Slut shaming is defined as the act of criticising a woman for her real or presumed sexual activity, or for behaving in ways that someone thinks are associated with her real or presumed sexual activity. This is a hot topic in the media, with celebrities like Amber Rose, Nicki Minaj and Amy Schumer combatting the hate that girls get for doing as they please with their own bodies.
Slut shaming stems both from men degrading woman, and women putting down other women. What happened to sticking together, ladies? Calling another girl a slut is giving boys permission to call us degrading names as well. We should be empowering each other, not putting each other down.
On October 3, 2015 Amber Rose organized a "Slut Walk" in Los Angeles, California. This was meant to create a movement against sexual injustice, victim blaming, derogatory labeling and gender inequality. Nicki Minaj also took to her haters after her "Anaconda" video got heat for being too risqué.
She fired back and said, "t here are sexual things that I do that aren't for a man. I feel empowered sometimes by being sexy and being comfortable enough to be sexy on camera."
Finally, Amy Schumer fired back at her critics after a mean tweet by a critic was released after the Critic Choice Awards. The tweet read "spent the night with @amyschumer. Certainly not the first guy to write that."
The comedian shot back, "@LCJReviews @jondaly I get it. Cause I'm a whore? Glad I took a photo with you. Hi to your dad." The critic deleted the tweet, shows him not to mess with these powerful women on a mission.
There's something that we should all learn from these strong and independent women, what we want to do with our bodies is our decision. Nobody has the right to tell us what we can and can't do. By calling girls these derogatory names, we are not only telling them their self-worth is based solely on their sexual endeavors, but that if they lose their "sacred" virginity, their self-worth plummets.
We're teaching boys (and even other girls) that it's okay to define a girl based on a number and not on her intelligence, radiance, determination, or ambition. Girls have MUCH more to offer than just their bodies. It pains me to see that their virtue is being based on their sexuality.
Their is a distinct double standard that ensues in our society about the sexual partners men and women have. A quote from the movie "Girl Interrupted" depicted this double standard best by asking, "How many guys would I have to sleep with to be considered promiscuous? Textbook promiscuous...And how many girls would a guy my age have to sleep with to be considered promiscuous?"
Regardless, both men and women's sexual encounters are their own business, no one should be judged by how many encounters they have.
As a society, we need to teach young girls and women that they are not defined by the labels society has put on them. They are capable of making their own conscious decisions about sex and that they won't lose their "self-respect" because they have had it. Self respect is having pride and confidence in oneself. However you define that for yourself is your decision, and only yours.
So let's all take a vow not to call a girl a slut, tramp, hoe or any other word for that matter because she doesn't match what your perceived standards of a girl are. Whether she has had sex with none or three people or however many people, if she is confident and happy with herself, then leave her alone. Stop bringing people down. Let's all empower each other. Rant over.
