Girls & Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape

What does it really mean to grow up female in today’s world of hookup culture, viral porn, and mixed messages about empowerment and desire?

In this bestselling and deeply reported book, Peggy Orenstein dives into the real experiences of teenage girls and young women as they navigate sex, intimacy, and identity in an increasingly complex world. Through interviews with over 70 young women, as well as psychologists and cultural experts, Girls & Sex paints a clear — and sometimes confronting — picture of how girls today are redefining their sexual agency, negotiating pressure, and making sense of it all.

From the impact of porn and performance culture to the realities of consent, virginity myths, and campus dynamics, Orenstein opens a much-needed dialogue around what girls are actually facing — not just what we assume they are.

Why this book matters:

• Gives young women a voice on taboo and often overlooked topics
  
• Challenges cultural myths around “purity” and perfection
  
• Explores consent, pleasure, shame, and power through a modern lens
  
• A vital read for parents, educators, and anyone supporting girls through adolescence

Honest, nuanced, and courageous, Girls & Sex is a must-read for understanding the shifting sexual landscape — and helping the next generation navigate it with confidence and clarity.