--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sharon had seen a penis, but it was her…" description: "\"“Sharon had seen a penis, but it was her brother's so it didn't count. Carol was the only girl in our group who had touched a real one…Carol said the p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/032/allison-pearson-10663_tissue-paper_sharon-had-seen-a-penis-but-it-was-her-b_1583426.jpg" --- # Sharon had seen a penis, but it was her brother's so it… ![“Sharon had seen a penis, but it was her brother's so it didn't count. Carol was the only girl in our group who had touched a real one…Carol said the penis felt like eyelid skin. Could that be right? For weeks after she told us, I would brush a finger over the skin above my eye and I would marvel…” quote by Allison Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/032/allison-pearson-10663_tissue-paper_sharon-had-seen-a-penis-but-it-was-her-b_1583426.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/032/allison-pearson-10663_tissue-paper_sharon-had-seen-a-penis-but-it-was-her-b_1583426.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/032/allison-pearson-10663_tissue-paper_sharon-had-seen-a-penis-but-it-was-her-b_1583426.jpg) > ““Sharon had seen a penis, but it was her brother's so it didn't count. Carol was the only girl in our group who had touched a real one…Carol said the penis felt like eyelid skin. Could that be right? For weeks after she told us, I would brush a finger over the skin above my eye and I would marvel that something that was made of boy could be so silky and fine, like tissue paper.”” [Allison Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pearson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A young woman’s curiosity about male anatomy leads to a personal, sensory metaphor, highlighting innocence and the strange intimacy of discovery **In simple terms:** A girl compares a penis to delicate skin, reflecting curiosity and wonder Key Takeaway Recognize the wonder in learning about bodies Themes curiosity sexual awakening body awareness Mood reflective introspective Type literary exploratory When to use this quote - sexual education - adolescent discussions - body positivity Key Concepts Sensory metaphor gender perception Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape our perception of the body? - When does curiosity become discomfort? A Different Perspective Metaphors may oversimplify complex experiences ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“Yeah, about a guy who was jogging by you this morning. 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Theia: "Did you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-hayes/theia-we-re-very-high-up-here-aren-t-we-haden-well-you-certainly-are/) [Gwen Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-hayes/) > [The dignity of man was everywhere tissue-paper thin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/the-dignity-of-man-was-everywhere-tissue-paper-thin/) [Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/) > [“With my wet hair wrapped in a towel, I retrieved the tray of food, placed it on the coffee table, and breathed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-dobson/with-my-wet-hair-wrapped-in-a-towel-i-retrieved-the-tray-of-food/) [Melanie Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-dobson/) > [“I’m going to destroy you, little man!" Sourcefield yelled after me. 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The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/an-oncology-ward-is-a-battlefield-and-there-are-definite-hierarchies/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“I wanted to wrap that moment up in tissue paper and save it forever someplace near my heart, just so I could take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-zolendz/i-wanted-to-wrap-that-moment-up-in-tissue-paper-and-save-it-forever/) [Christine Zolendz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-zolendz/) > [“Despite an icy northeast wind huffing across the bay I sneak out after dark, after my mother falls asleep clutching her leather Bible, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/despite-an-icy-northeast-wind-huffing-across-the-bay-i-sneak-out/) [Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) > [“Although 'jumping to conclusions' is an expression, rather than an activity, it is as dangerous as jumping off a cliff, jumping in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/although-jumping-to-conclusions-is-an-expression-rather-than-an/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [It was almost as incredible as if you fired a 15-inch shell at a piece of tissue paper and it came back to hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/it-was-almost-as-incredible-as-if-you-fired-a-15-inch-shell-at-a/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [“You know, sometimes marriage is iron. Sometimes it’s tissue paper. And I think the times it’s tissue paper are when you need to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/you-know-sometimes-marriage-is-iron-sometimes-it-s-tissue-paper-and-i/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) ## More by Allison Pearson > [“Women used to have time to make mince pies and had to fake orgasms. Now we can manage the orgasms, but we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pearson/women-used-to-have-time-to-make-mince-pies-and-had-to-fake-orgasms/) [Allison Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pearson/) > [Women now influence the majority of consumer purchases. It is women's votes that will secure victory at the next election, hence the altogether delicious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pearson/women-now-influence-the-majority-of-consumer-purchases-it-is-women-s/) [Allison Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pearson/) > [“One of the best things about having children is that it enables you to have the same loving memories as another person - you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pearson/one-of-the-best-things-about-having-children-is-that-it-enables-you/) [Allison Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pearson/) > [“The way I look at it, women in the City are like first-generation immigrants. 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I have no precious time at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pearson/being-your-slave-what-should-i-do-but-tend-upon-the-hours-and-times/) [Allison Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pearson/) > [My husband is old-fashioned and kind, he does the greatest Sinatra impression, and I'd never have written anything if he hadn't read all those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pearson/my-husband-is-old-fashioned-and-kind-he-does-the-greatest-sinatra/) [Allison Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pearson/) > [“She laughed now, and the sound of it--clear as a bell, dirty as a rugby match--turned heads all along their row.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pearson/she-laughed-now-and-the-sound-of-it-clear-as-a-bell-dirty-as-a-rugby/) [Allison Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pearson/) > [“‎"There is an easy standoff between the two kinds of mother which sometimes makes it hard for us to talk to each other. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pearson/there-is-an-easy-standoff-between-the-two-kinds-of-mother-which/) [Allison Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pearson/) > [Going through puberty, that Cape Canaveral of the hormones, young girls are in love with the idea of being in love, trying it out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pearson/going-through-puberty-that-cape-canaveral-of-the-hormones-young-girls/) [Allison Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pearson/) > [When we talk about women's struggle to balance their lives, certain men growl, 'If you can't stand the heat, get back to the kitchen.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pearson/when-we-talk-about-women-s-struggle-to-balance-their-lives-certain/) [Allison Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pearson/) > [I'm interested in the things that might seem slight or amusing but which I feel have a kind of profundity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pearson/i-m-interested-in-the-things-that-might-seem-slight-or-amusing-but/) [Allison Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pearson/) > [Children are the proof we've been here . . . they're where we go to when we die. They're the best thing and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pearson/children-are-the-proof-we-ve-been-here-they-re-where-we-go-to-when-we/) [Allison Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pearson/) > [I've struggled with depression, and the signs that I was falling apart - having heart palpitations at 4 A.M. - were there for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pearson/i-ve-struggled-with-depression-and-the-signs-that-i-was-falling-apart/) [Allison Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pearson/) > [When you're young your mother shields you from the world because she thinks you're too young to understand, and when she's old you shield…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pearson/when-you-re-young-your-mother-shields-you-from-the-world-because-she/) [Allison Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pearson/) > [God probably thinks it’s worth giving a sense of humor only to those of us who have to laugh at all the rubbish bits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-pearson/god-probably-thinks-it-s-worth-giving-a-sense-of-humor-only-to-those/) [Allison Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pearson/) [Explore all 64 Allison Pearson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-pearson/) ## More Tissue paper quotes > [“You know, sometimes marriage is iron. 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The patients, they're the ones doing the tour of duty. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/an-oncology-ward-is-a-battlefield-and-there-are-definite-hierarchies/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Can I give you my gift now?” Blake reached in his pocket. “You gave me this already.” Livia wiggled her ring finger. He unfolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/can-i-give-you-my-gift-now-blake-reached-in-his-pocket-you-gave-me/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [“I’m going to destroy you, little man!" Sourcefield yelled after me. "I’ll rip you apart like a piece of tissue paper in a hurricane!"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/i-m-going-to-destroy-you-little-man-sourcefield-yelled-after-me-i-ll/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“With my wet hair wrapped in a towel, I retrieved the tray of food, placed it on the coffee table, and breathed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-dobson/with-my-wet-hair-wrapped-in-a-towel-i-retrieved-the-tray-of-food/) [Melanie Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-dobson/) > [The dignity of man was everywhere tissue-paper thin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/the-dignity-of-man-was-everywhere-tissue-paper-thin/) [Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/) > [It is that happy stretch of time when the lovers set to chronicling their passion. When no glance, no tone of voice is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahdaf-soueif/it-is-that-happy-stretch-of-time-when-the-lovers-set-to-chronicling/) [Ahdaf Soueif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahdaf-soueif/) > [PAST is a WASTE paper, PRESENT is a NEWS paper, FUTURE is a QUESTION paper. So read N write carefully other wise LIFE will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/past-is-a-waste-paper-present-is-a-news-paper-future-is-a-question/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It seems my heart is made of tissue paper; I wish the world would handle it more delicately.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/it-seems-my-heart-is-made-of-tissue-paper-i-wish-the-world-would/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Yes; she’s one of the few. 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