Why We Must Put An End to 'Slut Shaming'

For whatever the reason may be, the topic of the female body and its' sexual freedom is quite controversial. Women are constantly being held to some sort of standard; a standard that's not always clear. Whether it be an expectation on how conservatively to dress or what women should and shouldn't do with their bodies, we have to make it stop. Women and men alike should have sexual freedom sans judgement.

Every person has the right to their own beliefs, choices, sexuality, religion, etc. Included in this is the right to our own bodies. If someone wants to have casual relationships with people or one night stands, that's up to them to decide if it's right or wrong. As a society, we should be building each other up and encouraging other people to be happy in their own skins instead of tearing each other down over disagreement in what one should do with their own body.

A common controversy that I've heard from many people is the way in which parents give their kids 'the talk'. In many cases, girls are taught to obtain from sex until they're with someone they love. However, guys are taught to be safe about sex. As long as they use protection, it's deemed okay for them to sleep with whoever they want. But how does this all add up? In a heterosexual relationship, it takes a girl and a guy to do the deed. So if a guy and a girl are having casual sex, why is the girl called a 'slut' but the guy isn't? Why is he rather encouraged by his friends to keep up this behavior? There is a double standard that has to be stopped.

The ironic thing is that girls are portrayed as sexual objects in films, television and advertisements. Especially in older movies, women are seen as an accessory for a man. The man typically calls the shots and decides when he and his partner have sex and the woman is left with no freedom of choice. In the infamous Carls Jr. commercials, women are featured half naked eating a burger. In many designer advertisements such as Dolce & Gabanna and Tom Ford, women are sexualized beyond belief. Companies try to sell their products by including an enlarged picture of a naked or barely clothed woman with the company's product taking up a mere 1/10 of the picture. Women's bodies are objectified and used as a way to attract men and bring in business, but when a woman wants to take control of her own body and make her own choices about who she wants to sleep with, it's deemed wrong by society? Okay. Makes sense. *sarcasm*

From the elementary years to the end of high school, women are taught to feel guilty about their bodies. School dress codes are implemented solely so guys aren't distracted by girl's bodies. "Girls, you can't show your shoulders. Your shorts have to be down to your mid-thigh." If it's a hot day outside, it's understandable that a woman wouldn't want to wear layers of clothing. Once again, girls are the one to blame. Even though it's the guys (or other girls) who can't control themselves from staring in class, the girls are at fault for dressing too 'slutty' but the guys aren't wronged because it's 'natural' for them to be intrigued by a woman's body. But where is the dress code for men? At a typical public high school, as long as a guy is wearing a shirt of any sort, there seems to be no problem. If a woman is comfortable in her own skin, she should be allowed to wear whatever she wants without judgement or shame from others.

Women are seen as sexual objects in nearly every form of media. They're objectified to draw in more viewers or more buyers. They're told what do with their bodies and who they should and shouldn't be sleeping with. Women's bodies are in the hands of other people, but when they take matters into their own account, it's wrong. They're told that virginity is sacred, while guys are told to be safe with whoever they choose to have sex with. Society seems to forget that it takes two. As a woman, it's important that I am supportive of other women no matter what. As women, all together, we should encourage each other to do what makes us happy and what we feel comfortable doing. There is nothing wrong with being comfortable in your own skin or your own sexuality. There is nothing wrong with choosing to abstain from sex. What is wrong is shaming other women for what they do or don't do with their bodies. Our bodies are the most personal things we will ever have, so it's up to ourselves what we decide what to do with it.