virgins

Okay, my last post talked about how I really liked the Tong book and some on how I liked the Marxist/socialist chapter, but there is one thing that I definately do not agree with. Juliet Mitchell's section says "women had made sig. progress in the area of sexuality...traditional society generally condemned sexually promiscuous women as 'whores,' contemporary society offers them up as healthy role models...if contemporary society views any group of women as unhealthy, it is probably virgins" (pg. 121).

I know that she did not write that about present day women, but I definately think that her vision did not happen. There still exist 'whores,' 'sluts,' etc, and they definately still have a negative connotation. I don't see anywhere in the media them idolizing porn stars or talking about anybody's adventurous sex life in great detail and admiration. They did however idolize Jessica Simpson and her decision to wait until marriage to have sex with Nick Lachey. They held her up as a role model to younger girls--not as an unhealthy person. If sex was such a universally celebrated thing and virgins were unhealthy, there would not be the huge movement for an abstinence only sexual education. Maybe it was the surge in awareness of STDs/AIDS that kept the virgin idol, I don't know. In general I think Mitchell's idea of 'contemporary society' was just wishful thinking.

While I'm on the subject of sex in this post, one thing that continues to bother me about these feminist readings is their lack of regard for love. Again, maybe I'm just idealistic, but they are always saying that in burgoise (spelling?) especially the woman relies on the man and sexual actions, even within marriage, are like prostitution because in exchange for sex they get protection, security, and money (in the form of the man 'bringing home the bacon'). The have also said (although can't find exact part in the book) that wives are 'slave to male's carnel desire' or something to that effect. It just never says that there is any love in marriage or relationships, or having sex (esp. within marriage) for fun. Maybe it's because i've never been married or something. I just feel like they are undercutting the fact that sex can be, and should be, an act of love instead of an 'exhange of goods.' They also never talk about the fact that some men don't buy into the women aren't equal stereotype and do contribute in the household/'women' duties. I don't know, I just feel like they should look at the other side of the issue.