Femininities in Flux? Young Women, Heterosexuality and (Safe) Sex

Abstract

Academic interest in sexuality and sexual practices has led to a growing body of scholarly work concerned with the deconstruction of heterosexuality. Amid past claims of women's abiding oppression has been more recent work highlighting fluidity and flux in heterosexuality generally, and masculinity and femininity particularly. This article discusses the findings of a recent empirical study of young heterosexual women in the areas of (a) female initiative and desire in heterosexual relations; (b) heterosexual practices; and (c) virginity. It is the consequences of a possible shift in definitions and practices of femininity for young women's experience of heterosex which forms the focus of this discussion.