Do you think we're whores?
At first, I was confused by her question, wondering if the girl had mistakenly asked me a question rather than her male classmates, or if I misunderstood her intent. I responded in an obviously confused manner, and she repeated and rephrased:
Do we (referring to herself and her friend) look like the kind of girls that have sex with a lot of guys?
Attempting to respond in the most appropriate and objective manner, I told her that I did not know either of the girls, and I could not make any such judgment based on their respective appearances. Somehow the conversation ended, likely with me needing to address the needs and/or misbehaviour of another tenth grader.
What strikes me the most is the fact that a) a teenage girl would be bold enough to ask that question, and b) that (sadly) she would need to ask it at all. In light of what I have been reading recently, I suppose I am at least slightly more aware of the virgin/whore dichotomy that exists in society. Nonetheless, I was (and am) still surprised by its appearance in an English class. Had I not feared the consequences of such an open discussion, I would have told the girl that I believe it is more important to consider whether she is doing (or not doing) what she wants, and doing anything safely, rather than focusing on what other people may think her to be.
I have never wondered whether I was a whore or not, and especially not at the age of fifteen. Either I was very sheltered, or the North American understanding of sexuality has shifted significantly in the past decade.
God help our teenagers.
--- chRistie
