ABSTRACT
Most of us are born into social and cultural systems that describe gender and biological sex in binary, oppositional, and seemingly natural ways. That binary system is the first brick in the wall, in effect, in building a powerful structure. Gender and biological sex bond with other elements of sexuality, such as sexual orientation, to create the foundation upon which we construct sexual selves. The primary goal of socialization is to structure and guide people into socioculturally defined, acceptable, and expected roles. The confusing and contradictory universe of sex into which adolescents enter is a jumble of social, cultural, institutional, and historical influences. All of these influences are especially salient for heterosexual teens, but gay, lesbian, and bisexual teens are also influenced by parents. Peers, religion, school, and media are probably the most significant sexual socializing agents for teenagers. The compromises that white, middle-class women have to make to fulfill hegemonic expectations of femininity may be, at best, confusing.
