“Slut” is up for redemption

Toronto “SlutWalk” march

Who would have thought that “slut”, the much-aligned little word would ignite a world movement?  It did and, through the worldwide “SlutWalk” marches, progressive forces are simultaneously challenging male arrogance and asserting women’s sexual liberation? The right to be a slut is in.

Suddenly, “slut” is emerging from its stereotypical dungeon. It is receiving a progressive and redemptive recall.

It all started when earlier this year when a Toronto Police officer suggested that young women could avoid getting raped by not dressing like sluts. Torontonians protested this warped view of sexual assault with a successful “Slutwalk” and a global revolution begun. Successful “Slutwalk” marches followed in Ottawa, Florida, Dallas, Vancouver and numerous other North American cities. More “SlutWalks” are scheduled for dozens of major cities across the world.

The burgeoning worldwide “Slutwalk” marches manifest a renewed passion for women’s empowerment.  We’re being invited once more to reconsider our male-centered negative views of the so-called slut, and dialogue.

But what’s needed is progressive dialogue, the kind that unapologetically challenges archaic societal attitudes. Blaming the victim or survivor in sexual assault cases is one. Slutwalk D.C. sums things up: “no one asks to be sexually assaulted”.

[Photo credit: Toronto Slut Walk, by nonprofity, Creative Commons.]