| In this current study I explore the first experiences in sex of heterosexual female youth. First experiences in sex have been highlighted as particularly important for the sexual lives of young women, but frequently absent from discussions. Hence, the purpose of this research is to focus in on first experiences in sex from primary sources---the young women who have experienced them. Through semi-structured open-ended interviews with 14 female youth between the ages of 18 and 23, I examine what kinds of ideas young women have prior to having sex and how these ideas change after the fact. By focusing on first sex experiences, I look at main sources that teen women turn to receive information about sex and how these sources affect their sexual decisions. Further, this study looks at the expectations that young women have of sex and how these expectations compare to the realities of their experiences. |
