"Slut Shaming"

In case you don't want to read my opinions on the matter, scroll down to watch the most jaw-dropping video ever, of an adolescent girl discussing "slut shaming."

I've long felt our country is bi-polar when it comes to ideas of sex and sexuality. Boiled down, I think that our overwhelming philosophy is that sex is dirty and bad and sinful, until or unless you're having sex with your spouse. Whereupon, magically, sex is supposed to be loving and wonderful and magical and -- maybe, on occasion -- fun.

We have unhealthy and unrealistic views about what's okay and what's not, and everything is made a thousand times more complex by how media represents "sexuality." 

Mostly, it seems to me that women who are openly sexual are not respected. Are found to be unworthy of respect because of their sexuality. 

I have wanted to blog about this forever, but I get in my own way. I seem unable to be articulate and unclear about what my point is. 

Rush Limbaugh calling Sandra Fluke a slut sort of pushed me to the edge, though. 

Here's an excerpt from today's HuffPo:

Rush Limbaugh doubled down on his incendiary comments about Sandra Fluke, the Georgetown law student who was denied the right to speak at a contraception hearing, during his Friday. 
The conservative radio host sparked outrage on Wednesday when he called Fluke "a slut" and "a prostitute." He alleged that she was "having so much sex" that she couldn't afford contraception.
He went further the next day, adding, "if we're going to pay for your contraceptives and thus pay for you to have sex, we want something for it. We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch."

And, since I discovered this video several months ago, I'm glad to have a reason to post it. It shocked me. SHOCKED. I don't know how a 13-year-old becomes so poised, so articulate, so confident as she is about such a tricky subject, but I was blown away. 

And probably when you watch you will be a little uncomfortable, because I was. Because I'm not used to any of these topics being discussed openly at all, let alone by someone so young.

In fact, my gut reaction was "But she...she shouldn't know these things!" Except what I really wish is that 13-year-olds didn't know enough to call each other "sluts" in the first place...which simply isn't the case. 

And so. 


 

Comments

  1. I want her to be my daughter...mostly because I would be unbelievably proud, but also so she could teach me the intelligent way to think about things.

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    Replies
    1. It's astonishing. Like, I wasn't capable of having such lofty AND well organized thoughts at that age. I'm still not.

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  2. Wow - this girl is awesome. Seriously one of the most articulate and well thought out video blogs I have ever listened to. I too wish 13 year olds didn't know about such things, especially one of my own children but if they did - I would want them to be just as articulate and intelligent about their opinion of such things as she is. Ignorance shouldn't have a place in society especially if it is encouraging degrading or harmful actions towards another person.

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  3. Holy shit, that girl blew me away! I'm kind of speechless. My first reaction was similar to yours... how does she know all of this? She's 13! But wow... that girl is going places. I don't think I've ever been that articulate.

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    Replies
    1. Right? I have watched this now several times and am still kind of amazed at what I'm seeing.

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  4. How many more years until we can elect her president? The Republicans are waging a holy war against women and our rights, and its utterly terrifying.

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    Replies
    1. I hope wherever she ends up, it's somewhere she will be heard by many.

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  5. That. Video. Was. Awesome. A) If I had to have a spawn, I hope she would be it and B) how do I get her signed up for a podcast. Seriously. I don't even know her and I'm proud!

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  6. The world would be a much better place with lots more like her! Thanks for posting this!! Maybe, maybe someday talking about sex will be akin to and as comfortable as talking about.....the weather.

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  7. Wow! She is so articulate, so poised, and so logical. Her parents must be doing something right! I hope she keeps speaking her mind as she gets older. Thanks for sharing it!

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    Replies
    1. I'm sure her parents are proud. It's also a reminder for parents to remember how mature children CAN be (with the right guidance and support).

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  8. You kind of forget she's a teen until you see the braces. If you do a google search for slut shaming, I think she's at the top of the search results now.

    She and Sandra Fluke should meet, don't you think? I think that would be awesome.

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  9. Kristi thanks for the link to this amazing video. Man, I just read through some of the comments on her post and it's just infuriating. We need more people like the poster and less like Rush Limbaugh and his ilk. For the sake of humanity.

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  10. Wow, if I had children I would totally hope they would be as bright, outspoken and normal as this girl! Her parents better hope I never meet them - I might actually hug them!

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  11. What an amazingly articulate, mature, thoughtful child. Yes, young woman, but still, she is a child, no? It makes me sad that this is something children must deal with, and there are many hateful comments directed toward her at youtube which I don't understand. Where is she ever supporting unsafe sex or statutory rape? Nowhere. Because she knows what slut shaming is and talks about what sex is and should be, then she becomes a slut? I have no idea what is wrong with people, but I know that there is something very right about her. I hope her parents are very proud and that she continues to speak her mind. Thank you for sharing this, Kristy.

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