Thread: Slutwalks

But whatever you may think of SlutWalk (and part of the genius of its organizers has been figuring out that “slut” is a search-engine optimizer), one strongly positive thing has emerged from it: a new, energetic cohort of young and feisty feminists are on the move. They’ve used social media to mobilize in a hell of a hurry (the longest part was probably wondering what to wear). And they’ve figured out a way to be front and centre in the public conversation.

SlutWalk started, of course, with poor Michael Sanguinetti, the Toronto cop who now goes down in the annals of feminist history (“Daddy, tell me again how you ended up in the Ms. Magazine Hall of Shame?”) because he suggested that women could avoid being raped if they stopped “dressing like sluts.”

Faster than you could tweet “wearing this dress doesn’t mean yes,” a movement was born, with young women, some dressed in lace bustiers, tight skirts and fishnets, taking to the streets, first in Toronto, and now all over the United States and in the U.K., loudly protesting this blame-the-victim attitude.

Why SlutWalk raises hackles – and hopes - The Globe and Mail

Thoughts?

Is publicly calling yourself a slut and dressing provocatively really empowering?”- From the article.

I happen to agree with the statement, because the word to me implies something derogatory and taking ownership of it does not lessen its impact or meaning.

Originally Posted by Seraphima

Why SlutWalk raises hackles – and hopes - The Globe and Mail

Thoughts?

I like it ! But, for a different reason than what the article says is their goal (reclaiming the word for themselves). I like it b/c of the message that what you wear doesn't have anything to do with whether or not you are raped. Rape is a crime of violence. It's not a crime of convenient invitation misinterpreted b/c of what you're wearing. Or whatever weirdness that cop thinks. What the victim wears has nothing at all to do with it.

Originally Posted by Jets

Is publicly calling yourself a slut and dressing provocatively really empowering?”- From the article.

I happen to agree with the statement, because the word to me implies something derogatory and taking ownership of it does not lessen its impact or meaning.

I agree. It didn't really work out so well for african americans when the took "ownership" of the n~word.

Originally Posted by Jets

Is publicly calling yourself a slut and dressing provocatively really empowering?”- From the article.

I happen to agree with the statement, because the word to me implies something derogatory and taking ownership of it does not lessen its impact or meaning.

I don't think the walk(s) will lessen the impact or meaning of the word "slut" but in terms of sexual assault and the social trend of blaming the victim it's an apt word to use. I remember once hearing about a girl I went to school with who had been raped (not sure if it was true or not) but most people made comments related to the fact she dressed sort of scandalously, had a history of short intimate relationships, etc.. They acted as though that either made it okay or made it less worse than had it been a girl who was a church-going virgin who volunteered every weekend with the elderly.

Originally Posted by Dark Lion

I agree. It didn't really work out so well for african americans when the took "ownership" of the n~word.

I completely disagree. What is the implication of slut? That a woman likes sex? I like sex as well, and what is the negative implication of that? Women should own liking sex. Sex is an enjoyable experience, and we should not be made to believe that is something to be embarrassed of because of the puritanical busy bodies make it seem like sex is somehow bad.

What was that cop thinking? I think of him every time I hear about slutwalks. What the hell was he thinking?


Of all the things to be famous for.

Originally Posted by Seraphima

Why SlutWalk raises hackles – and hopes - The Globe and Mail

Thoughts?

I like sluts and am against rape.

Originally Posted by frodly

I completely disagree. What is the implication of slut? That a woman likes sex? I like sex as well, and what is the negative implication of that? Women should own liking sex. Sex is an enjoyable experience, and we should not be made to believe that is something to be embarrassed of because of the puritanical busy bodies make it seem like sex is somehow bad.

Exactly and very well put.

I think the United States and Canada is overdue for another sexual revolution.

We need to reject the older generations' view that sex is a taboo subject.