New Books Network Katie Beswick, "Slags on Stage: Class, Sex, Art and Desire in British Culture" (Routledge, 2025)
May 31, 2025
Katie Beswick, a Senior Lecturer in Arts Management at Goldsmiths, delves into the representation of working-class women in British culture with her book, 'Slags on Stage.' She unpacks the cultural implications of the term 'slag,' revealing how it shapes women's identities and societal judgments. The discussion spans various media, examining gender dynamics in film and theatre adaptations and the complex intersections of race, class, and identity. Beswick advocates for a richer understanding of women's experiences, emphasizing the contemporary relevance of her insights.
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Inspiration Behind the Book Title
- Katie Beswick conceived the book's title 'Slags on Stage' after being silently labeled 'slag' at an academic conference.
- This sparked her curiosity about the term's cultural charge and its theatrical implications.
The Cultural Weight of 'Slag'
- The word 'slag' predominantly insults working-class women's sexual behavior as excessive and shameful.
- It originated from industrial waste and reflects cultural devaluation of both women and the working class.
'On Stage' as Metaphor and Medium
- 'On stage' in the book's title is a metaphor for public visibility and judgment provoked by calling a woman a slag.
- It also literally relates to the representation of slags in theatre and other cultural media.