As girls turn into young women, they may start attracting unwanted sexual attention. This is new territory for teens and their parents alike, and not an easy situation to handle. Many girls struggle with this newfound attention because they don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but they have a right to body autonomy; learning how to push back is simply another life skill to master. Here’s how you can help:
Saying no isn’t a bad thing. Help your teen get comfortable with speaking up for herself and saying no. She doesn’t have to sacrifice her own feelings to be liked by others.
Have her practice responses to people who might cross her boundaries. Practice builds confidence.
Young women don’t always bring this attention to themselves. Avoid saying things that might let her think her body or sexuality is a bad thing, as this could make her less likely to seek help for sexual harassment.
More than 80% of women have been sexually harassed at some point in their lives. Teaching boundaries and saying no early on can give young women the tools they need to navigate these situations. If your child does become involved in an unwanted sexual situation, have her report it. Our residential treatment for sexually aggressive youth in Richmond, VA is designed to stop it at the source. Contact us today to learn more.
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https://childmind.org/article/helping-girls-deal-unwanted-sexual-attention/
