‘Because it’s fun’: English and American girls’ counter-hegemonic stories of alcohol and marijuana use

ABSTRACT

Girls’ alcohol and other drug (AOD) use are depicted culturally as problematic. In this comparative, qualitative, study the voices of 59 English and American justice-involved girls give a counter-hegemonic portrayal of their alcohol and marijuana use. In their stories, we see how their AOD use is pleasurable and boundaried. AOD use involves negotiated risk within the situated context of shared experience and friendship networks that heighten and promote pleasure and fun. The findings offer the opportunity to address the ‘credibility gap’ in international health promotion policy. Our aim is to promote the adoption of policy approaches that recognize the complexity of girls’ lives and draw on strategies they have devised.

KEYWORDS:

• Girls
• AOD use
• Boundaries
• Pleasure
• Harm minimization
• Justice-involved girls

ORCID

Elaine Arnull http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0225-5109

Notes

1 For brevity, hereafter referred to as girls, in line with international law and justice systems where under 18 has differential status from adults.

2 Solorzano and Yosso (2002) identify five critical race theory and methodology themes that collectively contest existing scholarship modes: intercentricity of race and racism with other forms of subordination; the challenge to dominant ideology; a commitment to social justice; centrality of experiential knowledge; and transdisciplinary perspective.

3 Different between the UK (18 years) and USA (21 years).

4 Great Britain, Germany and Russia not included in most recent 2015 ESPAD survey.

5 Respondents (US) specified race or ethnic background. Ten categories offered: responses recoded Black, Hispanic/Latina, White, Biracial/Multiracial.

6 Custody interviews conducted with Susannah Eagle. See Arnull and Eagle (2009).

7 Respondents (UK) self-defined against terms used in system: Black, White, Asian (specify), Mixed (specify), Other.

8 Selling drugs common in US but not UK data.

9 “Owt” a term for anything in North of England.