Since the beginning of time, women have been rendered essentially powerless not only by the actions of their counterparts, but also by the structural standards put in place by the patriarchal society. In retrospect, it is safe to question whether or not the Constitution, which was put into effect over 200 years ago, was meant to be taken literally when it read that “all men are created equal” (Madison). Aside from the fact that women are still fighting for their rights financially and politically, there are a number of unrealistic moral standards that have been imposed upon women by society. Most women are expected to “be a lady,” often acting in a manner that directly contradicts or juxtaposes human nature, forcing women to suppress their desires, sexually and otherwise. Although society says differently, women should be allowed to exhibit their sexuality and power of choice.
One of the many attempts to silence a woman’s sexuality rears its ugly head in something referred to as slut-shaming. Slut-shaming is the idea of attacking a woman or a girl for dressing sensually, having one or more sexual partners, acknowledging sexual feelings, and/or acting on sexual feelings. To put it simply, the term is used to “condemn women for being comfortable with their own sexuality” (Beusman). Though this phenomenon did not have a name until recently, it is something that has been in practice for a while. It is based on the notion that women are not allowed to participate in sexual activity as freely as men. If one is not careful, it can have extremely negative effects on women who have suffered any type of sexual abuse. Slut-shaming often implies that a rape victim’s actions (i.e. what she wore, how much alcohol she consumed, etc.) plays a role in her being sexually abused. Most repeat offenders of slut-shaming claim that putting a stop to sexual assault is as simple as “wear[ing] ‘modest’ clothes and avoid[ing] behaviors which ‘entice’ rapists” (Glenn). This teeters a dangerous line, encouraging rape victims to blame themselves for their own unfortunate circumstances. When in actuality, rape “means violation, misuse of power, [and] taking something away from another person that they [will] never get back” (Snapp).
To make matters worse, while women are denigrated for their sexual conquests, men are often praised or celebrated for theirs. Many derogatory terms have even been created (i.e., slut, floozy, thot) and used as weapons in order to shame women for their right to partake in sexual activity of any kind; of course, it doesn’t stop there. More recently, women have been shamed for their right to say no as well. Many women exhibit their sexuality by wearing revealing clothing, leading most men to think that it is an invitation to express or exert their sexual desires. As a result, many women have been cat-called, harassed, and in some cases – sexually assaulted. However, instead of blaming men for their lack of self-control, women are the ones more than likely deemed deserving of the treatment based on the exhibition of their sexuality.
Thankfully, in more recent years, many events have taken place in order to put an end to matters such as these. Among the most popular of these events is the Slut Walk, a transitional movement created to put an end to rape culture. Many people (most notably, Amber Rose) have participated in and supported events such as these in hopes of minimizing issues that women face, such as slut-shaming and sexual abuse. Earlier this year, Amber Rose organized her own slut walk in order to shed light on a woman’s power of choice. Many women came out to support Amber, though her decision was heavily criticized and questioned on social media. While it is understood that the name of the event can be misleading, it is saddening that events like these still need to take place. It is disappointing that women still feel the need to make people aware that they have the right to accept or decline the flirtatious or sexual advances of a young man.
That being said, there are a number of things the public can do in order to put a stop to slut-shaming as well as victim blaming. Instead of media outlets focusing on what rape victims wore, how much alcohol they consumed, or any other outside factors, they should be focused on what goes on in the mind of a young man who lacks self-control. Media outlets should focus on what makes any man think it is acceptable to speak to, touch, or have sexual intercourse with any woman without her consent. In a Huffington Post article on the aftermath of sexual assault, Dr. Ludy Green theorizes that “victim blaming still exists because it would be easier if rape were actually the victim's fault [because] bystanders can remain innocent bystanders, rid themselves of guilt, and therefore all desire to contribute to the cause of protecting women.” In order to put a stop to sexual assault for good, it is imperative to teach men to view women as equals instead of diminishing them to objects of their sexual desire. Once that happens, men may be able to have more of a grip on their sexual yearning.
While events like the Slut Walk do an excellent job of bringing awareness to women’s rights, more people need to do their part in order for a significant change to occur. There are a number of changes that need to be put in place in regards to not only sexual abuse, but also a woman’s power of choice. Women should not have to wear a certain type of clothing out of fear of being harassed, nor should they have to suppress their natural instincts. Women should also be allowed to make the same choices men make sexually without being criticized for it. Although everyone is entitled to their own set of values and standards, one should make sure that those values and standards are based on morality, not gender.
