Do you ever stop to think of how many times you hear women being referred to as "slut", "hoe", "beeotch", and much worse by Hollywood, song lyrics, literature, and just about everywhere else? Does it bother you? Do you ever stop to think of how often you use those terms? Does it make you stop and think?
Do you ever wonder why this language is reserved for women and seems to not have a counterpart in the male world?
I wonder the same thing. But I also wonder why those terms and the rest like them are seen as culturally acceptable. I'm shocked and surprised not only by how prevalent and acceptable they are in our culture, but by who I hear using them the most. It's not always men who are screaming at their wives. It's not always guys who are mad at their girlfriends. It's not always a rap song that you really like. It's boys and girls talking to and about their friends. I can't tell you how often I've heard girls and boys refer to their friends and often themselves by using this language. I don't just mean teenagers either. Sadly, this type of language is prevalent in the adult world among both genders.
I have somethings I would like to say on the subject to everyone who reads this. This is my point of view and you are in no way obligated to even respect what I have to say. But you should :)
Variations of these terms have been used for centuries to describe women who sell their bodies for profit. In the Bible they were called harlots. In Shakespeare's time they were called slatterns. The various terms have devolved over the years until the meanings are often blurred. The point is this, today these terms are all used to degrade women regardless of if the user understand the meaning of the word. More often than not, these words are used in a flippant and joking fashion.
This is the language of hurt and abuse. These are the words that someone uses when they want to debase and degrade you into what has historically been seen as the lowest form of humanity. Why would you ever use these words to describe yourself or those you love? Girls, if a guy says these words to you, he certainly isn't trying to make you feel loved and appreciated. Guys, is the name you are flippantly calling your female friend going to make her feel safe with you?
Girls, you need to stand up for yourself. Don't just stand up for you, stand up for the women who can't stand anymore. There are women so beaten and broken by the world that it is just easier to keep being abused than it is to fight back. Don't let people treat you this way. Don't treat other people this way.
Guys, you want to know how to make a girl respect you? Treat her with respect. Want to know how to get girls to notice you? Treat every woman you meet honorably and with decency. Protect the women in your life, especially the broken ones.
This is not a language that builds and supports, but one that tears down and damages. Even if you are joking, these words still hurt. Have enough respect for the people in your life to find better ways of expressing yourself. Have enough respect for yourself to not use abusive and degrading language for any reason. Better yet, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
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