If you haven’t heard already, a viral video has been going around with a 16-year-old girl named Nia Green. After posting a picture of her and her boyfriend in nothing but towels, her mom put up a video of her getting whooped. Instantly, Nia’s followers increased and so did the comments and likes on her pictures. Whether it was right or wrong for the mother to respond to the situation like that...that is up to you. If you would like a full evaluation of the situation, please check out lovelyti2002’s channel on YouTube. The article I am about to write is not about her being publicly embarrassed and its morality; it’s about the word ho.
I was being a bit of a busybody, so I checked out her page and I was disgusted by the fact that grown adults took the time out of their day to call this young girl a ho, thot, slut, skank and other insulting words. I was first disgusted because these were grown adults and I expected them to be more mature and mind their business. As I thought of their actions, however, I witnessed a deeper societal problem...misogyny. This is nothing new. In the Bible, men had many wives and concubines, even God’s chosen men; but if a woman were to do the same, she would be shunned if she was lucky or even killed. I specifically chose the word ho simply because it interests me, yet I find it so unacceptable.
Ho in slang is a derogatory word for woman or used to describe a prostitute. This is enough evidence to show its misogynistic power. It derived from the word whore and started its use in the common population around the '60s. Nowadays, this word is taken way out of context to describe any female that is not a virgin. When I scrolled down Nia’s page, I wondered if anyone called out her boyfriend for being a ho or considered the fact that maybe she lost her virginity the day she posted the picture. Better yet, why didn’t a lot of them remember when they lost their virginity or how many people they have been with sexually in the past and present? Why are people so quick to use “ho” and why do they feel like it is their business to call a “ho” out?
As you read this, there is someone uploading an ex’s or a friend’s photo to the many “Expose Thots and Hos” pages online. It could even be your own picture and you probably have seen your photo on the pages. Somewhere out there, there is someone with a God complex shaking their head and assuming someone’s life because of a few photos.
Why must Monica Lewinsky live her life as the shamed mistress trying to gain a better reputation while Bill Clinton smiles on my television screen living a seemingly stress-free life? Why do we tell our daughters how sacred virginity is, but give condoms to our sons? All these whys, I ask, but I know deep down that the sad answer is misogyny.
The bigger question in the middle of all this is why is it anyone’s business to call someone out for being a ho? When it is used, it is used to degrade a person, in most situations, someone who is female. This may sound ideal, but most problems would be solved if people minded their own business. Is sex wrong? Who is to determine how many partners one should have at the end of the day? It should only matter if you are in relationship or plan to sleep with the person.
In addition, ho should not be used to describe anyone. Just because I reject you, doesn’t make me a ho, that makes you an asshole! If you want to use the word, please use it in its context. When you use it in context, learn to mind your business.
