http://karenrayne.com This blog is an on-going conversation about adolescent sexuality, and all of the nuances and social issues inherent to the topic. I believe...that parents have to talk to their kids about sex...that everyone has sex, and should therefore know about sex...that sex is not all bad, even for teenagers. Read more on what I believe in my This I Believe page. Thu, 15 May 2008 19:05:53 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en While I napped this afternoon, the most amazing thing happened... It takes effect in 30 days.  Read more from the New York Times.  Or, perhaps more fittingly, the Los Angeles Times. http://karenrayne.com/2008/05/15/gay-marriage-legalized-in-california/ Last week I wrote about a book for pregnant teens, and said I wish I had something iron clad to recommend instead. I've thought about that over the ensuing week, and realized that while I don't have one single book to recommend, I do have several that when put ... http://karenrayne.com/2008/05/15/books-for-pregnantparenting-teens/ Ah, good ole Texas. Always a great place for scandals like this one. So here's what happened: A senior named Marche Taylor wore a really skimpy dress and was denied entrance to her prom based on it. And yes, it is really, really skimpy. So I ... http://karenrayne.com/2008/05/14/teen-arrested-for-prom-dress-no-really/ Planned Parenthood has a new education campaign for teenagers called Take Care Down There. At least one blog has questioned whether the site is cheesy - or more to the point whether it is too cheesy for teenagers. And yes, it's highly cheesy. Here are two cheesy things ... http://karenrayne.com/2008/05/13/take-care-down-there-the-new-planned-parenthood-campaign/ Several months ago I had the pleasure of meeting Lux Alptraum (that's her over there on the left). Lux is one of the figures behind Boinkology, and an all around interesting person. Last month, Lux did an interview with me on Boinkology, and I enjoyed the talking with ... http://karenrayne.com/2008/05/12/interview-with-lux-alptraum/ The Body Project is a great book to give you a historical understanding of how American society developed to the point where girls are obsessed with their bodies. The story begins with how the time-line of reproductive development has changed over many years from the mid-teens to late-childhood. The Body Project goes ... http://karenrayne.com/2008/05/09/the-body-project-by-joan-jacobs-brumberg/ Take a deep breath, folks, because I'm about to tell you about a book that is not going to shock or amaze you with the horrors of raising children or teenagers in today's world. Rather, I am going to tell you about a book that endeavors to calm the ... http://karenrayne.com/2008/05/08/what-every-21st-century-parent-needs-to-know-by-rev-debra-haffner/ This is a great book. The full title is actually: s.e.x.: the all-you-need-to-know progressive sexuality guide to get you through high school and college. That's a pretty long title, but long book titles seem to be trendy these days. The title also sets up a pretty big ... http://karenrayne.com/2008/05/07/sex-by-heather-corinna/ Rachel Brignoni set out to write a book to help pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers think through what they want in life and then go out and get it. And she stayed true to that goal throughout this little blue-covered book. I really like Brignoni's premise, her goal. Pregnant ... http://karenrayne.com/2008/05/06/hopejoy-and-a-few-little-thoughts-for-pregnant-teens/ This week is a week of books.  During the rest of the week I will review four very different books that have been sitting on my desk over the past few months. I'm starting the week off Tuesday with Hope...Joy and a Few Little Thoughts for Pregnant Teens by Rachel Brignoni.  ... http://karenrayne.com/2008/05/05/a-week-of-books/