Did you hear about the girl who-- ?

by Mariamne H Whatley

"Ever hear the one about the man who wakes up after a chance sexual encounter to discover he's been involuntarily relieved of one of his kidneys? Or the tiny gift-wrapped box from a recently departed lover that reveals a horrible secret? Everyone knows contemporary legends, those bizarre cautionary tales often told as though they happened to a friend of a friend. Whether we believe them or dismiss them, we share them with others, and these ironic stories tell us quite a bit about our deepest fears and values.". "Mariamne H. Whatley and Elissa R. Henken have collected hundreds of sexually themed stories and jokes from college students in order to tell us what they reveal about our sexual attitudes and show us how they have changed over time. They confront common beliefs and stereotypes about sexual behavior and use folklore as a tool to educate students about sexual health and gender relations. Whether analyzing popular rumors about celebrity emergency room visits or the latest schoolya