Slut Walk: The Controversy

The Slut Walk (Facebook) phenomenon is certainly gaining momentum. There has been recent publicity in Australia because there is one planned for Brisbane and Melbourne on the 28th of May. The National Times opened up a discussion – this blog is a reply.

The Slut Walk reaction has further opened up a growing split within Western society between a growing sex positive movement and the moral conservatives – a split that divides many women who call themselves feminist.

But first let me address a problem of definition, a problem central to this debate.

A number of commentators have argued that it makes no sense for an intelligent woman (or feminist) to dress as a slut because they must know that they will attract negative attention. At first glance this makes sense. But a closer look reveals an appalling ignorance about the problem.

Very few women intentionally dress as sluts. Instead the term slut is applied to any woman who does not conform to moral expectations, regardless of the way she dresses or acts. It is always intended as a slur and as a moral judgment against non-conformist women.

Thus any Muslim woman who dresses in even conservative Western clothes is called a slut (Western whore) by conservative Muslims (both men and women).

The notion of what constitutes sluttish behaviour is entirely arbitrary and subjective and it varies from culture to culture and from time to time. Clothing and behaviour that was once considered sluttish is now considered normative. Let’s face it, Marilyn Monroe was a slut, yet very few would now regard her as such. She is now an icon, a super celebrity.