FREE ESSAY ON DELINQUENT DAUGHTERS SUMMARY

DELINQUENT DAUGHTERS SUMMARY

"Delinquent Daughters Summary"
Delinquent Daughters by Mary E. Odem touches on many topics involving women residing in
the U.S. from 1885 to 1920. Not only does the book raise issues about women as a whole,
but also it breaks the women into a more realistic view. Women's age, race, religion,
ethnicity and immigrant status, social class, and complex of morals are all used as means
of classifying women for analyzing their sexual behavior. 
To start with there is the issue of statutory rape and what the legal age limit shall be
set at. Not only are the middle class women groups seen as organizing ways to protect
women they are also seen in terms of protecting only white girls through the passage of
their laws. This is seen by the African American women having to form their own
organizations in order to insure the morality of the young African American females, and
by being denied real help when requesting help against the white male to protect the
decency of their young females and help in response to lynching. 
The classes of girls being evaluated were also seen. For instance, reasoning was given as
to why working class girls became sexually active. Like for marriage or rebellion. The
female being looked at as helpless and taken advantage of was not shown in an exaggerated
light. There were women who made the choice to become involved in sexual situations.