Who are you calling a SLUT?

In light of my previous post, I’ve decided to tackle an issue which is very dear to me – women, sexual harassment, and clothing attire. This issue is dear, primarily because it is something that I deal with on an almost daily basis, and I’m sure most girls would agree. I am particularly referring to the sleazy, highly obvious, over-the-top jeering, honking, and whistling, from men who clearly have no respect for women, or who are desperately trying to seek acceptance amongst other equally pathetic males.

It has gotten to the point where women are made to feel so uncomfortable when walking in public, they feel they have no choice but to retaliate with an action equally as repulsive (well at least I do anyway). Yet the oxymoron here lies in the fact that such males say they prefer women to dress ‘sexy’, and yet when they do, they are instantly dehumanised with labels such as whore, and slut. What is even more pressing, is the fact that clothing attire has now become the excuse for men who have committed sexual harassment.

Take this individual for example. The following statement was made by a police officer in Toronto, who said:

“Women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized”. 

When did our society ever get to the point where what a person wore, became an open invitation for someone to rip their clothes off and have their way with them, without consent. Its infuriating! Why can’t a woman walk down the street in a skirt, and heels, and feel good about herself, without the judgement, the harsh critique, and the discriminating labels.The words which have escaped the mouth of this pathetic excuse of a man, are heard all to often – and to me signify the makings of a sociopathic rapist (but more on that another time). What is most concerning, is the fact that this excuse is so readily accepted – particularly in instances of verbal harassment. Time and time again, I hear the victim being judged and blamed for wearing “scanty clothing”, or being told she deserved it and was “asking for it” because of the clothes she was wearing.

I myself am a young woman, and I must say, I do pride myself on my appearance. I like to dress up, and put on heels, and do my make-up and hair – it makes ME feel good about MYSELF. Yet I still have people calling me a “prick-tease” for trying to stir a reaction in the opposite sex, when that was never my intention to begin with (hec did anyone stop to think that maybe I’m just vain?).

And so I wanted to take this opportunity to bring up something which is becoming a growing global trend, and which I feel is an important statement being made by women all around the world who are fighting to get the message across that we are not just a piece of meat or eye-candy, and that what we wear should not warrant negative discrimination from those around us. I am of course talking about the infamous SLUTWALKS.

My hope is that with these women making a global stand against discrimination of this sort, maybe we will start seeing a change in the social perception of women as a sex object, and stop blaming women and their clothing for the actions of perverts and rapists who are clearly in the wrong!

Comment if you’ve ever had any verbal harassment or discrimination as a result of the way you looked.

Related articles

• (Accidental) SlutWalks and Solidarity: What Happened the Day I Was Mistaken for a Prostitute in Mexico City (toentertainathought.com)
• Walking for Sluts (nstp1upse.wordpress.com)
• Slut-Shaming Needs to End (starsfromanothergalaxy.wordpress.com)