For as long as history recalls, women have been shamed for their sexuality. From arranged marriages to strict premarital sex beliefs, women were never free to express themselves sexually. However, while women's rights are beginning to be more accepted in society, why aren't their sexualities? Why are there still major double standards between men and women when it comes to sex? Why are men congratulated for the same things women are slut shamed for?
First, what is slut shaming? A feminism 101 blog describes slut shaming as "the idea of shaming and/or attacking a woman or a girl for being sexual, having one or more sexual partners, acknowledging sexual feelings, and/or acting on sexual feelings." Almost every girl has been a victim of slut shaming whether by their close friends, their family or their peers. In school, teens, particularly girls, are taught to abstain from sex completely rather than practice safe sex. Teens are taught to not talk about sex for fear of judgement and criticism rather than learn facts and use those facts to practice safe sex. Schools and parents need to stop denying that children are having sex because, plain and simple, they are. Instead of turning a blind eye, arm these children with the power of knowledge in order to lower STD and teen pregnancy rates.
Also, what is up with the double standards between boys and girls and men and women? When a girl tells someone she met a boy on Tinder, she gets disappointed looks and blank stares. On the other hand, when a boy shows his friends who he matched with, there's high-fives and whistles all around. If a woman meets a man in a bar and takes him home, she's considered a slut, but if the roles are reversed, there's no name calling and only praise for the man. Why are men treated like a sort of god for having a high body count but women feel the need to low ball their number for fear of judgement? It takes two parties to have sex, so when will one party stop being put down for participating?
A woman's body is her own and she should be able to do what she wants with it without fear of being called hurtful names. Times are changing and as they continue to change, women's sexualities NEED to be more accepted. Sex is normal and it is happening whether society wants to believe it or not. Ladies, it is okay to be promiscuous. It is okay to have more than one sexual partner. It is okay to dress how you want and flaunt what you've got. If you are truly proud of who you are as a person, everyone else's opinions become trivial. Despite what society has taught us women to believe, we have done nothing to be ashamed of.
