The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word "slut" as a woman who has many sexual partners. Preceding this short definition are the words "disparaging + offensive." To me, it sounds like a "slut" is really just a confident woman embracing her sexuality, so I'm not sure how or why this became such a degrading word. Especially because there's pretty much no male equivalent to it.

Though I think as a whole, women have really embraced each other with love and respect, the "slut" stigma still remains even within circles of females. It's something so ingrained in our society that it continues to prevail despite the many pushes for social change. Let me just state the obvious: We can do whatever we want with our bodies, and these decisions should never define us in any way.

Even on this very site, I see women calling out other women for various personal choices like the swimsuit bottoms they wear or the amount of makeup they put on. In a society where women are constantly degraded and belittled, we need to be the ones lifting each other up. Judgmental thoughts are bound to strike from time-to-time as these judgments are what society conditioned us to possess. But it is our responsibility to be aware of these negative thoughts and shut them down. These are our sisters and allies—we need each other's love and support now more than ever.

And men, why don't you stop assessing a woman's value based on her clothing or her past partners? Why don't you decide to be an ally for women rather than a perpetrator of unfair stereotypes and absurd standards?

That girl in your class who wears crop tops and short shorts every day? Good for her. The girl who has slept with multiple boys in the same fraternity? Well, more power to her. Even if you have a different lifestyle than her, her personal choices don't concern you and she certainly doesn't want nor need your judgments.

Additionally, I think we're all painfully aware of the double standards society has for a sexually active woman v.s. a sexually active man. Why is it an accomplishment for them and a loss for us? Men are celebrated for their sexual endeavors while women are berated.

Seriously, the more women that men sleep with, the more their value rises. The more men a woman sleeps with, the more her value depreciates. How disgusting is that? We shouldn't be defining anyone by their sexual partners at all, and we certainly shouldn't be treating women like used cars.

Though America has been in decline since the 2016 election, one wonderful thing has emerged from the chaos: the rise of powerful women. In the face of adversity, so many of us have stood up to fight for the right to our own bodies and sexuality. It's quite sad that we've been put in this situation at all, but it is in the darkest times that we shine the brightest. And let me tell you, the world is alight with our power. Let's keep the fire burning and bring our sisters up. There's no such thing as a "slut," just a liberated woman.