Thank you for your interest in this project. We are working on a book that explores how women experienced sex during their adolescence and whether historical and cultural perceptions of teen sexuality actually impact who we as women become as adults. Forgive us as the questions may seem fairly invasive, but we are looking to conduct a thorough and meaningful exploration of teen sexuality through the eyes of adult women. Please know that for publication, all personal identifiers will be removed; we are committed to keeping your identity anonymous.
Demographics
Date of Birth:
Ethnicity:
Religion:
Marital Status:
Marital Status of Parents:
Sexual Orientation:
Hometown:
Highest Academic Degree Achieved (location and date):
Experiences
1. Tell us about your first kiss? How old were you? How did you meet and how long had you known your partner? What do you remember about that experience?
2. How many years elapsed between your first kiss and your first experience with intercourse? What kind of sexual experiences did you participate in during that time, and how many partners did you have? Was oral sex part of these years (and if so, giving, receiving, or both)?
3. Tell us about the first time you had intercourse. What kind of planning went into the event? How long had you been with your partner before having intercourse? What other types of sexual behavior had you engaged in with this partner before having intercourse? Did you discuss it with your partner ahead of time? Did you use birth control/protection? Did you enjoy it? What thoughts were going through your head at the moment?
4. How do you think this first experience shaped your overall attitudes toward sex? How do you feel about that partner today? If you could go back and do it again, what (if anything) would you change?
5. Tell us about subsequent sexual experiences during your teen years. How many partners did you have before you turned twenty? Is there one partner or one event that stands out as shaping your future attitudes toward sex? If you could go back and do it again, what if anything would you change?
6. Do you keep in touch with any former sexual partners? Have you ever discussed how your experience with them shaped you?
Family
1. What messages did you get from your family about sex? Did your parents (or other older relatives) talk about it at all? If so, what was the tone of these conversations? Do you think your parents impacted your attitudes and feelings about sex?
2. Did you tell anyone in your family about your sexual behavior? If so, how did they react? If not, why?
3. Did you grow up with siblings? (If so, please tell us their ages and genders.) Did you ever discuss sex with your siblings? Do you think your siblings impacted your attitudes and feelings about sex?
Friends
1. Did you ever discuss sex with your friends? Did you discuss your (or their) sexual behavior? What was the tone of these conversations?
2. Do you think your sexual experiences were similar to those of your friends and your peer group? In what ways?
3. How much do you think your friends influenced your attitudes and feelings about sex both at the time and now?
Society/Community
1. Thinking back on your teen years, what messages about sex were you getting from society? What TV shows and movies were popular and what were they saying? Did you read any publications (magazines or books) that discussed sex? If so, what were they? And what do you remember about these publications?
2. What do you think today’s teens learn about sex from society and popular culture? In what ways is it similar or different from what you learned?
3. Did you learn about sex in school? If so, what did you learn and at what age?
4. Did you learn about sex in a faith-based (religious or spiritual) institution? If so, what did you learn and at what age?
Perspective
1. How would you define being sexually healthy? Do you consider yourself a sexually healthy person? Why or why not? Are you happy with your current sex life? Why or why not?
2. What advice are you/would you give a daughter about sex? What advice are you/would you give a son about sex?
3. If you could go back in time and give the teenage-you one piece of advice related to sex, what would it be?
4. Over all, how do you think your decisions about sex as a teenager shaped the woman you are today?
Last, if we need to follow up with you, could you please provide us with your email address? Thank you very much for taking the time to share your story with us. We are very appreciative.
Feel free to email your responses back to: logan@loganlevkoff.com or mari@armyofgiantrobots.com
As always, thank you!
Logan & Martha
