The "S-word" I'm talking about is slut, but there are so many other derogatory terms given to females. When you google "slut," it's defined as a woman who has many casual sexual partners. The more dated definition is "a woman with low standards of cleanliness." If this is so, why are so many women referred to as a slut or a hoe, regardless of their sexual history? You could be a virgin, in a committed relationship, or enjoy casual sex. Your situation doesn't matter. This is a term that is thrown around, by men and women alike. If a man is rejected, he thinks it's okay to call you a "f*cking whore," but if that's really what I am, why am I turning you down? If you are even a little bit nice to a guy (like any decent human being should be) and then decide you don't want more than a friendship, you're a skank. It is never okay to call someone a slut. There is no reason my sexual history is anyone's business other than my own. Women are shamed, but men are glorified. Women are guilty too, unfortunately. Through gossip and jealousy, we think it's okay to call other women these derogatory terms.
I asked ten people what their definition of slut was, and these were the answers:
"I would say a slut is someone who sleeps around with various people over a short time span." -Female
"Well a slut in my opinion, is someone who has an obscene amount of sex regardless of her circumstance, like even if she's in a relationship. I guess just a lot of sex in general, but I wouldn't use the word slut. Slut is a very harsh word." -Male
"Slut is when girls feel the need to have sex with a different guy every night or as often as possible." -Female
"A slut is someone who doesn't fit the social norms of society with their sexuality and don't care if it's private or not." -Female
"Someone who is promiscuous; multiple partners without a commitment." -Male
"Someone who engages in sexual activity with multiple people for the sole reason of pleasure, not because of feelings." -Female
"A chick that f*cks with many guys and has no relations with them." -Male
"To me a slut is someone who would sleep and f*ck another girl's man, knowing he was taken. That or someone who excessively sleeps around just because they can." -Male
"Well it depends on the context it's used but I guess the most crude definition is usually a girl who irresponsibly has multiple sex partners and partaken in sex in immoral ways, such as intentionally cheating with someone who's taken or having a lot of sex for attention." -Female
"A woman who has loose sexual morals." -Male
Many of the answers were along the same lines, but there were a couple that made me proud to call them my friends. The term slut has changed throughout time, and not necessarily for the better. I want to live in a world where I can wear what I want, talk to who I want (and sometimes say no), and act the way I want without being given a label. It's time to put an end to slut-shaming.
