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Recursion

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49. The implication that some women "are sluts" is problematic

Fri Mar 9, 2012, 02:48 PM

Mar 2012

Different people have different relationships to sexuality. Some people (men and women) engage in sexual behavior that is hurtful to others and/or self-destructive; others don't. This would be a good area of human behavior to have a national discussion about (Dan Savage has probably done the best job about this) and come up with some norms and terms. "Slut" doesn't help in that, not because no women use sex hurtfully (plenty do) but because it contains an implication that how a woman uses sex hurtfully is by having many sex partners.

On the other side of this, a lot of sex-positive feminists have tried to reclaim the word "slut", so that throws a wrench into that engine there...

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Should it be against the law to call a woman a slut when she's not? [View all] Zalatix Mar 2012 OP

It is - not a crime, necessarily, but a tort. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2012 #1

Limbaugh also accused her of prostitution Warpy Mar 2012 #14

I don't think soliciting porn for the internet is legal either. Although given how much porn is Booster Mar 2012 #32

I hope she sues him right back to his grandpappy's baby shoes. Zalatix Mar 2012 #33

Let's say it is against civil law, but not against a criminal law. JDPriestly Mar 2012 #23

No Frances Mar 2012 #2

I agree -- What you said is the real issue: Raine1967 Mar 2012 #31

No. Just no. MrSlayer Mar 2012 #3

Years ago we used to have laws against slander. Cleita Mar 2012 #4

Lawsuits, YES!!! We can absolutely agree on that. Zalatix Mar 2012 #7

This has not changed; you can still sue for defamation The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2012 #8

No. But consequences should be expected. nolabear Mar 2012 #5

Apparently, it is in Florida Canuckistanian Mar 2012 #6

My bad. I misread the story. My previous edit is in error. Gore1FL Mar 2012 #11

No, it's a misdemeanor, an actual crime that can be punished by fines or imprisonment. Zalatix Mar 2012 #12

I was surprised myself Canuckistanian Mar 2012 #18

It's a throwback to the days when women were "too weak" to defend themselves. Zalatix Mar 2012 #25

Could it be considered hate speech? notadmblnd Mar 2012 #9

Well darn... DURHAM D Mar 2012 #10

No. But she should be allowed to sue you for damages. (nt) Nye Bevan Mar 2012 #13

'Crime?' No. elleng Mar 2012 #15

When is a woman EVER a slut? n/t dogknob Mar 2012 #16

No, but if its something that harms someone in their professional life, libel suit should glowing Mar 2012 #17

Publicly, or privately? nt Sarah Ibarruri Mar 2012 #19

Sometimes. ZombieHorde Mar 2012 #20

Maybe it would be a good idea to just eliminate the use of this word altogether. blue neen Mar 2012 #21

This is a great question for pointing out the nature of the word "slut." enough Mar 2012 #22

+1 "The word itself assumes some people are worthy of respect and some are worthy only of contempt." shcrane71 Mar 2012 #30

That's what civil law is for. Lone_Star_Dem Mar 2012 #24

No. It shouldn't be against the law. bigwillq Mar 2012 #26

Agreed. blue neen Mar 2012 #29

no. absolutely not. bowens43 Mar 2012 #27

It is a tort and not a crime. This is as it should be. kestrel91316 Mar 2012 #28

It should be legal to fire someone when they do it for 9 hours of radio in a row mucifer Mar 2012 #34

No, of course it shouldn't be illegal. slackmaster Mar 2012 #35

I am talking about this. Zalatix Mar 2012 #36

You think a ridiculous, antequated Florida blue law is constitutional? slackmaster Mar 2012 #38

Which is why its particularly stupid for Allred to ask for it to be applied to limpy onenote Mar 2012 #42

No, I am saying it is unconstitutional. Zalatix Mar 2012 #43

Thanks, and please accept my apology slackmaster Mar 2012 #44

No problemo... thanks! Zalatix Mar 2012 #46

for those who don't realize, it is a crime in several jurisdictions onenote Mar 2012 #37

Here's a link to a whole Web site devoted to dumb laws like that slackmaster Mar 2012 #39

"when she's not?" Chorophyll Mar 2012 #40

W. T. F. lapislzi Mar 2012 #41

No, there is an existing law making it a crime in Florida. I'm against that kind of law. Zalatix Mar 2012 #45

I was sentenced to 10 years in the slammer Dreamer Tatum Mar 2012 #47

Who gets to determine what "Sexually promiscuous" is? SATIRical Mar 2012 #48

The implication that some women "are sluts" is problematic Recursion Mar 2012 #49