I’m regularly told that I belong to a generation of women who aren’t feminists. Whenever it comes up in conversation with another woman I witness her need to defend herself against being called a man-hater. Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing and defending equal political, economic, social rights and opportunities for women.
It’s concepts overlap with those of women’s rights. Feminism is mainly focused on women’s issues but because feminism seeks gender equality; some feminists argue that men’s liberation is therefore a necessary part of feminism and that men are also harmed by sexism and gender roles.
Feminists – that is, persons practising feminism – may be persons of either sex.
And now…. on with the story…………
When I was five I developed a dislike for garages. Every once in a while I’d have to go to the one in our neighbourhood with Mum or Dad in order to pick up their car. A truly dull place, vacant of anything that might interest a little girl.
The real reasons for my aversion however were the pictures of naked women in the centre of the garage. Tiny waists, big bosoms and benign smiles. They looked like things and made my flat chested, barely there feminity feel extremely awkward.
I’d go bright red and feel a need to hide. I didn’t really know why, it just felt embarrassing. I wondered why it was ok to photograph women like that and this was before I knew anything about semiotics, semantics or feminism.
The woman I’ve become has encountered plenty of things that make her recoil in a similar way and other things she should mind but has become immune to.
Slut Walk. How’s that for a phrase? (When a Toronto policeman told a group of students they should avoid dressing like sluts in order to not be victimised it caused a wave of protests, which will come to the U.K. next month – Observer 15.05.2011)
It conjures up all sorts of uncomfortable images and makes me cringe a little every time I say it. However in today’s society do women really have to dress up in an overtly provocative way in order to be victimised?
The inappropriate coverage of certain women in the media would suggest otherwise. Once you become the object of desire you could, depending on your admirer’s gaze, be a Madonna or a Whore.
Most of time it’s not really up to you or is it?
(To be continued.....)
http://thisaffectedyouth.com/2011/05/04/slut-walk-june-4th-trafalgar-square-london/
http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/community/forums/thread/1498929
This slut walk really confuses me. Aren't they just agreeing with ignorant people that women who dress in a way that celebrates their anatomy deserve to be defined in a negative way and be called 'sluts'? What exactly are the people taking part celebrating or defying?
ReplyDeleteI read that in Toronto participants chanted 'we're here we're sluts get used to it!' eh? How does this call to account the terrifying ignorance of original police statement and their overall attitudes to sexual crime? I find the whole thing (the initial statement and the so-called feminist repsonse) disturbing.
Hello Michelle,
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to read and to write in.
Perhaps the organizers think that people that commit sexual crimes should not be allowed to hide behind a word.
They might also believe that we as women shouldn’t be afraid of a characterization so much.
Of course the clothes we wear sometimes define us and give information about our socioeconomic background; they should not however become an excuse for violence.
I think the people going on this walk are trying to rubbish the word and reclaim it.
It is not ok to be violent against a woman because her clothing makes you think she is sexually active or has had many partners.
It is never ok.
I’ll be walking but I still haven’t decided what to wear.
Have a lovely day xxx
Who can define what is a "slut"? Men? Ha ha!! That's their "caramel" for excusing their weaknesses, inexcusable bad behavior and their primitive instincts!!! A man/woman can be dressed up very modestly and yet be a "slut", while a half naked man/woman can be more of a gentleman/lady!!
ReplyDeleteThe thing is the principles someone has been brought up with and not their dress code. So, lets not pretend that we don't know when and why the term "slut" is used for.....
Hello Konstantia,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for taking the time to read and for writing in. I always love reading your comments and ideas.
I agree that some Men should educate themselves a bit more. The unfortunate thing is that we women use that term in regard to other women far too often.
If a man is called a Male Slut we all just laugh it off. A Male Slut? There is no such thing, right?
(Microsoft Word didn’t approve the sentence and kept asking me to “consider revising”)
So why should we take it so seriously and feel defined by it?
A word is only as powerful as the emotional response it evokes.