Feminist Approaches to Youth Sexualities

Anonymised transcript of an interview with a young woman (Gillian) aged 20, living, working and studying in Manchester. Doing A levels in Eng Lit and Sociology; already has one A Level; anticipates going to Uni, if not necessarily immediately, though not much discussion of this; works full-time/flexitime, 35 hours per week, and studies around this. Job not made explicit. First half of interview on violence at home and with boyfriend. Left home at 16 because her father was physically violent, towards her, and her mother and other siblings (sisters and brothers). Had previously also spent a year living with her grandparents who she feels close to. Parents now divorced; she rarely sees mother or father. Talks about covering up marks on her back doing Gym at school. Lived initially with boyfriend when she left home. He was also physically violent. Went out with him for nearly a year and a half, eventually moved in with friend and left him. Now lives in shared flat, owned by a friend's father. Discuss move from mixed school to all girls school. Discusses sex ed in school - in biology classes, learned some from mother, mainly from friends, who were also 'ignorant'. Mentions one friend a feminist. Discusses first sex - didn't like him, but wanted something new. Mentions one night stands, unwanted sex, acknowledges she would probably do it again; talks about being scared, that someone 'might not take no for an answer'; the role of drinking in sex; that she might ask someone to wear a condom, saying she is not on the pill, but with avoiding AIDS in mind. Talks about not wanting to get into a relationship too quickly now, though also wearying of one night stands and casual sex and thinking again about steady, monogamous relationships. Mentions judging people on their appearances eg tattoo.

Title	Interview with Kate, 20, White British, working class. Women, Risk and AIDS Project, Manchester, 1989. Anonymised version including fieldnotes (Ref: THW01)
Description	Anonymised transcript of an interview with a young woman (Gillian) aged 20, living, working and studying in Manchester. Doing A levels in Eng Lit and Sociology; already has one A Level; anticipates going to Uni, if not necessarily immediately, though not much discussion of this; works full-time/flexitime, 35 hours per week, and studies around this. Job not made explicit. First half of interview on violence at home and with boyfriend. Left home at 16 because her father was physically violent, towards her, and her mother and other siblings (sisters and brothers). Had previously also spent a year living with her grandparents who she feels close to. Parents now divorced; she rarely sees mother or father. Talks about covering up marks on her back doing Gym at school. Lived initially with boyfriend when she left home. He was also physically violent. Went out with him for nearly a year and a half, eventually moved in with friend and left him. Now lives in shared flat, owned by a friend's father. Discuss move from mixed school to all girls school. Discusses sex ed in school - in biology classes, learned some from mother, mainly from friends, who were also 'ignorant'. Mentions one friend a feminist. Discusses first sex - didn't like him, but wanted something new. Mentions one night stands, unwanted sex, acknowledges she would probably do it again; talks about being scared, that someone 'might not take no for an answer'; the role of drinking in sex; that she might ask someone to wear a condom, saying she is not on the pill, but with avoiding AIDS in mind. Talks about not wanting to get into a relationship too quickly now, though also wearying of one night stands and casual sex and thinking again about steady, monogamous relationships. Mentions judging people on their appearances eg tattoo.
Identifier	THW01/O
Subject	Domestic violence Assault First sex Family life AIDS disease Feminism/Women's movement Sexual behaviour One night stand Casual sex Alcohol use Condom use Unwanted sex Sex education Divorce Moral values Sexual reputation Aspirations Responsibility Regret Guilt Double standards White British Working class No religion.
Date	13/06/1989
Creator	Women, Risk and Aids Project (WRAP, 1989-90)
Publisher	The Reanimating Data Project (2018-20)
Type	Text
Temporal Coverage	1989
Spatial Coverage	Greater Manchester, UK
Rights	CC BY-NC 4.0

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