The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Women and Femininity Quotes

This book believes firmly in the empowering role female friendship plays in the lives on young women, no matter who they are. 

Lena has serious issues with boys—she doesn't trust them and doubts they see beyond her pretty face. She feels like the only reason girls need boys is to tell them they are beautiful, and since Lena knows she's beautiful, she doesn't need boys at all. But when Kostos comes on the scene, she starts to think differently. 

We can't either, but at the same time, it's about time this girl lives a little. When Lena decides to skinny dip at her special spot, it is momentous, and she feels alive and free. But when Kostos comes upon her, she assumes that as a man he is creeping on her female body. 

Lena spends a quiet moment with herself enjoying the serenity of the water, unwinding and letting herself feel comfortable in literally nothing but her own skin. Finally she feels as beautiful as everyone's always telling her she is. 

Bridget and Lena are opposites in the love department—while Lena is super guarded, Bridget puts herself out there so much that she gets hurt. Bridget tries to explain her intense attraction for Eric, but knows Lena can turn her feelings on and off like a light switch—so while this comment sounds a bit condescending, Bridget speaks the truth. 

Bridget finds herself thinking about sex a lot since she met Coach Eric, and these feelings excite her. But she never thinks about what will happen if she acts on these feelings, and unfortunately for her, it spells trouble. It's kind of refreshing to have a young woman depicted as thinking about sex, though—it doesn't happen that often.

Is virginity a prerequisite for the Sisterhood? No, but it's a prerequisite for innocence—particularly for young women. The girls can't lose their innocence if they never have it in the first place, and they each definitely lose some of their innocence over the course of the summer.

Bridget responds differently to the night she shares with Eric, and while some of this has to do with age, it seems possible that some of it has to do with gender too. What do you think?

Bridget regrets her encounter with Eric, and feels like she really wasn't ready for what she experienced. She wallows in regret and immediately falls into a depression. It's painful to watch, particularly since it results in her losing a ton of weight—something young women often resort to in times of uncertainty.

Lena is a woman on a mission, and it is taking every ounce of courage she can muster to tell Kostos how she feels. The Pants help her tap into her bravery and sex appeal, though, which totally helps.