Stop With The Slut Shaming

I keep seeing the above everywhere. Facebook, Tumblr, Livejournal, and emails. It’s always put forth with this kind of snooty superiority that basically just screams, “If nothing else, at least I’m not a slut!” Guys, guys, guys, come on. Every time I see this posted, all I can think of is this.

What is slut-shaming?

It is 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. Furthermore, it’s “about the implication that if a woman has sex that traditional society disapproves of, she should feel guilty and inferior” (Alon Levy, Slut Shaming). It is damaging not only to the girls and women targeted, but to women in general an society as a whole. It should be noted that slut-shaming can occur even if the term “slut” itself is not used.

Please read that linked essay. It says it all so well. Basically, calling a woman out about her sexual choices–to have sex with no people, one person, many people–does not serve women or men well in the long run for multiple reasons, including the fact that it promotes an atmosphere of victim blaming when it comes to rape.

So, this short post is a call to all women to stop posting that damn picture around the interwebs! All it tells me is that you are slut-shaming your fellow women and that you are insecure about your own desirability and sexual choices. Please, if you’re going to post anything, post something like, “Fuck who you want, when you want, so long as you have clear consent and good communication.” The end.