Back in the seventies many high school classes would complete this saying with the year they were to graduate. It was chanted at football games, pep rallies or any other event where school spirit was appreciated. Wine, women, sex is free, we’re the class of ’73 or wine, women, sex and more we’re the class of ’74 and so on. Stay with me, there’s a reason I thought about this chant.
Between Christmas and the New Year, I learned that three girls I know were victims of domestic violence. My first response was, how can this be? We (my generation) are better equipped than our mothers and grandmothers, so why are our girls still dealing with this madness. It takes a village to raise a child, and I have certainly been an active part of their village. These girls are part of middle class modern families with access to the world.
I thought about each girl and the statistic — nearly 1 in 5 teen girls (in a boyfriend relationship) has been hit or threatened with physical violence.
So, the question: is this statistic the results of the chants of the class of the 70s and 80s? And, what did the image of free wine, sex and women say to the high school girls and boys that are now their parents? Yes, we were among the first wave of boys and girls to go to college in mass, experience gender conversations and the independence of women.
Do we really give our girls and boys more information than our parents gave us or do we assume that since they have more access to information that they know more? Do we give them the same information and lessons about relationships or are we still raising our boys by the “boys will be boys” model? This thought was even scarier because I thought to myself, “her boyfriend is a nice church going boy.” And, what role does the faith community play?
Even if I didn’t know more than 1 in 5 girls, I know that the statistic is way too high and women should be doing something about this issue.
Let’s talk. What are your thoughts, feelings and actions we can take?
Valora K Starr is director discipleship.
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Photo by Hibr. Used with permission.
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