BoomerGirl Diary

I’m a boomer girl. Actually, I’m one of the older boomer girls because I was born in 1946, the generation where most mothers were afraid to mention the “s” word.

Sex was a taboo subject in a lot of homes. My mother made sure I knew about menstruation but she gave me her version, which was, by today’s standards, quite humorous. My sister and I were told not to touch the plants during our periods because they would die. We had to take baths on our knees when our “monthly visitor” arrived because water wasn’t supposed to get up inside of us.

However, sometime after you were married, it seemed to be okay to do that as was evidenced by the rubber douche bag that appeared once a month. For the longest time I remember it hanging on the shower head and I thought it was some contraption mother used to clean the bathtub.

I never heard the word “vagina” because I was taught I had a “down there.”

The day I got my first period I was wearing a brand new skirt. I got it caught on a nail and tore an L shaped hole. Normally, Mother would have been furious with me but she was calm and understanding. She told me periods made girls anxious and upset (which validated PMS excuses for me throughout my school years.)

Does any of this sound familiar in the way you were raised?

I always carried a dime in my shoe to call my father if a boy got fresh. I knew it was okay to kiss, but petting was out of the question. I guess my parents didn’t realize that it is normal for a teenage girl to have desires.

The discussion of birth control never came up. That explains why I have a daughter who is also a boomer, because she was born in l964. My lack of sexual education was, in fact, a strong incentive for me to become a sex therapist. I hope to influence women to share sexual information, become better informed and enjoy their sensuality and sexuality to the fullest.

A number of years ago, I was privileged to hear Dr. Ruth Westheimer speak when she was in Kansas City. Her opening remark was a long recitation of many sexually explicit words, one right after the other. After she shocked the audience with the forbidden terms, she put her elbows on the podium and with a twinkle in her voice she calmly said, “Okay, now that you’ve heard all the words — let’s talk”.

I’d like to borrow that opening for this column. Let’s talk! As women of this era we are free to discuss issues of our sexuality openly and honestly. This will not be an advice column; however, please feel free to ask for information on any sexual topic of interest to you.