Rape
is a Crime; Slut Shaming Does Not Mean You Asked For It.
Rape
is a crime. Each instance is unique with different circumstances and consequences
for those who have been sexually violated. In court, rape is defined as a
criminal offense in which an individual forces sexual relations on another
without the consent or is in violation of another person’s will. Society looks
at rape to be just that, although rape has become a form of culture. Rape
culture is very different from the court definition of rape; society looks at perceptions,
experiences and interactions of those involved. Rape culture follows the
negative unwritten standards that those who have certain sexual behaviors or
desires that deviate from traditional gender expectations deserve less respect
and are asking to be sexually violated, which is commonly known as
slut-shaming.
It
is mainly a form of stereotyping for girls, but it happens to genders alike, slut
shaming has become the norm and mirrors the way people look at those who have
gone through sexually violating experiences. In the book “The House on Mango Street,”
the character, Esperanaza was mocked and blamed for her own rape, by the
neighborhood children. She was a young girl who was raped, and then criticized
for what had happened to her, as if it were solely her fault because of the way
she dressed and presented herself. Boys mocked her, girls looked down at her,
and she was treated differently because of this incident. Slut-shaming is a
relatively new term to society, evolving from the technological advances and
social networking sites. It has grown to become a descriptive attack on those
who have suffered from past sexual traumatic events.
The
exact origin of slut shaming is unclear, but it was made popular using social
media to expose young women who express unorthodox behaviors. “Much of the “slut shaming” that transpires
takes place on the web, in the mire of social media where a person’s character
can be destroyed in seconds” (Miet). One of the most common uses for the term
over social networking is to include pictures and full names of the victims who
are considered to be sluts. This is a life shattering issue that not only
affects the young girl, but her family and neighbors too. A seventeen year old
girl was filmed giving a young man oral intercourse and preforming other sexual
acts at a concert by an older gentleman, who then, in turn, shared the video on
a multitude of media sites. She was given the name “#Shanegirl” and later
became known as “#Shaneslut.” Then as a cruel act, her full name was released
on the social media websites. Many responses to #Shanegirl were negative, while
her partner in the act, also known as #Shaneboy, was praised for becoming a
legend. Despite the fact that eventually the users were forced to remove the
photographs and were even banned, the slut-shaming of #Shanegirl continues to
this day.
The
ideas of victimization and slut shaming are so embedded into our social culture
that it effects the way girl’s think. It has become a serious problem, affecting
every young girl who grows up in this country as she can easily become a target
at any age. A young girl, Maggie, who was only twelve fell into the term of
slut shaming.
"Maggie had a short,
blond bob haircut, a round face and light-blue eyes. She was just what you’d
expect a cute 12 year old to be. Except she had breasts – not just
protruding nipples she decently hid in an over-sized t-shirt, but actual
breasts that merited a real ‘grown-up’ bra.” (Pawlowska). Being this developed
at such a young age left her to be ridiculed and made fun of by other
classmates. She was automatically deemed as a slut and rumors were rampant that
she was promiscuous and a bad girl when she hadn’t even experienced her first
kiss. This term floated around enough that adults too knew the names she was
being called, but nothing was done to stop it or reduce such behaviors. Parents
look at this as children just being mean, and it is the same teasing they too
endured in school. When in actuality, it is a brand new attack and serious form
of bullying that society over looks.
The term has been used to describe Rush
Limbaugh’s comments during his talk show. He made comments about contraceptive mandates
in response to Sandra Fluke’s speech given at Georgetown University Law Center.
In an article, written by Meghan Daum, she comments that, “Maher said a few
dirty, misogynist words to a relatively small audience. Limbaugh spent five
days pushing an outrageous and utterly false narrative about female birth
control use being tantamount to promiscuity and sex for hire. Moreover, he was
spewing to 20 million listeners (by his count) who are well known to take him
far more literally than most people take Maher.” (Daum). It has been noted that
due to his comments, there will be numerous long term effects on the incidences
of slut shaming in the media. Meanwhile, there has been a lot of uproar
surrounding pop stars and singers such as Miley Cryus and Robin Thicke for
their performances at the 2013 V.M.A.
(Video Music Awards) and the sexually explicit dance moves. However,
most of the commentary is focused on the way that Cryus acted, rather than
condemning the both of them.
 |
| Pictured Limbaugh & Fluke |
In
instances where a male has treated a woman wrong, sexually exploited her, or
has made comments that are deemed sexuality explicit and rude, it has become
the nature of woman to think that it seems too farfetched to put the blame on
the man. Many woman look to try and change the errors of their ways in order to
make him happy or change his point of view.
Even when telling friends or family that a woman was abused, the
question is immediately asked, what did they (the female) do to upset him. In
“The House on Mango Street”, Esperanaza does not even think to blame the boys,
only the girl who is not there when she was in need and the women who have claimed
sex to be romantic. Just like ours, the world and culture she is in does not
place the blame on the men. This is the error in society’s ways, everyone is so
worried about what was done wrong, and how their actions caused such an
incident, rather than focusing on how to cope with the trauma the victims
endure.
On
average, each year, there are about two-hundred thirty seven thousand, eight hundred sixty eight victims of sexual assault in the United States alone, not
including those who do not report it. Sixty percent of rapes that occur are
never reported and leave victims with the feelings that they are suffering on
their own. Numerous girls have committed
suicide or have hurt themselves, through body mutilation as an outcry for the
never ending comments that are made about them. Many groups and bloggers have made it a point
to bring up the harmful effects that using terms like “slut shaming” do to
young woman and their self-esteem. Many young woman today suffer from slut
shaming and the cruel behavior of others. Some have even taken their own life
because they could not handle the amount of ridicule and humiliation they have
received
 |
| Picture found on MTV Act Blog |
There have been numerous international rallies
called SlutWalks (as seen in the picture on the right) where women dress up as “sluts” to call attention to the
feminist movement toward change the connation of the word “slut.” In other
attempts to remind society of the harmful effects of slut shaming occur every
day, members of The Arts Effect All-Girl Theater Company put on play titled
“Slut.” Even in small communities people are making a conscious effort to put
an end to this derogative term. Rape culture, and slut shaming more
specifically, have evolved over the years and has become a large part of
everyday life, even if it isn’t exactly worded in those terms. But rape is a
crime and slut shaming does not give anyone permission to be forcibly violated.
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