Sheila law

It is time to face up to the fact that there are large communities of young women in this country who respect not the conventional mores and manners of English society, but are beholden instead to a set of principles called Sheila law. Named after the colloquial term for an Australian woman, Sheila law attributes highest-value to a life of foul-mouthed, heavy-drinking, promiscuous behaviour. Those who subscribe to Sheila law regard the whole world as governed by Sheila law, and reject other standards of behaviour.

Sheila law is especially insidious because it is intolerant to all forms of criticism. Any expression of reproach directed towards those who live under Sheila law is met with aggression, hysteria and abuse.

One moral code for everybody would be something of a danger, and it is time for a constructive accommodation with some aspects of Sheila law. It seems inevitable that at least some form of Sheila law will be incorporated permanently into English mores and morality, and officially recognising this will improve relations with young modern females.

We need to look at Sheila law with a clear eye and not imagine, either, that we know exactly what we mean by Sheila law and just associate it with Australian women, or whatever. I do not think we should instantly spring to the conclusion that the whole of that world of modern female morality and practice is somehow monstrously incompatible with human dignity and respect, just because it doesn't immediately fit with how we understand it.