“Slut shaming: to shame someone, male or female, for sleeping around indiscriminately with anyone and everyone they can, often without even knowing the person’s name.”
Unless you are living under a rock, you’ve heard about Kim Kardashian’s decision to post a nude selfie on International Women’s Day (IWD). Among her over 63 million Instagram followers, the post was greeted by supporters, hormonal teenage boys and retweet-happy girls, alike. However, no public statement, big or small, can avoid some type of criticism. Kim received criticism from celebrities including Bette Midler, Chloe Grace Moretz and Piers Morgan to name a few. Although some of them chose to make jokes, mostly Midler, the overall opinion seemed to be consistent. They all seemed to feel that, in an effort to empower women, Kardashian-West was actually degrading them. By posting that picture, specifically on IWD, she was sending the message that women should be empowered by their bodies, as opposed to their minds. To be clear, she didn’t verbally say that. However, it was the message that was taken.
In addition to criticism, Kardashian-West was met by supporters; mostly women I might add. People like Sharon Osbourne and Amber Rose accused the media and the critics of “slut shaming” Kardashian. Ms. Rose is notorious for her lack of clothing and fashion choices all throughout social media. She even has a campaign known as “SlutWalk” which aims to fight against sexual assault, victim blaming and derogatory labels. While I believe her heart was in a good place, her inconsistent relationship with Kardashian and her husband, who is also Amber’s ex, gives her argument very little merit to me.
In response to criticism from Pink, Amber Rose wrote, "... we were all born naked society sexualizes our breast and bodies." I have news for you Amber, society is sexualizing that one breast of yours because you're allowing it. Sexuality and slut shaming are two very different things.
I decided it was time to look up the “proper” definition for the phrase “slut shaming”. It has been tossed around so often in the media lately, in defense/attack of many women including Ms. Kardashian-West herself. According to Urban Dictionary, my go-to source for all words and phrases made up by Generation Y, it has nothing to do with a woman’s lack of clothing. In fact, it isn’t entirely limited to women at all. Men can be accused of being “sluts” too although, in my experience, it’s a more common term for women.
So none of the celebrity critics openly called Kim a slut, because they have no proof that she is a woman who has a lot of sex. Yet, Amber and Kim are accusing their critics of “slut shaming” them. Kim still thinks this has to do with that sex tape she reminds us was so long ago. I don’t recall anyone bringing that up Kim but, since you did, let's do it.
You made a sex tape with a boyfriend. It was supposed to be private, and it ended up everywhere. That’s not your fault and, I for one, don’t blame you for it. You took a paycheck instead of a buyout. Respectable; smart even. I’m sorry that happened to you. It was degrading and demoralizing, and I’m pretty sure it doesn’t follow Ray-J around all these years later. Is it because he’s a man? Or is it because he isn’t as famous? I guess we’ll never know. I’m going to say it’s because he hasn’t had a hit since, “Sexy Can I,” but…
I am a woman. I dress the way I want, I go where I want, I talk how I want, and I don’t believe I should be blamed for anything that happens to me just because I’m a woman. I hate that I have to take my friends to the bathroom with me, I hate that I have to hold my keys in between my fingers when walking to my car in the dark, and I hate that I don’t get 500 Instagram likes because I’m wearing pants. But, that’s the way it is.
I applaud Amber Rose for her movement. However, if I want society to change, I have to be that change. In order to do that, I look up to women for guidance in order to do my part. If Kim K is teaching me that I need to remove my clothes in order to get some attention, maybe I need a different role model. I want to be able to walk into a room full of men, wearing a parka, and convince them that I am right. Not because I’m sexy, not because I’m a D-cup, but because I am smart. Maybe I’m even smarter than them. Eyes up here, people. Stop looking and listen. I don’t want your attention. I want your respect.
