“It used to be that the pre-wedding ritual for men was the bachelor party, while the women’s equivalent was the bridal shower. Well, the times they have been a-changing for many years now, and women can have just as much silly, no-holds-barred fun as the men nowadays, according to a Penn State researcher.

Dr. Beth Montemurro, assistant professor of sociology at Penn State’s Abington Campus, has interviewed more than 50 women and personally attended many bachelorette parties in an attempt to determine what significance that bachelorette parties — especially those containing sexually charged themes — have for them.

In her study titled, ‘Sex Symbols: The Bachelorette Party as a Window to Change in Women’s Sexual Expression,’ published in a recent issue of the journal, Sexuality and Culture, Montemurro said the rise of bachelorette parties over the years signifies a shift in how women and their sexuality are viewed in society.” EurekAlert!

Do we need men?

The Y-chromosome – the ultimate symbol of machismo – is in a bad way. But…, apart from breeding, what real use is the male to the human race? Guardian/UK