Maxwell, C. & Aggleton, P. (2012Ϳ Bodies aŶd ageŶtiĐ pƌaĐtiĐe iŶ LJouŶg ǁoŵeŶs sedžual aŶd iŶtiŵate ƌelatioŶships, Sociology 46(2): 06-321. Bodies and agentic practice in LJouŶg ǁoŵeŶs sedžual and intimate relationships Claire Maxwell, Institute of Education, University of London (corresponding author) Peter Aggleton, University of Sussex Abstract This paper contributes to theorisations of agency through a focus on how understandings of poǁeƌ ǁithiŶ LJouŶg ǁoŵeŶs sedžual aŶd iŶtiŵate ƌelatioŶships connect with their descriptions of feeling, reacting and sensuous bodies, to suggest why and how agentic practice takes place. Drawing on the narratives of 54 young women aged 16-18 years in one secondary school in England, findings concur with other literature which suggests that sensations experienced on or within the body can instigate (agentic) practice. Significantly, however, both physical and verbal practices are drawn on during agentic moments. Young women who discursively position themselves as powerful integrate their bodies within such an understanding, using this integration to shore up the possibilities for agentic practice. Moving away from an understanding of practice as accommodating and/or resisting Ŷoƌŵs aŶd iŶeƋualities, this paper identifies four strategies described by the young women (assertive, refusing, proactive and interrogative) for facilitating more sustained agency. Keywords: agency, power, sex, the body, young women Correspondence details: Claire Maxwell, Institute of Education, University of London, 27/28 Woburn Square, London WC1H 0AA, c.maxwell@ioe.ac.uk