One of the biggest issues these days is slut shaming. Females are constantly judged for every little thing they do, especially for one of our most primary instincts: sex. Guys are constantly coaxed on by their peers to "get some" and it is a prize or something for how many girls they can bag like we are some kind of inanimate object. If a guy has sex with many females, he is rewarded for it, but if a female has sex even once they are called a whore and if they are a virgin, then they are called a prude.
Females get put down for doing one of the most natural things a person can do while their male counterpart is praised for the same thing. What is most scary is that guys will make bets in their friend group to see what girls they can have sex with or if they can take a girl's virginity like it is some sort of game to them.
Some girls and guys save themselves for marriage because of religion or just because they want to and get put down for it solely because they are a virgin. Other girls start having sex at a young age. While I do not condone it, if they are properly educated and ready for it, then why not, props to you. Those girls, on the other hand, get called names like "slut" and "whore" just for enjoying sex and wanting to have it. The short movie, Dear Daddy, I think, accurately describes the issues with slut-shaming and the struggles throughout society with being a female.
Society these days makes it seem like girls are sex toys for guys and if they do not do it for the guy, then they do not get anything back. Girls are constantly told to cover up and save themselves even though some girls enjoy wearing corsets, fishnet stockings or even "stripper heels," as they are so commonly referred to. This leads to anxiety, depression and major self-image issues with girls. This also refers to in schools. I agree we shouldn't be able to wear clothes that could be worn in a club, but not being able to wear tank tops because our shoulders distract guys from learning is taking it a bit far. And sending a girl home for her shorts being an inch under dress code, if there is one, or for wearing a shirt where her shoulders or bra strap is slightly showing, shows girls that guys "distraction free" learning environment is more important than her education.
According to society, the only times girls can dress up in sexy outfits to make themselves feel good about themselves is for Halloween, to do it for someone else other than just because they want to, or if they "are asking for it".. It is apparently a good thing if a guy has sex with a lot of girls but if a girl does it, it is highly looked down upon, like we do not have urges. We are made to feel ashamed for enjoying the pleasure we get out of it. Slut shaming and rape culture go hand in hand. If a young girl is raped or sexually assaulted, she was asking for it because of what she was wearing or where she was or what she was doing. More often than not, she is blamed for it and nothing is done. If a young guy is raped, which against popular belief does happen, he is looked up to for it. as an example, a female teacher raped a 13-year old student. Comments like "if I was his age I would have done the same thing" or "She was hot, he should be proud of that" are often thrown out. Rape in general is a horrendous crime but it should never be the victim's fault, no matter if they are male or female.
Girls are raised to be conservative and reserved and not give in to peer pressure, but most guys are not raised to not take advantage of girls or corrected if they do–they are encouraged to. Men are never raised to believe that their legs or arms or stomachs are a problem for someone else. They are only seen as human and rarely seen as someone for your sexual exploits. Girls are human beings, not sexual objects. From the very beginning, girls are taught shame: cover up, close your legs, sit like a lady. We are raised as if being born a female makes us guilty of something. One of my favorite sayings is, "if you wouldn’t want a boy doing it to your daughter, then why is it ok for you to do it to a girl?" To any guys reading this, think about your future daughter before you do something and before you praise your friends or even future son for taking advantage of a girl. We have feelings too. We are human, not objects.
