Slut Shaming is Not OK
I don’t know if any of you are aware of the term “slut-shaming,” but allow me give you a definition:
“Slut-shaming, also known as slut-bashing, is the idea of shaming and/or attacking a woman or a girl for being sexual, having one or more sexual partners, acknowledging sexual feelings and/or acting on sexual feelings. Furthermore, it’s about the implication that if a woman has sex that traditional society disapproves of, she should feel guilty and inferior. It is damaging not only to the girls and women targeted, but to women in general and society as a whole. It should be noted that slut-shaming can occur even if the term ‘slut’ itself is not used.” (Taken from http://finallyfeminism101.wordpress.com /2010/04/04/what-is-slut-shaming/)
A blaring example of this appears in the style section of the Feb. 20 edition of Broadside. In the “Tips with Krista: Make Facebook Hate You” column, she states, “Post annoying photos. [Some of the worst are] pictures of you kissing someone — we already know you’re loose, you don’t need to advertise it.”
In no way is this at all humorous or entertaining. It is a clear case of slut-shaming. I am appalled that not only would someone say this, but also that someone would be okay with printing this for an entire college campus to read.
Posting a photo of a kiss is not evidence of someone being “loose.” It can be an expression of love, of friendship, of anything. It is unfortunate that someone can be judged so harshly for simply posting a photo like that online.
I strongly encourage you — whoever reads this — to put some thought into your editing or what your writers post. As an aspiring journalist, I originally had hopes for writing for this university’s paper. However, if these are the types of articles that are able to be published, Broadside is a huge disappointment.
Sincerely,
Asia Gruber, sophomore, integrative studies major
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