Stop Shaming Women For The Decisions They Make With Their Bodies
Start writing a post
Politics

Stop Shaming Women For The Decisions They Make With Their Bodies

It's your body, and your body only.

59
Stop Shaming Women For The Decisions They Make With Their Bodies

Let me tell you a story.

A few months back, I posted a selfie on my personal Instagram, as 18 year old college girls like myself tend to do. It is widely known that I am a selfie fanatic. I love taking selfies, and I love when others post selfies, too. Of course, I thought this particular selfie was worth sharing. The selfie happened to take place in a Victoria's Secret dressing room, because we all know their selfie lighting is bomb. Anyhow, some time after the selfie was posted, my older sister commented something along the lines of "put on some clothes" or "put away your boobs". Feeling upset and slightly embarrassed, I immediately deleted her comment. I proceeded to text her, because if she had a problem with my post, I preferred to handle it one on one, not over Instagram. She replied with something along the lines of "It's skanky, you would look just as pretty with more clothes on."

I was devastated. My very own sister, someone who I have looked up to my entire life, thought I looked like a skank. She believed that, somehow, the clothes I was wearing determined my beauty. I thought I looked pretty, I felt confident in my post, which is something, despite all of my selfies, I do not always feel.

I know that I am not a skank, or a whore, or a slut, or a you name it, but this event made me question, so what if someone is? It is not my business. It does not affect my life directly. It also made me question why does the way one dress determine if they are any of the above? Just because someone posts something you believe to be "racy" or "sexy", does not make anyone any of those slurs. Even if someone is a "skank", who cares? I, for one, do not. Why would anyone care what someone else does when it does not concern them?

Women should be able to wear, post, look, however and do whatever they damn well please and still be respected, and I am sick and tired of that being hindered by others ideas of how women should present themselves. If a girl wants to post a selfie in a bra, let her. If a woman wants to wear booty shorts, let her. If a woman wants to do anything that does not immediately affect your life and your well being, let her. The female body is amazing, why not show it off?

It is all about decisions. Feeling free to make your own decisions about how you present you body and what you do with your body should not be considered a privilege, but an unalienable human right. So should respect. Women should be respected, no matter the clothes they have on their body. Respect and how one prefers to show their body should not be interrelated. Women should feel free to make their own decisions about anything without judgment, but more often than not, that does not happen.

That is why I am here to tell you this: You, not only as a woman but as a human being, deserve to be respected no matter the clothes on your body. Post whatever selfie you want, dress however you want, make whatever decision concerning your body that you want. If you feel confident, do it. That is all that matters. It is no one else's business what you do with your body, or how you present it. It's yours, and yours only, and you are worthy of respect.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

40038
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

24614
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

950451
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

130681
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments