"Do you see that girl over there wearing a short, tight, black, cutout dress?"
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"What a slut."
"Did you hear about that girl who slept with four different guys last week?"
"What a slut."
"Do you see that shirtless guy over there? I hear he gets with a lot of girls."
"He's so cool."
This is our problem.
Today's world is hard for women. Gender inequalities are present problems in the workforce, at home, and in the relationships of many people around the world. And even though these inequalities are extremely important and relevant, there is another problem that doesn't seem to have enough attention: slut shaming.
All around the world young women are judged, judged by their weight, looks, social media status, and now by their clothing and sexual activity. If girls wear something that is seen as "too short, too revealing, too low-cut, or too suggestive" they are called a slut. If girls sleep with more one person, they are called a slut. But, what is a "slut"?
In a survey that I made, I asked 30 people what the original definition of a slut was. Fifty-six percent answered incorrectly, stating they believed it was "a woman who dressed provocatively" or "a woman with multiple casual sexual partners." The original definition of the word "slut" is defined as a woman who is "dirty or untidy." But, throughout the evolution of society the word has transformed to have a more negative connotation and is used to degrade women. How many men does a woman have to sleep with in order to be called a slut? Two? Three? How many women does a man have to sleep with in order to be called a slut? There is no number. A man will never be classified as a "slut" because the word slut is gender specified towards only women and there is no compatible/similar word for men. In the survey, 97 percent stated that it was unfair that the word slut is reserved solely for women and 90 percent stated that it was unfair that women are judged more harshly about their sexual activity than men. Yet, the idea that men can choose to engage in sex for fun with multiple partners will always been seen as acceptable, while it will always been seen as shameful for women.
Unless we do something about it.
In the survey I made, I asked if people should be judged if they have had no sexual partners, and 100 percent answered no. However, when I asked if people should be judged if they have had many sexual partners, only 92 percent answered no.
If you shouldn't be judged by your lack of sexual activity, you shouldn't be judged by your abundance of sexual activity.
The word "slut" is a nasty word that promotes inequality, dehumanization and restriction. Eighty-seven percent answered that the word "slut" should no longer be used in our society.
Calling women sluts attacks our right to our own choices; it takes away our ability to have control of our body.
Calling women sluts teaches young girls that there is a preconceived guilt and shame with being born female.
Calling women sluts provides men with more power of choice and sexual freedom than women.
Stop the use of the world "slut."
Stop the shame.
