I was reading an article on
Times.com about a global movement to change to usage of the term "slut". Essentially, the term has commonly been used to describe women who deserved, or were asking to be, sexually assaulted or raped ("Did you see the way she was dressed? She was asking for it", "She obviously wanted to"). The article is pretty interesting. Apparently, during a student safety lecture at a college in toronto, a Constable claimed that women could avoid sexual assault if they avoided dressing like a "slut". A group of students were so offended that they staged a "slut walk" to protest. SlutWalks are now going on around the world. Check out their site to find a
SlutWalk near you. The intent of the SlutWalk is to build awareness of the unfair treatment of women because of the way they are perceived.
What do you think?
I think we can all agree that no one (male or female) deserves to be assaulted no matter how they dress or act.
However, do you feel that women put themselves at risk by dressing provocatively, and do they deserve to be treated differently because of the way that they dress? Example: should a women in a tube top and mini skirt be treated the same in court as a women in a suit?
In addition to that, do you think it's possible for our society to have a blind eye and NOT judge people by the way they dress?
I like this topic a lot. I wish I could have a conversation about this in person with a group of women... This topic has come up on the news and I have been watching the talking heads talk about it and its been REALLY frustrating.
ReplyDeleteAs a whole I think we as a culture dress too casual. I believe that when we leave the privacy of our own houses we should not be in pajamas. When we attend church service we should not be in sweat suits. I grew up being taught that there was a time/place for wearing certain things. E.g. if I was a lawyer and in court I owe it to myself as a professional and I owe it to the judge as a sign of respect to wear something appropriate. A tube top and mini skirt is not appropriate. Who am I to judge and say it is not appropriate? No one really. I just think there are more professional and dapper things to be wearing.
It reminds me of when the women's softball team went to the White House and wore flip flops. You are meeting the President of the United States and you chose to represent yourself and your college by wearing sandals that you wear around your house and to the beach. To me I think that is not representing yourself or honoring the position of the President. But again, I think my belief in this comes from my upbringing and the way I was raised.
We all have the *right* to wear whatever we want. But we must also keep in mind that what we wear plays an important part in how people see is. And this is where the talking heads get it wrong and say that people are asking to be raped. You are NOT asking to be raped by what you are wearing. Rape is a crime of power. Not a crime of "you look hot and look like you should have forced sex." Anyone can be raped - regardless of what they are wearing or what they look like.
That being said, we cannot be naive to the fact that what we are wearing influences how people see us. But just because people see me a certain way because I chose to wear a bra top and booty shorts doesn't give them the right to commit crimes against me or my body.
LIke I said it is hard to type out what I am thinking, without having a conversation with others, but these were just a few quick thoughts I had when I first read about the Slutwalks.
I agree with Pink! What you wear should not affect your rights to safety and basic human freedoms that we enjoy here in America... But it may affect your right to enter a fine dining establishment, and that's something I support! I believe that everyone deserves basic respects - and that certainly includes not being raped, harassed, fondled, pinched, or any other unwanted touching - but if you want to be in charge of the additional respect you garner, trade in your Juicy horseshit for some decent slacks and a shirt that covers your muffin tops. If you want sexual attention based on your clothing, slut it up! I'll still recognize that "no means no" and I hope others do too.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, last time I checked, "slut" meant someone who enjoyed copious amounts of sex with many partners, whereas "whore" is for someone who performs sexual acts in exchange for money. Important distinction; please educate your sons so that their locker room talk is at least technically accurate.
I agree with everything above. Whew, thanks for saving me lots of typing, ladies!
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I have to add would be in addressing this question:
"Do you feel that women put themselves at risk by dressing provocatively..."
Well, hindsight is 20/20. There are plenty of girls that go out dressed in practically nothing. If nothing bad happens to them, we don't think anything of the way that they dress. However, if one of them were to be assaulted, we would question what they were wearing, if they were drinking, and if they were they walking alone. But, as Pink said, rape can happen to anyone at any time. If I am out walking in my neighborhood at night and I am attacked, is it my responsibility for "putting myself in that situation" or am I not allowed to feel safe in my tiny corner of suburbia?
Sure, being aware of your surroundings is key. There are dangers everywhere. At the same time, we are wrong to think that any girl "had it coming" because she put herself in a bad situation.
We've barely scratched the surface of this topic. For example, if someone was driving recklessly and ended up a paraplegic (think - they put themselves in that position) does that give anyone the right to come and steal their wallet? Of course not. Just because someone ended up in a "vulnerable" position does not mean other people have the right to victimize them. Just because a girl dressed like she "wanted to have sex" does not mean that anyone can come up and rape her.
If we put so much power in how girls dress, we are essentially saying that men are unable to overcome their animalistic urges to have sex and can't be held responsible for their actions when they have been visually stimulated.