--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If being premenstrual is “innocence,”…" description: "\"“If being premenstrual is “innocence,” does that make those of us with periods guilty? And this really gets to the heart of the matter: These concerns ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/jessica-valenti-1960_abstinence_if-being-premenstrual-is-innocence-does_2388755.jpg" --- # If being premenstrual is “innocence,” does that make those… ![“If being premenstrual is “innocence,” does that make those of us with periods guilty? And this really gets to the heart of the matter: These concerns aren't about lost innocence; they're about lost girlhood. The virginity movement doesn't want women to be adults. Despite the movement's…” quote by Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/jessica-valenti-1960_abstinence_if-being-premenstrual-is-innocence-does_2388755.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/jessica-valenti-1960_abstinence_if-being-premenstrual-is-innocence-does_2388755.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c28/jessica-valenti-1960_abstinence_if-being-premenstrual-is-innocence-does_2388755.jpg) > ““If being premenstrual is “innocence,” does that make those of us with periods guilty? And this really gets to the heart of the matter: These concerns aren't about lost innocence; they're about lost girlhood. The virginity movement doesn't want women to be adults. Despite the movement's protestations about how this focus on innocence or preserving virginity is just a way of protecting girls, the truth is, it isn't a way to desexualize them. It simply positions their sexuality as “good”— worth talking about, protecting, and valuing—and women's sexuality, adult sexuality, as bad and wrong. The (perhaps) unintended consequences of this focus is that girl's sexuality is sexualized and fetishized even further.”” [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques how framing menstruation as loss of innocence reinforces a cultural narrative that devalues adult female sexuality while fetishizing youth. **In simple terms:** It argues that equating periods with guilt harms women's sexual agency. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect adult women's sexuality as normal and worthy. Themes gender sex culture feminism body politics Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical political feminist When to use this quote - sex education - women's health advocacy - media analysis - policy discussion Key Concepts patriarchal narratives sexual double standards body autonomy Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape our perception of female sexuality? - What steps can change cultural narratives around menstruation? A Different Perspective The argument may overlook men’s experiences of sexual double standards and broader systemic factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstinence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstinence/) [Girlhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girlhood/) [Innocence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocence/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Sexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexuality/) [Unintended consequences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unintended-consequences/) [Virginity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virginity/) ## Related quotes > [“By erasing any nuance and complexity about porn and sexuality, the virginity movement gives young women only two choices of who they can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/by-erasing-any-nuance-and-complexity-about-porn-and-sexuality-the/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [According to the virginity movement, men have no self-control when it comes to anything sexual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/according-to-the-virginity-movement-men-have-no-self-control-when-it/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [“I didn't want to be someone pretending to be a woman; I wanted to know what it was like to be a sexual woman...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-angelina-birch/i-didn-t-want-to-be-someone-pretending-to-be-a-woman-i-wanted-to-know/) Jessica Angelina Birch > [Life is the most precious thing there is, never disrespect it. 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