For nearly 40 years, Judy Blume has been writing books for young adults about the ups and downs of puberty and the initiation of sexual activity, among other things. Her work has been translated into 28 languages, and she's earned millions of teenage fans over the years.
The Planned Parenthood Board of Advocates member took time out from writing to talk with us about how fiction is a place to explore the realities of growing up, sex, and relationships.
Why do you think your work continues to stay popular with generation after generation of teens?
Judy Blume (JB): I guess I'm lucky. From what young people tell me, they identify with my characters. First experiences, whether a first kiss, first period, first wet dream, first sexual relationship — these are the moments we never forget. I write about the real world — about families, friends, school, about changing bodies and changing relationships. These are still the most important things in my life, too.
In Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret and Then Again, Maybe I Won't, you look at how young teens of both genders deal with physical and emotional changes. Why did you decide to write such brave and honest books at a time when these subjects were largely taboo?
JB: I had no idea I was writing brave books, but I did set out to write honest ones. I was wildly interested in puberty as a child. Even though I was envied for having a warm and loving father, one who claimed I could talk to him about anything, I never actually asked him the questions I had. I waited for him to tell me. And then I didn't always understand what he was saying. I was so curious about sex, I looked it up in the encyclopedia but all I found were pages and pages of plants and how they reproduce. I never found characters in fiction that I could identify with. Looking back to the young woman I was in my 20s, when I began to write, I wanted to write the kinds of books that weren't there for me.
In your groundbreaking book Forever, teenager Katherine loses her virginity with her boyfriend Michael. Before Katherine and Michael have sex Katherine spends time thinking about whether she's ready for sex, and she also visits a health center. Why do you think so many teens relate so strongly to this story?
JB: At the time I wrote Forever, I had a 14-year-old daughter, and she was reading a lot of books about young love. But in every one, if a girl succumbed to having sex with her boyfriend, she would be punished — an unwanted pregnancy, a grisly abortion sometimes leading to her death, or she would be sent away by her family. The boys in these books had no feelings and took no responsibility. My daughter said to me, "Couldn't there be a book about two nice kids who have sex and no one dies?"
I hated the idea of feeding young people the idea that sex is linked to punishment. Sexuality is a healthy, normal, and natural part of life. And in real life, boys can be hurt, too. And so I decided to write Forever...
I certainly never thought of the book as groundbreaking when I was writing it. I was just telling a story about two seniors in high school who fall in love and decide to have sex. If there's anything groundbreaking about it, maybe it's that they're sexually responsible. Or maybe it's that Katherine enjoys her sexuality. There are still people who are bothered by that today.
How can fiction play a role in answering teens' questions about sex and relationships?
JB: It's often much easier to talk about characters in a book than to talk about yourself. If you have questions you can use Katherine and Michael, or Margaret, or Tony, instead of making it about you. This works if an adult you trust also reads the book. When it comes to sex and relationships, it's important to talk about the emotions of first love, to think about the consequences of first sex. Will you be able to handle it if it doesn't last? How will you feel if he/she ends it?
Why is it important to present sexually active teenagers in a realistic, mature way?
JB: It's important to me, as a writer, because I'm interested in kids who take responsibility for their own actions. I hope it helps young people make their own decisions, understand that it's okay to say, "no." But only if they have the facts can they make those decisions wisely.
What advice would you give teens who are thinking about having sex for the first time?
JB: Don't just listen to your hormones. There are other ways to be sexual together besides having intercourse. And remember, the safest sex of all is masturbation. So, get the facts first. Think about it. Too many kids jump in and have sex without thinking. Adults need to talk with them about sexual responsibilities, but too often, don't. I hear a lot of kids say they wish they had read Forever before they became sexually active. They might have waited.
What are your views on sex education?
JB: A comprehensive sex education program can really help. Some adults think sex education means "the talk." But that's not it. It's an ongoing discussion — whether at home or at school, or both. Kids need answers to their questions before they're sexually active.
Despite rave reviews and millions of fans, some of your books have been censored over the years. Why do you think this is?
JB: Some adults have a desperate need to control everything in their children's lives. These individuals believe if their kids don't read about it, they won't know about it, and if they don't know about it, they'll never do it. These parents are often the same ones who can't (or don't want) to talk with their kids about sex. They send out the message that sex is a taboo subject. It's really about fear, and fear is contagious.
