When it comes to degrading names for women based on their sex lives, the English language provides a lot of options. But the one receiving the most attention in recent sexual liberation efforts is the word “slut.”

Hundreds of people gathered in Los Angeles earlier this month for the SlutWalk, hosted by Amber Rose, a stripper-turned-model known for her high-profile relationships.

The SlutWalk movement has been held all over the world since it first took place in Canada in 2011. The movement consists of protests in which women and other individuals walk together to raise awareness of sex-shaming and sexual violence.

While the intentions of the SlutWalk promote body positivity and fair treatment of women and marginalized groups, the word “slut,” should be deleted from our vocabulary. To continue to use it, even as reclamation of the word, is a problem.

The focus of the SlutWalk movement is to raise consciousness of gender inequality and promote women’s mobility; but re-appropriating the word does not mean the original definition disappears. Seeing young women proudly wear the word “slut” painted on their bodies, or holding up signs that refer to them as such only validates the word. Destroying all of the words that have been used to marginalize women is far more powerful.

Reclaiming the word “slut” is also problematic for women of color who have fought, and continue to fight, to rid themselves of other negative words regarding their identity and sexuality. When one word is ‘reclaimed,’ it opens the door to other derogatory words being normalized, such as the N-word.

Despite her efforts, critics have accused Rose of capitalizing off the event, but she’s had personal reasons for the walk. Both Kanye West and Wiz Khalifa, men whom Rose has been romantically linked to, have sex-shamed her before.

West claimed before he started a relationship with Kim Kardashian, he had to take “30 showers” in attempt to clean himself from her association. Khalifa, whom she was briefly married to, and had a child with, rapped on the Juicy J track “For Everybody,” “I fell in love with a stripper/funny thing is I fell out of love quicker.”

These situations show the double standard between a sexually active woman and a man. Reasons like this are why Rose hosted the SlutWalk, to inspire and empower women regardless of their sexuality.

While I applaud Rose’s actions in speaking out against sexual oppression, the word “slut” is problematic because it has historically been used to tear women down and shame them for their sexual choices.

Women should have the right to wear what they want and act how they want without being targets of violence and oppression. And getting rid of the word “slut” in its entirety would be a good step.

Elaina Crockett is a senior television, radio and film major and African American studies minor. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at ekcrocke@syr.edu.

Published on October 15, 2015 at 12:39 am