Teach our girls to dress better or teach our boys not to rape?

You may have clicked on the post for several reasons… One may be to find out my use of the word slut and why I am posting such a term on an ethical blog, another may be that you already know what “Slutwalks” is, and you are ready to hear another opinion on the subject that is “Slut-Shaming” or you may be here because I told you to be! Either way, you’re here now. 

In a nutshell, SlutWalks is a march set up for rape victims, rape victims’ friends and family, rape victims’ boyfriends/husbands/girlfriends/wives to all come together and walk to create awareness for the victims of rape. More specifically rape victims who have been raped due to what they are clothed in.

The main face of the SlutWalks movement, is Amber Rose who defines herself as “Certified Slut, Feminist” who went through her fair-share of slut shaming. From her first encounter aged 14, when she was playing the game 7 minutes in heaven and a young boy convinced Rose to get down on her knees, only for him to pull out of his genitals and fling open the door for their friends to think Rose was performing oral sex. 

To her ‘baby daddy’ and ex-husband calling her “nothing but a stripper and a h**” and her ex-boyfriend the famous Kanye West telling press in an interview he had to take 30 showers before he got with his now, wife Kim Kardashian-West. 

SlutWalks stands up for women being able to wear whatever they want, and still maintain the rights to not be raped. Although the campaign is publicised around the world of women walking in provocative outfits, a lot women went out there in just a t-shirt and jeans displaying signs saying “I am wearing what I was raped in, did I ask for it?” and on the opposite side, a woman dressed in her bikini holding a sign saying “so every time I go swimming… I’m asking for it?”

I have a such a strong opinion on this topic, I don’t believe women should be conscious of what they want to wear just because in the back of their mind they’re thinking “I can’t wear that, because when I am walking home at night, I might get raped.” I believe this isn't a state of mind women should have when dressing themselves for a wedding, for a night out, for a girl’s night… anything! 

Many people have been caught saying that women should look at what they wear before they go on a night out, and ask themselves whether it is “inviting” or “suggestive”? What?! No. 

Instead, I believe we should be teaching our sons, brothers, nephews and even daughters, sisters and nieces: 
rape is wrong, 
rape is unacceptable and 
if you want to have sex with someone they are well within their right to decline, to say no and you are obliged to accept that. 

Which is where I believe our educational system is failing the kids of today. We need to educate today, to have a more positive tomorrow. 

I’d love to hear some feedbacks, and comments below on this topic as it is something I love talking about! 

Ethically Sourced’s Laura.