra bonus episodes every month. 

Edited and produced by Jackie Procyk and Catherine Bailey. 

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