Boys Will Be Boys: Differing Cultural Stances on Adolescent Sexuality

In her article, “Slut! Growing Up Female with a Bad Reputation,” Leora Tanenbaum addresses an issue that she calls “slut-bashing.” Slut-bashing refers to the act of degrading young women by labeling them “slut”, “whore”, or “bitch”. While there are many complex reasons as to why these women are given these derogatory labels, there is one simple outcome—a broad negative impact on the way they practice sexuality. Being labeled a “slut” results in a reputation that “takes months, if not years, to evaporate—if it does at all.” (Tanenbaum 1999: 252) Tanenbaum addresses the ways in which the “slut” label can affect a young woman’s life long after it has been cast upon her.

According to Tanenbaum, any girl can be labeled a "slut" for a wide variety of reasons including but not limited to having a casual attitude towards sex, being a social minority of some kind, and being a victim of a rumor started as an act of revenge. Being labeled a "slut" results in her devaluation as a human being--ownership and responsibility for her body and personal life are undermined by the "slut" label she has branded with. Slut-bashing can be taken as evidence that sexism is still prevalent in society as there is a double standard to the adolescent sexuality of girls and boys. (Tanenbaum 1999: 253)

Tanenbaum explains,"slut-bashing sends the message... that men and boys are free to express themselves sexually, but women and girls are not." (Tanenbaum 1999: 253) Relatively similar sexual behavior and activity can produce drastically different outcomes for young men and women. For what a guy might be praised for, a girl might be chastised for. This results in a power imbalance that leaves some girls thinking that their sexuality is the only power they wield in society. (Tanenbaum 1999: 256) Slut-bashing (on the part of girls) is a way that they can take some power back, and therefore, assume a higher status in the social hierarchy while pushing someone else down.

Tanenbaum's analysis of slut-bashing is extremely relevant and of great social importance. Slut-bashing is concerning because the "slut" label can befall any girl at anytime. As a word "slut" is so incredibly potent, yet it is tossed around as if it were meaningless. Though girls are some of the worst offenders when it comes to slut-bashing, ultimately, the burden of rectifying the situation falls on the shoulders of men. Men must reject this double standard by supporting and empowering the women in their communities and not turning a blind eye to the important social, economic, and political issues facing women today.