We live in a sexed-up world. From chiselled fictional teenagers in steamy high school dramas to Sabrina Carpenter’s innuendos, it feels like everyone’s doing it. But what happens when adulthood arrives and you're still a virgin?  Plenty of women haven’t had sex. Some are waiting for the right person, some are waiting for marriage, and some haven't had the opportunity.   Virginity has gone from being something women were expected to protect to something they feel they have to explain. So how do we ditch everyone else's expectations and figure out what we actually want? Yumi Stynes speaks with women navigating adulthood without sex.  Featured in this episode:  Amanda McCracken, writer on love and limerence  This episode will answer questions like:  How does it feel to be an adult virgin?  What’s dating like as a virgin?  Why do some people wait to have sex?  What to listen to next:  Building a village means showing up even when it feels hard, says Esther Perel  How swapping a husband for a wife made this economist better off  The power of one: the single ladies owning it   Why are we exercising less than men?  What to read next:  Why these women took marriage sabbaticals — and how it went  Building a village means showing up even when it feels hard, says Esther Perel  This episode contains references to sex, sexuality, dating, relationships, virgins, religion, shame, psychology.  This episode was originally broadcast in April 2024. (R). 

Ladies, We Need To Talk

ABC Australia

The women who've never had sex

JUN 15, 202629 MIN
Ladies, We Need To Talk

The women who've never had sex

JUN 15, 202629 MIN

Description

<p>We live in a sexed-up world. From chiselled fictional teenagers in steamy high school dramas to Sabrina Carpenter’s innuendos, it feels like everyone’s doing it. But what happens when adulthood arrives and you're still a virgin? </p><p>Plenty of women haven’t had sex. Some are waiting for the right person, some are waiting for marriage, and some haven't had the opportunity.  </p><p>Virginity has gone from being something women were expected to protect to something they feel they have to explain. So how do we ditch everyone else's expectations and figure out what we actually want? Yumi Stynes speaks with women navigating adulthood without sex. </p><p>Featured in this episode: </p><ul><li>Amanda McCracken, writer on love and limerence </li></ul><p>This episode will answer questions like: </p><ul><li>How does it feel to be an adult virgin? </li><li>What’s dating like as a virgin? </li><li>Why do some people wait to have sex? </li></ul><p>What to listen to next:</p><p><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-22/esther-perel-on-building-a-village/106144018" target="_blank">Building a village means showing up even when it feels hard, says Esther Perel</a></p><p><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/ladies-we-need-to-talk/gender-roles-family-womens-work-ladies-we-need-to-talk/106153062" target="_blank">How swapping a husband for a wife made this economist better off</a></p><p><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/ladies-we-need-to-talk/the-power-of-one-the-single-ladies-owning-it-/104748130" target="_blank">The power of one: the single ladies owning it </a></p><p><a href="https://why%20are%20we%20exercising%20less%20than%20men/?" target="_blank">Why are we exercising less than men?</a></p><p>What to read next:</p><p><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-04/women-on-taking-a-break-from-their-marriage/106281918" target="_blank">Why these women took marriage sabbaticals — and how it went</a></p><p><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-22/esther-perel-on-building-a-village/106144018" target="_blank">Building a village means showing up even when it feels hard, says Esther Perel</a></p><p>This episode contains references to sex, sexuality, dating, relationships, virgins, religion, shame, psychology. </p><p>This episode was originally broadcast in April 2024. (R).</p>