There is an obvious double standard in public opinion on sexually active men and women. Women are subject to a variety of harsh criticisms with regards to their appearance and behavior, and are expected to hold themselves to a certain set of standards that society has laid out for them.
More recently, the act of privately or publically judging a woman who exhibits “inappropriate” sexual behavior has been labeled “slut shaming,” with a slut typically being defined as a woman who has multiple sexual partners. However, the range of slut shaming targets has expanded to include women who dress in a manner that can be interpreted as provocative, meaning that you can be a victim of these unsympathetic snap judgments even if you are still a virgin.
Overall, slut shaming is a dangerous misogynistic practice with long-lasting effects on a woman’s self-esteem. Growing up, we all learned that it is fundamentally wrong to judge a book by its cover; the same concept applies to judging a human being based on a single aspect of their personality.
However, the major issue with slut shaming is that the shamers are putting womankind in charge of suppressing a basic male urge. Men are responsible for keeping their other primitive urges in check by maintaining their own personal hygiene, feeding themselves and making sure they remain professional in the workplace. When did it become my responsibility to make sure that you keep your pants on?
On Sept. 3, Kimberly Hall, director of the women’s ministry at a Texas Presbyterian Church, posted a rather condescending blog entry regarding her sons’ interactions on social media platforms on her mommy blog, “Given Breath.” Hall stated that girls who post pictures of themselves in “skimpy pjs” or with “an arched back and a sultry pout” would find themselves blocked from her sons’ Facebook pages, to prevent the boys from thinking of the poster in a purely sexual way.
Hall accompanied the article with pictures of her sons, shirtless in their bathing suits, puffing their chests out. Her post ultimately sent the message that her sons’ female friends are at least partially responsible for keeping her sons in line with her definition of morality, while also suggesting that men can post similar pictures without fear of becoming a sex object.
Posting a photo online that can be interpreted a certain way does not make someone a one-dimensional person. No behavior gives society permission to view a woman as an inhuman sex doll, just as wearing a short skirt does not make rape justifiable. When women like Kimberly Hall post these misogynistic rants, they negate the progress that the majority of female population has worked so tirelessly to achieve.
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