The Definition of "Slut"

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I don't think the word slut oppresses women.

dru is the spark.:

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I don't think the word slut oppresses women.

When used as an insult, it seeks to shame women of their sexuality. I think veronika has more or less already put into words why.

pierrot the clown.:

When used as an insult, it seeks to shame women of their sexuality.

I don't think trying to make someone feel ashamed is the same as oppressing them.

^ I think it's more that, slut insults and shames women who enjoy having sex. It demeans that. It's oppressive because some women just won't have sex because they fear being labeled as a "slut."

little miss malice.:

^ I think it's more that, slut insults and shames women who enjoy having sex. It demeans that. It's oppressive because some women just won't have sex because they fear being labeled as a "slut."

I think that's the incorrect usage of the word slut. This thread is for the correct usage of the word, the definition. I don't think that argument belongs in this thread.

I consider 'slut' to mean a girl who has sex with several people in a short length of time (several in a week or month) for the sake of being able to say they have.

pierrot the clown.:

When used as an insult, it seeks to shame women of their sexuality. I think veronika has more or less already put into words why.

I don't think that's strictly true. I consider it to shame women who misuse their sexuality, and that involves being extremely promiscuous; getting through several sexual partners in quick succession and only thinking of themselves.

Alex; in your face.:

I consider 'slut' to mean a girl who has sex with several people in a short length of time (several in a week or month) for the sake of being able to say they have.

I don't think that's strictly true. I consider to shame women who misuse their sexuality, and that involves being extremely promiscuous; getting through several sexual partners in quick succession and only thinking of themselves.

Exactly. Women are shamed. Men who do that aren't called names. He's a stud, she's a slut.

The definition is a derogatory term for a promiscuous woman. The reason it's so loosely defined in today's culture is that it's become a word that's thrown around vindictively to shame women in general and restrict them in the way they act and dress - by other women as well as by men.

And I don't think the word should be casually thrown around or used to shame women. I just would like to know what it means. Additionally, if you're talking to your friends about someone who is a slut, you're obviously not making the slut in question feel ashamed because she doesn't know you're talking about her. If someone calls me a bitch and I don't know they call me a bitch, I'm not going to be offended.

i just need dru now.:

And I don't think the word should be casually thrown around or used to shame women. I just would like to know what it means. Additionally, if you're talking to your friends about someone who is a slut, you're obviously not making the slut in question feel ashamed because she doesn't know you're talking about her. If someone calls me a bitch and I don't know they call me a bitch, I'm not going to be offended.

Yeah, but even using the word "slut" perpetuates the idea that women should be ashamed of their behaviour or attire. So it's still shaming, and contributes to the systemic oppression of women.

My point was, in my previous post, that it doesn't have a real definition besides "promiscuous woman". Girls are called sluts for no reason. I was on a retreat with a group of other writers. One was tanned, blonde and had a tattoo on her foot. She disclosed no information about her sexual experiences. Girls whispered when she was out of earshot that she was a slut because she "looked" like a slut. She was well-read, intelligent, ordinary and never talked to any of the boys.

She was called a slut because she was blonde and tanned. The media portrays blonde, tanned women as unintelligent and promiscuous - so she was branded the same way, although blonde was her natural hair colour and her tan wasn't fake. Therefore, in this way, the media controls how women should and shouldn't look and act.

The word is deliberately senseless.

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But that's the media, not individuals perpetuating the stereotype. I think the stereotype is wrong, which is why I think the word she only be used in its correct form.

i just need dru now.:

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But that's the media, not individuals perpetuating the stereotype. I think the stereotype is wrong, which is why I think the word she only be used in its correct form.

Well, as we've established, its correct form is "promiscuous woman".

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I think that's pretty much saying synonyms are a bad thing.

Alex; in your face.:

I don't think that's strictly true. I consider to shame women who misuse their sexuality, and that involves being extremely promiscuous; getting through several sexual partners in quick succession and only thinking of themselves.

... how does a woman "misuse" their sexuality? How is being "extremely promiscuous" or going through several sexual partners or "only thinking of themselves" in any way "misusing" one's sexuality? I don't understand what you mean by the word.

Why should a woman with multiple sexual partners feel ashamed? Why should a woman who has casual sex feel ashamed? Why is a woman not conforming to society's heterosexist, monogamous, conservative, and sexist expectations a bad thing?

And most importantly, why do you mention "women who misuse their sexuality" and not "men who misuse their sexuality"?

(I fail to understand how anyone can "misuse" their sexuality. Being aromantic yet sexual can be a part of someone's sexuality, being polyamorous can be a part of someone's sexuality, etc.)

i just need dru now.:

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I think that's pretty much saying synonyms are a bad thing.

ummm? you said you wanted a definition, and for it to be used in its correct form - you didn't want stereotypes of women. the thing is, "girl who has loads of sex" is its only concrete definition. beyond that, it IS just stereotypes and vile generalisations about women - and, what's more, it varies. you couldn't make a list of defining "Slut Characteristics" because the real answer is "whatever patriarchal society decides is shameful this week"; be it your age, clothing, or whether you talk about sex. it's all vague, fuzzy, but 100% offensive stuff about what's inappropriate for women in society.

which is why i don't use the word ever.

pierrot the clown.:

... how does a woman "misuse" their sexuality? How is being "extremely promiscuous" or going through several sexual partners or "only thinking of themselves" in any way "misusing" one's sexuality? I don't understand what you mean by the word.

Why should a woman with multiple sexual partners feel ashamed? Why should a woman who has casual sex feel ashamed? Why is a woman not conforming to society's heterosexist, monogamous, conservative, and sexist expectations a bad thing?

And most importantly, why do you mention "women who misuse their sexuality" and not "men who misuse their sexuality"?

(I fail to understand how anyone can "misuse" their sexuality. Being aromantic yet sexual can be a part of someone's sexuality, being polyamorous can be a part of someone's sexuality, etc.)

i applaud you for trying to address this.

emery ryan carter.:

ummm? you said you wanted a definition, and for it to be used in its correct form - you didn't want stereotypes of women. the thing is, "girl who has loads of sex" is its only concrete definition. beyond that, it IS just stereotypes and vile generalisations about women - and, what's more, it varies. you couldn't make a list of defining "Slut Characteristics" because the real answer is "whatever patriarchal society decides is shameful this week"; be it your age, clothing, or whether you talk about sex. it's all vague, fuzzy, but 100% offensive stuff about what's inappropriate for women in society.

I don't think those things are the actual definition for "slut", just what it's been twisted into.

Slut: someone who sleeps with multiple men in a short period of time.

There is a big difference between a slut and a healthy sex life. I believe that most people by the age of forty will have had at least twenty or more sex partners. Sex is a part of life. In early Greek times sex was considered as not a big thing. Guys slept with everyone. They actually had temples of Aphrodite [spelling not so good, forgive me] with women in them. When a man went home to his wife and she didn't feel like putting out, she would send him to the temple of Aphrodite for a little while, he would come home and everything was good. So the world has modified sex so much to where sex does sell but it isn't something parents want their children seeing.

Samantha Michelle:

Slut: someone who sleeps with multiple men in a short period of time.

I completely disagree with this. It makes me think of a woman who enjoys casual no-strings-attached sex, which I don't believe is slutty.

And what exactly is a short period of time and what's multiple? If a girl sleeps with two guys in a week do you considered her a slut?

deeper than dru.:

I completely disagree with this. It makes me think of a woman who enjoys casual no-strings-attached sex, which I don't believe is slutty.

And what exactly is a short period of time and what's multiple? If a girl sleeps with two guys in a week do you considered her a slut?

Two guys in two weeks? No. Lets say ten guys in a week? Yes. I should have been more specific with my numbers. As I said before there is a difference in a Slut and a healthy sex life.

Samantha Michelle:

Two guys in two weeks? No. Lets say ten guys in a week? Yes. I should have been more specific with my numbers. As I said before there is a difference in a Slut and a healthy sex life.

I think depending on her reasons for having sex, that doesn't make one a slut. It seems a little extreme to me, but I don't think if a girl enjoys casual sex and has a lot of it, that makes her a slut.

dru's nostalgia.:

I think depending on her reasons for having sex, that doesn't make one a slut. It seems a little extreme to me, but I don't think if a girl enjoys casual sex and has a lot of it, that makes her a slut.

Don't care what her reason is; there are not so many reasons for having sex. Either for money, pleasure or getting off. You can have a casual sex life without making yourself seem like you have no self respect. When I was growing up my Mom and Aunt would tell all of us girls [when we went to go hang out with our guy friends] "Respect yourself". To me, if you go around to a lot of random guys [in a short period of time] and say "do you want to fuck"- I am so sorry but to me that makes you a slut. I have NO problem with casual sex. No issue because I have had casual sex myself.