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"Good Girls" and "Bad Girls"

From a patriarchal perspective, women who adhere to traditional gender roles are considered "good girls." They are put on pedestals and idealized as pure, angelic creatures whose sense of self consists mainly or entirely of their usefulness to their husbands, fathers, or brothers.

In contrast, women who violate traditional gender roles are thought of as "bad girls," especially if they violate the rules of sexual conduct for patriarchal women, such as dressing or behaving in a manner that could be considered sexually provocative.

Patriarchal men sleep with and then discard "bad girls"—who are relegated to the role of sex objects—but they marry "good girls," because only a "good girl" is considered worthy of bearing a man's name and children.

Feminist theory points out, however, that both "good girls" and "bad girls" are objectified by patriarchy. They are not viewed as independent human beings with their own goals, needs, and desires. Rather, they are evaluated only in terms of their usefulness to patriarchal men.