the weight of words

Words have the ability to carry immense weight. We, as a society, use simple words in order to categorize everything we see around us. They help us in our attempts to fully understand our place and how we fit in with the outside world. However, some of the words we use are meant for nothing more than to stigmatize an entire community and give ourselves the smug satisfaction of being “higher” than others.

The word I decided to delve into is pretty commonly used in today’s society: slut.

‘Slut’ is typically used to disparage a female who engages in promiscuous sexual activity. This word actually appeared first in Middle English in 1402 as ‘slutte.’  Through most of its history, it has referred exclusively to women.

What I find funny about the use of ‘slut’ in modern days is that there really doesn’t have to be any logical basis for the application of the term. Just being involved in a rumor is sufficient evidence for a woman to be labeled a ‘slut.’ The fact that this can occur makes me think of the Labeling Theory. In it, Becker states: “... just because one has not violated a rule does not mean that he may not be treated, in some circumstances, as though he had.” (1) If a girl is perceived as a ‘slut,’ no matter what her personal values may be, she is given the designation by others.

The Shaming Theory (2) is also brought to mind when using this word. Because of stigmatization the individual is separated from the rest because of the perceived deviant behavior. One does not have to look deep into a social structure to know “who the sluts are.” The question of how one confronts the stigma has many different answers. According to Dunn (3), many women attempt to walk a fine line between being labeled a ‘slut’ and a ‘prude.’ A way for someone to balance this out is to seek out an active sex life while in a relationship. This takes away the stigma of casual sexual encounters, but it does not guarantee that one will not be defined as a ‘slut.’

Another part of the Shaming Theory (2) that I found interesting was the reintegrative shaming idea. In this, the person is assumed to be mostly good and only the act is labeled as evil. This is currently used by Christians in relation to homosexuals under the guise of “love the sinner, hate the sin.” It makes me think of the idea of “born again virgin.”  The person is shamed into believing that what they have done is an evil act and can be brought back into society’s good graces by taking a pledge of abstinence.

As a male, I have hardly ever come into a situation where I have been called a ‘slut.’ Our society tends to demonize women for sexual exploration and yet praises men for it. I find it quite comical that I could act in a far more deviant manner than the ‘slut’ in society, but I would be labeled as a ‘stud’ instead. We have a deeply ingrained double-standard when it comes to female sexuality versus male sexuality and it is disheartening to say the least.

I do understand that some people have come to embrace the word in an effort to “destigmatize” it, but I do not feel this would do justice for those who have been labeled indiscriminately. Instead, we, as a society, need to analyze our own judgments when it comes to the ideas of personal expression and liberation. Isn’t that what is at the heart of the ‘slut’ argument anyway? The idea that we, as humans, should be free to express and explore ourselves without fear of condemnation from other individuals?

WC: 629

Works Cited

(1) Becker, Howard S. Labeling Theory. Ch 7 of Readings in Deviant Behavior. Calhoun, Conyers and Thio. 2010. Pearson Education Inc., Boston, MA.

(2) Braithwaite, John. Shaming Theory. Ch 6 of Readings in Deviant Behavior. Calhoun, Conyers and Thio. 2010. Pearson Education Inc., Boston, MA.

(3) Dunn, Jennifer L. "Everyone Knows Who The Sluts Are": How Young Women Get Around The Stigma.  Ch 30 of Readings in Deviant Behavior. Calhoun, Conyers and Thio. 2010. Pearson Education Inc., Boston, MA.