Let’s Bury The Word ‘Slut’

- Megan Walker

The London Abused Women’s Centre (LAWC) is a feminist agency providing advocacy, support and counselling to women abused by their intimate partners. LAWC defines feminism as “supporting women’s rights and interests based on a belief in social, political, legal and economic equality of the sexes.”  Committed to its feminist beliefs, the agency advocates for personal, social and political change to end violence and abuse against women.

All women are potential victims of violence and abuse for no other reason than their gender. It’s irrelevant what they wear, where they work, what their religious beliefs or associations are, what culture they are from, what their income status or educational background. It matters only that they were born female. In a patriarchal society where men have power and privilege, women are often controlled and dominated in the workplace, the streets and in their homes.

Contrary to popular belief, the most dangerous place for a woman continues to be her home. The place where fairy tales are all about living happily ever after and living safely often end far differently and unhappily for abused women. For many women their home becomes a torture chamber, their own personal hell. Their homes are places of verbal, emotional, psychological and physical terrorism. For many women, leaving is never an option because we know, as do they, that they are at risk of death should they attempt to escape. Their fairy tale ends with pain, suffering and sometimes death.

Name-calling is one tactic of abuse utilized to control them. They are called slut, whore, skank and bitch. Each name hits them like a sharp slap to the face or kick to the gut.  After constantly being called a slut, a whore, a skank, a bitch, women come to believe they are deserving of being called these names. Why would the man that says he loves and respects them, call her such hate-filled names if she didn’t deserve it?

These women are often not involved in the feminist movement or any political action group. Their efforts are spent on surviving the pain they feel that day. Their time is hoping they survive until tomorrow. Some come for counselling by climbing out a kitchen window because they are locked into their homes. Others sneak out while their abusive partner is at work. They pray he won’t come home early. They know the consequence of not being home if he does.

We’ve heard from these women about slutwalks. They wonder why women are calling themselves the very name their abuser calls them? These women wonder why their voices aren’t being represented. These women have lived the victimization. They know there is no reclaiming the word slut because it is like a weapon coming from the mouth of an abuser.

These victims can’t protests or march. But the London Abused Women’s centre and other radical feminists are hearing the victim’s voices. Their voices are being heard by feminists who understand the tactics used by abusers to control women. The London Abused Women’s Centre and other radical feminists represent those who can’t speak when they stand against slutwalks.

Slut is not a word that can, or should be, reclaimed. It is a word that needs to be buried never to be heard again.