Did You Hear About The Girl Who . . . ?: Contemporary Legends, Folklore, and Human Sexuality (Hardcover)

by Marianne H. Whatley (Author), Elissa R. Henken (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
“A book with a wonderful interdisciplinary idea—using sexual urban legends as part of high school and college sex education” -- The Women’s Review of Books, Oct. 2001:

Review

"This is a must read for sexuality educators and youth workers concerned about the power of pedagogy and folklore as they swirl in the minds of youth. Whatley and Henken construct a magnificent argument about listening to the beliefs, the jokes, the sometimes very wrong headed, sometimes brilliant folklore narrated by youth as we accompany them into conversations about sexuality, health, desire, and danger. If adults can be useful at all, it is only with the guidance of Whatley and Henken that we have a chance at engaging with, rather than lecturing to, the fertile minds and bodies of America's youth. This book is fun, clever, engaging and provocative."

- Michelle Fine, CUNY Graduate Center, author of Framing Dropouts: Notes on the Politics of an Urban High School

"Books that deal with adolescent sexuality have one of two audiences: adults or teens. Finally a book that bridges what often appears to be an unbridgeable chasm. Henken, a folklorist, explains what young people are—really—saying to each other in their private moments; while Whatley, a biologist and health educator, provides the correctives to these rumors and folk beliefs. The book, written in a lively style, takes the reality of boys and girls seriously, while never flinching from providing the best health information available. While many of the stories presented may be disturbing, each presents how gender and sexuality is interpreted. This is a book that should serve as a standard text for courses on sexuality in high schools, colleges, and for parents who want to know what their children believe."

- Gary Alan Fine, Northwestern University, author of Manufacturing Tales: Sex and Money in Contemporary Legends

"A book with a wonderful interdisciplinary idea-using sexual urban legends as part of high school and college sex education."

- The Women's Review of Books, Oct. 2001

"Whatley and Henkin have written a book that is as intelligent as it is interesting and funny."

- Journal of Sex Research

"An entertaining and useful book which describes the ways in which folklore might be used to enhance sex and relationships education."

- Sex Education Matters

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 211 pages
• Publisher: NYU Press (March 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814793223
• ISBN-13: 978-0814793220
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,635,870 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #42 in

  Books > Entertainment > Humor > Urban Legends

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative and useful in a very practical way, May 1, 2006

By	L. S. Jaszczak "servant of the secret fire" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a collaboration between two sisters, one of whom is a biologist and health educator, and the other of whom is a folklorist. Together they examine a vast number of urban legends and beliefs about sexuality, particularly in reference to teens and college students, and discuss how these stories can be used in an educational setting, both to glean information about things that need to be taught and to impart accurate information. As they point out, educators and health professionals sometimes make assumptions that are not shared by the young or uneducated people they deal with, and talking about popular beliefs and the stories that young people share among themselves can help clear up misunderstandings that otherwise might never have even been addressed. Discussion of stereotypes promoted by certain urban legends can also enable students to become better informed about stigmatized groups and behavior.

Although I am not an educator, I am very interested in urban legends and other modern folklore, and not only did I find this book to be fascinating, but I can imagine how it could be used to great effect in educating our sadly ill-informed young adult population about an often awkward topic.