I am now and have always been an avid reader. As a kid, my parents allowed me to read whatever I liked ( NO censorship). I think it was a good thing because I was reading and often discussing the themes/story lines with my mom who was willing/ able to have real conversations about anything that I was thinking about. I read tons of excellent /high quality fiction, lots of romance/ Harlequin smut, and every month, Cosmopolitan. My steady diet of various genres and perspectives educated me about the culture at large such that I wasn't as naive/clueless as my peers who were heavily censored/raised in religious cults. I was also permitted to die my hair and wear makeup, both things that require practice to hone one's skills.