Unseduced and Unshaken: An Interview w/ Rosalie De Rosset

AN INTRODUCTION

Last week, we ran a book giveaway of this book, Unseduced and Unshaken: The Place of Dignity in a Young Woman’s Choices by  Dr. Rosalie De Rosset.  I felt it was particularly noteworthy for our readers, considering both the author’s background and the use of classic literature as a kind of moral capital on which we can draw.

Dr. De Rosset has a masters in English from Northeastern Illinois University, as well as a M. Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Ph.D. in Language, Literacy, and Homelitics from The University of Illinois.  She’s also taught literature at Moody for roughly forty years, keeping her in touch with rising generations of young men and women.  This book, she says, grew out of her ministry to young women particularly, who seemed to be ever more under assault in many ways.

Her book reflects her many years of using classic literature like Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice to speak to young women about their deepest longings and to point them to Scripture.  And while I don’t agree with all of her opinions, I am wholly sympathetic with her goal.  Thus, I began the interview with a quote that really goes to the heart of this book–helping young women to identify temptation, whether sexual or otherwise, and rising above those snares “unseduced and unshaken.”   On p. 30, Dr. De Rosset writes of  Jane Eyre:

Jane feels torn by her beloved’s desolation–she wants in our vernacular to “be there for him.”  She says, “Feeling clamoured wildly…’Oh, comply!’ it said….  ‘Soothe him; save him; love him; tell him you love him and will be his.  Who in the world cares for you?  or who will be injured by what you do?'”  In the wake of her pity, her habit of thinking rationally and theologically and her self-respect kick in.  ‘Still, indomitable was the reply, ‘I care for myself.  The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unstained I am, the more I will respect myself.  I will keep the law given by God; sanctioned by man.’

THE PODCAST

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ROSALIE DE ROSSET’S BOOK SHELF

During her interview, I asked Dr. De Rosset to recommend 5 books she thinks every young woman should read.  Here they are in a quick link format:

Do you have a favorite character or story from literature that you think would be helpful for young women?  Let us know in the comments!

You can also read more of our sexual integrity resources in Janie’s Identity and Revolution and Emily’s review of Rosaria Champagne Butterfield’s autobiography.