Learning to Love: Sexual Reputation, Morality and the Social Control of Girls (From Growing Up Good: Policing the Behavior of Girls in Europe, P 19-37, 1989, Maureen Cain, ed.)

• NCJ Number: 119750
• Author(s): S Lees
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 19 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

In a 3-year study conducted in three London (England) comprehensive schools in the early 1980's, 100 15-to 16-year old girls from varied social class and ethnic groups were interviewed singly and in groups to determine their attitudes toward sexual relations and the concept of reputation.

Abstract

The research focused on the language of sexual reputation among the girls. The study found that names like "slag" functioned as abusive terms to control single girls and steer them toward marriage as the only legitimate expression of sexuality. Also, girls tended to assume responsibility for the way males behaved toward them, particularly as regards violence and sex. Overall, the repression of sexuality in girls to the conventional pattern of marriage posits the female's virtue in the correct performance of the "duties" of the marital relationship; for example, when women are charge with petty criminal offenses, social workers and police give weight to sexual reputation and the performance of domestic duties in determining case dispositions. For men, on the other hand, virtue is achieved irrespective of sexuality and sexual reputation. These findings suggest that the issue of social relations and gender relations in particular should be given more attention in schooling. 2 notes.