The girls’ self-esteem is lowered when boys maltreat them at a younger age. As a result, their social life can be negatively affected, making them antisocial or turn to delinquency to boost their self-esteem. If, for example, the girl grows up in a society, male dominance is the norm. The girls will be in dire need to liberate themselves and end up engaging in delinquent behaviors like prostitution to exhibit their prowess as elaborated in the Marxist- Feminist, and Differential oppression theories. Besides, they might grow thinking that to boost their self-esteem, they need to please men or seek their approval.
- When boys are taught to lure girls into sexual encounters during adolescence while girls are, simultaneously, taught to avoid being labeled a “slut,” how does losing your virginity during adolescence contribute to low self-esteem in girls and, at the same time, contribute to high self-esteem in boys?
As witnessed in the movie “Little Darlings,” sex is a serious action that involves emotions and should, therefore, be handled with care. Many times adolescent girls who have had sex are pictured delinquent, and this lowers their self-esteem. This perception happens because of the sociological constructs within the society where virgins are more upheld. Boys, on the contrary, are deemed to be in control, and having sex is one way to confirm dominance over females; hence, their self-esteem is enhanced. In many cases today, the girls have sex at adolescents because of peer pressure and status and not because they are immoral.
- How can the low self-esteem in girls (because of mistreatment around sex and impossible beauty standards) and the high self-esteem in boys (because of conquering girls’ reluctance about sex) translate into dysfunctional intimate relationships in adulthood?
Experiencing such cases when growing negatively influences an adult’s perception of intimate relationships. This is because a girl will grow up knowing that men are bad people whose primary goal is to demean women sexually. Boys, on the other hand, will grow up knowing that a woman is a sex object meant to satisfy his sexual needs. As a result, many will shy away from developing intimate relationships or experience frequent breakups. If such relationships lead to marriage, they are likely to encounter cases of domestic violence and male dominance.
- How can we retrain boys to value girls’ bodies and to help promote high self-esteem in girls?
The movie “Little Darlings” confirms that sex is a big deal. Had Ferry done it, then her wishes of pure bliss would not have been fulfilled, and she would have ended up disappointed with low self-esteem. At first, when it was all about winning a contest, Angel could not have sex. However, when it happened following an emotional connection, she felt good, and her self-esteem remained intact. Their encounters revealed that sex is complex. Boys and girls should all be educated on the importance of sex and why it is crucial to value sex. While doing this, it should be emphasized that both genders are equally important and must be treated with respect.
- How should we discourage boys from using sex as a measure of their own masculinity?
At this point, parents must engage in talks with their children concerning sex. It would also require the family if it is a patriarchal one to change their lifestyle. Teachers should also schedule sessions for sex education to offer guidance. The community should also refrain from gender- stereotyping. When Angel refuses to have sex with Randy at their first try, he is disappointed and walks out. His action showed that as a man, he is entitled to be sexually satisfied by Angel, and her reluctance was not acceptable. In summary, a children’s ideologies on sex are influenced by their surroundings. Therefore, solving the problem will entail identifying the causative agent and embarking on corrective measures.