Vickie_G

I grew up in a small town not far from Kinston, NC. Reading Women of a Promiscuous Nature took me back to my childhood. My family, including aunts, uncles, grandparents, parents and siblings were well respected and liked. This was important to all of us. Being a small town, if any of us kids misbehaved, our parents would be told. Everyone lived by the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child”. With this being said, I was extremely cautious and reserved around adults. I never understood why, because my parents were gentle and kind. I do not remember any consequences for bad behavior besides a “talking to” which was consequence enough. Reading Donna Everhart’s book made me realize, even as a child I realized bad things can happen if you did not abide by cultural norms. If teenagers or adults were no longer around, all I might hear was sympathy for their family. I knew about the State Prison in Raleigh because we drove by it when we went to Raleigh. I thought it was the scariest place I had ever seen. I had never heard of reform schools or The State Industrial Farm Colony For Women. What I’m trying to say is the time period of this book was a different world of social decorum and male dominance. I don’t doubt any of the things that happened to these women. It was a time of secrets and denials, but sensitive children could sense the dark underbelly of society. Reading this book reminded me of the feelings I had as a child that bad things happen if you are different or do not follow societies rules.