The term "Slut"

[B_quiet_man]

There is only one person I like using that word and it is my boyfriend in the bedroom.

This is interesting; are you able to explain why being called this name is a positive thing in that context? What does the word really mean, then, and why does it change?

 

[ManlyBanisters]

quiet_man is at it again - women shouldn't complain about X because men have it worse.

quiet_man - why don't you start a thread on that issue - people start off-shoot threads all the time, link it here and you'll get this audience too.

 

[petite]

The cause would be to lift the lid on sexual shame generally. There are a lot of shaming sexual words, and they are not all just directed at women; however, "slut vs stud" is the main "double standard" most people are aware of and complain about, but it is in fact the tip of the iceberg.

The shame covering sexuality is vast in our society, and the word "slut" is just one part of it.

It's not true to say we live in a sexually liberated society; quite the opposite.

The problem is that you're trying to make things equitable where they aren't. If the cause was male rape and sexual violence against men, it wouldn't make sense to have a Lech Walk or a Wanker Walk. It would the "same" with the sexes reversed, right? That would just confuse people. It doesn't make sense.

And I agree, please make another thread. This is now a tangent that is unrelated to this thread.

 

[Solvejg]

This is interesting; are you able to explain why being called this name is a positive thing in that context? What does the word really mean, then, and why does it change?

BDSM. I love degredation and humiliation.

 

[B_quiet_man]

The problem is that you're trying to make things equitable where they aren't. If the cause were male rape and sexual violence against men, it wouldn't make sense to have a Lech Walk or a Wanker Walk. It would the "same" with the sexes reversed, right? That would just confuse people. It doesn't make sense.

The "Slut Walks" were in part an attempt to reclaim the meaning of the word "Slut", to remove its negative connotations, and so alter the cultural narrative regarding female sexuality.

This is why women walked the streets wearing t-shirts declaring themselves proud sluts, and some even had this written on exposed skin.

Another different but related component of the "Slut Walks" was the rape prevention and awareness campaign, but that's not the aspect I'm talking about. The reclaiming of the negative shaming sexual word "Slut" is that part that is of interest to the discussion here, and that's the aspect of the "Slut Walk" movement that I'm drawing attention to. That's why it's related to issues of societal shame concerning sexuality generally.

 

[185248]

Harlot and many other words can mean the same thing, but do not come across as damaging as the word slut. It's one of those short, sharp words that can be used in language much like a knife, it can be hissed or spat out quickly in an attempt to harm or hurt.

In other ways there have been women who have called themselves slut to me, not being degrading of themselves, but in description of how they themselves may 'act out' on occasion.

Personally, whore is a word I've never been comfortable with. Don't know why, just that it is. Maybe the sound or it's meaning of pig is offensive to me.

 

[petite]

The "Slut Walks" were in part an attempt to reclaim the meaning of the word "Slut", to remove it's negative connotations, and so alter the cultural narrative regarding female sexuality.

This is why women walked the streets wearing t-shirts declaring themselves proud sluts, and some even had this written on exposed skin.

Another different but related component of the "Slut Walks" was the rape prevention and awareness campaign, but that's not the aspect I'm talking about. The reclaiming of the negative shaming sexual word "Slut" is that part that is of interest to the discussion here, and that's the aspect of the "Slut Walk" movement that I'm drawing attention to. That's why it's related to issues of societal shame concerning sexuality generally.

The reason why so many people have gotten involved is because they want to stop rape and sexual violence. It wouldn't have spread to so many cities and had so many participants if it was just to redefine the word.

The slut walks began because of how a rape victim was treated. It's the reason why they carry signs that say things like "Stop rape culture" and "No means no" and "Yes means yes." It's about how no woman deserves to be raped based upon what she's wearing.

There isn't a direct male equivalent for that.

 

[B_quiet_man]

The reason why so many people have gotten involved is because they want to stop rape and sexual violence. It wouldn't have spread to so many cities and had so many participants if it was just to redefine the word.

I see, and that's why it was called the "Stop Rape And Sexual Violence walk", not a "Slut Walk" then? Because it NOTHING to do with reclaiming the word "Slut", right?

Wrong.

 

[petite]

What are these signs about?

http://images.sodahead.com/polls/001718507/slut-walk-43777558406_xlarge.jpeg

http://partyinthegallows.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/slut-walk.png

http://yourlifeafter25.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/5586667346_85f2e8a121_b.jpg

 

[Kotchanski]

I see, and that's why it was called the "Stop Rape And Sexual Violence walk", not a "Slut Walk" then? Because it NOTHING to do with reclaiming the word "Slut", right?

Wrong.

It was called the "Slut walks" because female victims, and potential victims were being treated like "sluts" either when reporting the crimes, or being warned about the potential for crimes.

They weren't trying to reclaim the word, they were demonstrating against being treated like the word insinuates and having the blame foisted on them.

 

[Enid]

The caption of the photo included with this article reads: "Women march through downtown Boston during the 'SlutWalk' in Boston, which organizers described as a demonstration against those who blame the victims of sex crimes."

 

[petite]

This is about rape:

http://media.thestar.topscms.com/images/40/42/5c76233641c4a2d579c4bc5f65f7.jpeg

http://media.masslive.com/breakingnews/photo/slut-walk--bfeb768735594cb4.jpg

http://static2.smallworldlabs.com/n...1b8f9688896b65/4db38e817dd13Slut_Walk_043.jpg

 

[B_quiet_man]

It's also about reclaiming the word "Slut".

http://images.sodahead.com/profiles/0/0/1/4/1/4/8/4/7/Proud-Slut-42089786843.jpeg

http://fellowshipofminds.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/slut2.jpg

http://www.nodeju.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/toronto-women-slut-parade.jpg

 

[petite]

That isn't to say that there shouldn't be protests to fight male rape and violence against men, which I believe are serious issues and people should take action against those things, but there isn't always a literal equivalent male:female in our society.

 

[ManofThunder]

Some women (and men, I imagine) like to be called things like 'slut' and 'whore' in the bedroom. It loses all negative-meaning for them. Life in and out of the bedroom should be kept seperate, however. The bedroom-friendly version of the word is partly responsible for its use in everyday life. It has an impact on both men and women - the only difference I can see is that women are called it more often. Porn and (for some) old-fashioned sexy-time teaches people that the word is acceptable and sexy. The typical person on the street teaches people that it's bad. I think that's partly responsible for the multiple opinions on the subject. Some don't care, some are offended, some love it and some continue to say the word to make a point - good or bad. Just as some people are offended by the word 'fuck', some are offended by 'slut'. In time, I think the word will mellow and be widely-accepted as 'just another word'. At the moment, though - it remains a controversial and highly-charged word. (Hence, this discussion! :tongue

 

[petite]

It's also about reclaiming the word "Slut".

http://images.sodahead.com/profiles/0/0/1/4/1/4/8/4/7/Proud-Slut-42089786843.jpeg

http://fellowshipofminds.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/slut2.jpg

http://www.nodeju.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/toronto-women-slut-parade.jpg

You've misunderstood what it's about.

 

[petite]

'Slut Walk' In Union Square To Rally Against Sexual, Domestic Violence

Over 1,000 people took part in a march and rally in lower Manhattan Saturday to raise awareness about sexual and domestic violence.

Mari Morales-Williams says she knows first-hand that becoming a rape victim doesn’t depend on what you’re wearing.
Scantily clad or not, she says it can happen to anyone.

“The person who violated me was a person that I trusted, a person that I knew,” she told CBS 2′s Ann Mercogliano. “It wasn’t any sluttish behavior that got me raped.”

“No matter how you dress, no matter what you do, you deserve not to be raped or sexually assaulted,” said another protestor. “That the fault is never on the victim, the fault is never on the attacked.”

The fact is that if someone tried to rally a bunch of people just to redefine a word, nothing would have happened. It's not a big enough issue. Rape, on the other hand, that gets people fired up!

 

[B_quiet_man]

They weren't trying to reclaim the word, they were demonstrating against being treated like the word insinuates and having the blame foisted on them.

I'm sorry, but I know this is not the case.

If the walks had nothing to do with an attempt to reclaim the word "Slut", then surely a more apt title for the events would have been "Don't Call Us Sluts Walk". And there would not have been any speeches about reclaiming the word "Slut", and nobody holding saying "Proud Slut".

The marches were also about rape prevention, but reclaiming the word and changing the cultural narrative was also a big part of those events.

http://dailyd-bag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/slutwalk-slut-pride2.jpg

http://salvomag.typepad.com/.a/6a00e00988aca98833014e88e715f1970d-800wi

http://www.demotix.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/large_610x456_scaled/photos/slut-walk-toronto_723836.jpg

 

[petite]

Alright, you can believe what you want to believe.

I still think that if you just tried to get a bunch of people together to march down the street and protest to redefine a word, no one will show up. There are more important issues they could be focusing on, like male rape, for example.

 

[Kotchanski]

I'm sorry, but I know this is not the case.

If the walks had nothing to do with an attempt to reclaim the word "Slut", then surely a more apt title for the events would have been "Don't Call Us Sluts Walk". And there would not have been any speeches about reclaiming the word "Slut", and nobody holding saying "Proud Slut".

The marches were also about rape prevention, but reclaiming the word and changing the cultural narrative was also a big part of those events.

http://dailyd-bag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/slutwalk-slut-pride2.jpg

http://salvomag.typepad.com/.a/6a00e00988aca98833014e88e715f1970d-800wi

http://www.demotix.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/large_610x456_scaled/photos/slut-walk-toronto_723836.jpg

We shall have to agree to disagree on this one I'm afraid.

I'll back down as far as saying "some people aren't as good at getting the message across as others" and "some people will jump on any bandwagon if it means standing up for what's right, even if they don't understand what exactly they're meant to be standing up for"

That's as far as I'm prepared to bend on this one though lol