Book Review: Slut! by Leora Tanenbaum

Book details:
Seven Stories Press, 1999
Hardcover, 280 pages

Synopsis:
The statistics are daunting: "Two out of five girls nationwide have had sexual rumors spread about them," reports Leora Tanenbaum. "Three out of four girls have received sexual comments or looks, and one in five has had sexual messages written about her in public areas." The 50 women interviewed for this book differ greatly in ethnic background, age, and economic status, but they share one thing in common--each of them, along with Tanenbaum herself, was labeled a "slut" in junior high or high school. As such, they became victims of a double standard that winks at sexual promiscuity among teenage boys but insists that young women remain virginal and pure. Even worse, the slut bashing is perpetuated in nearly every case by female classmates. In addition to insisting that schools get serious about combating sexual harassment, Tanenbaum urges the development of sex education programs that acknowledge responsible alternatives to abstinence, programs that would recognize the sexual desires of young women (and men) without condemnation. Her social critique is solid, but it's the personal accounts of emotional abuse--and, thankfully, perseverance--that will thoroughly convince you that the current tolerance of slut bashing is simply unacceptable. –Amazon

Review:
This book is a must for any woman, feminist or not. The book is thoroughly researched, relying not only on facts and statistics, but also personal interviews of women categorized as “sluts” during adolescence. Tanenbaum asks each victim questions such as
-How did she acquire a “slut” reputation?
-were her friends less sexually active? Equally sexually active? More?
-how did she cope with her reputation?
-Did she receive any support from a friend/teacher/parent?
-How did others regard her and how did she regard herself?
-How did other girls treat her and how did that compare with how boys treated her?
-Did the experience change her outlook on dating, sex, female friendships, being female, or being “different”?

I loved hearing each woman’s personal story, and it made me reflect back to my high school days and how myself and my friends related to Tanenbaum’s thesis. I knew both the “sluts” and the “prudes.” Seems to me, girls can only do wrong. If they are sexually active, they are slutty. If they are not sexually active, they are prudes, and often face an equal amount of teasing and discrimination from their peers.

5 stars.