I just read this article in the Washington Post Online
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/02/AR2007080201929.html
It is a book review of "Girls Gone Mild" by Wendy Shalit, who also wrote "A Return to Modesty"
'an invitation to indulge in what she called the "lost virtue." Conservatives hailed it as a much-needed antidote to the poisonous legacy of the sexual revolution. Liberals, not as kind, wrote it off as a neo-Victorian call for a return to the bad old days when ladies were supposed to behave themselves.'
Shalit also hosts a web site called "Modesty Zone"
In "Girls", Shalit 'believes that too many girls and women have been denied a happy ending because, post-sexual revolution, we now believe it's good to be bad. "The plain fact," she writes, "is that girls today have to be 'bad' to fit in, just as the baby boomers needed to be good. And we are finding that this new script may be more oppressive than the old one ever was." You can't meet Mr. Right when you're busy shagging a series of Mr. Wrongs.'
Firstly I'd like to point out that they are by no means, "Mr. Wrong"s, they are called "Mr. Right-Now"s.
All kidding aside, From the review it sounds as if Shalit tries to scare parents of young girls into believing that their daughters are destined for one of two paths in life. That of the modest, virginal "good" girl, or that of the promiscuous hussy. Apparently the proof is given by citing Bratz dolls, Pop Tarts, and the sex-crazed world we live in. It sounds as if she has little faith in parents and their ability to protect their children from those sorts of influences (granted, it is indeed a dubious argument to say that all parents do a good job at protecting their children from the "world of sex"). I recall reading at some point, that the influences of the world just don't add up to parental influences. As in a child can be exposed to the real world and remain relatively free of the "bad" as long as their parents set a good example and teach them to be "good" people. (Sure there are rotten eggs even amongst the greatest of parents, but as a rule....)
It scares me that someone would believe there to be only two ends in sight for girls (and then try and convince others of the veracity of such a belief). What happened to those who ride down the middle? Or just left of middle? Almost far right, but not quite there because she had sex with her fiance before they were married? There all types. Its not all or nothing.
I am not sure exactly where I am going with this discussion, more that I found it interesting (and frightening) that someone would write a book from the perspective. I don't have any problem with the opinion that virtue is something that needs to be brought back, or that Women should not spend their lives pining over Men, sleeping with whomever comes along. I can agree, but to present it as if there are only two choices is what scares me some.
Of course the understanding that there are only two choices is based on a reviewers take of the book. Perhaps if I am at the library any time soon, I will pick it up and at least read some of it. Of course, I don't go to the library that often. Perhaps I should.
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2 comments:
It's odd that while you write that "Of course the understanding that there are only two choices is based on a reviewer's take of the book", you nonetheless give so much credence to the reviewer's perspective for most of your post. I just read the book, and that's not at all what Shalit says.
Of course, rather than give so much credence to a reviewer who makes no arguments but simply says "I doubt it" throughout most of her review, why not read what the author actually says? On the Washington Post's Book Live site, Shalit answered some reader questions (today, in fact). I found it quite interesting.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/08/03/DI2007080301786.html
I don't normally bother reading people's blog posts and comments precisely because there's very little that's fact-based. But since you sound sincere in your discussion of the book and this topic (as I am), I figured it was worth it.
I think I mentioned that I would be interested in reading the book. I didint re-read my post, so I am not sure if I thought it or wrote it, but I would like to see what take I would have after reading it.
thanks for the comment. I think that the topic is absolutely fascinating and that arguments could be made for both sides of the debate. (at least with the present knowledge I have of the world and the topic). I thinkthat the hard line feminists would say that this mindset is a step backwards in th progress of women, but I dont think that thats true. Its seems its more about internal struggles and not so much the struggles of women for equality.
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