Femininity Ideology as a Factor in Sexual Health Outcomes of Early Adolescent Girls

Three contexts that make up girls ' sexual health are explored: (1) Individual aspects are investigated using the Sexual Self-Concept Scale; (2) Relational aspects are evaluated using two sets of items created for this study; (3) The sociocultural context of sexual health is described. Working within an ecological model, this research is anchored in a feminist social constructionist analysis. Sexual health is defined as the ability to know and accept one's own feelings and to make responsible and safe choices. In discussing sexual health and risk of unintended pregnancy, the focus is on attitudinal rather than behavioral factors of risk and health because only a small portion of this sample had engaged in sexual intercourse at the time of the survey. However, the level of sexual activity is described for the sample, and the relationship of those activities to femininity ideology (controlling for access to information and support around sexuality in their sociocultural context) is examined. Demographics of the sampl