Here's Proof That Slut-Shaming Is Still a Huge Problem in 2016
By Jasmine Grant
Just a few years ago, anyone you would have called out for slut-shaming would have looked at you sideways. Thankfully, millennial women are taking a stand against societal attitudes that force us to tuck away our sexual liberty beneath shame. Traditionally, a woman could earn the name "slut" for anything from dressing provocatively to sleeping with more people than deemed socially acceptable. Amber Rose has eagerly stepped up as pop culture's front line crusader to end slut shaming. A former stripper from Philly whose number one claim to fame is a high profile relationship with the ever-controversial Kanye West, would be a prime target for slut-shaming if there ever was one. Now, Amber and her valiant gang of proud “sluts” will take to the streets of downtown Los Angeles for her the second annual SlutWalk. Though the first installment was clouded with questions and uncertainly as to how an event with such a scandalous name could inspire women’s empowerment, the mom and social media vixen has rolled up her sleeves even higher to scrub the woman-bashing, archaic standards of modesty from the face of our society. Though Amber has done the work to put slut shaming ideals to bed, these terrible slut-shaming incidents of 2016 prove there's still lots of more to be done.
Megyn Kelly Slammed For Wearing Spaghetti Straps
Fox News correspondent Megan Kelly received a barrage of sexist criticism after wearing a spaghetti strap dress while covering the Republic National Convention in July. Sure, the weather was hot and humid in Cleveland which technically meant her attire was weather appropriate. However, by Twitter troll logic, Megyn's choice of dress was more suited for (as one user put) a "whore" than a broadcast journalist.
Wendy Williams Calls Rihanna Anti-Girlfriend Material
We're not sure what Wendy Williams’s gripe is with Rihanna, it's hard to remember a recent time where this gossip queen had anything at all nice to say about the Bajan beauty. Wendy took a jab at Rihanna back in May while discussing her ongoing romance with Drake, saying she’s is only good for a good time. "I think Rihanna at this point in her life is a holla back girl," Wendy gabbed to her audience. "A girl that guys have fun with, with no intention of bringing to mom." The fact that Wendy thinks any woman is irredeemable or unworthy because of their sexual freedom or past is problematic...to say the least.
Amy Schumer Is Called Promiscuous by A 17-Year-Old
Actress and comedian Amy Schumer is an avid feminist and certainly not the one you want to slut shame. 17-year-old Jackson Murphy unfortunately learned the hard way. The teenage critic who runs Lights Camera Jackson, tweeted a photo of himself with Schumer at the Critics’ Choice Awards, with the caption, “Spent the night with @amyschumer. Certainly not the first guy to write that.” Schumer quickly got wind of the immature tweet and combatted the cheap joke with her signature sarcasm. "I get it. Cause I'm a whore," Schumer wrote in response. "Glad I took a photo with you. Hi to your dad." The photo was (of course) swiftly deleted.
Tim Gunn Calls “Blurred Lines” Model Emily Ratajkowski’s Revealing Dress “Vulgar”
Opinionated fashion consultant Tim Gunn had a whole lot to say about Emily Ratajkowski on an episode of Fashion Police. The show, pioneered by the late Joan Rivers, is anchored on tell-it-like-it-is critiques of celebrities’ red carpet looks, decorated with one-liner jokes that hit smooth below the belt. Tim tried to ride the line of honestly and comedy, but his comments about Emily's boobie-baring Julian MacDonald dress derailed all the way into slut-shaming town. "This dress is so appallingly vulgar and revealing. Why wear anything?!" the former project runway personality exclaimed. The “Blurred Lines” video model issued her clap back on Twitter with some food for thought. “Who controls women's bodies in 2016? It's 2016. Why keep trying to dictate what women can wear?”
Kim Kardashian Slammed For Her (Almost) Nude Selfie
Kim Kardashian attracted some unwanted opinions from celebrities and average joes alike when she broke the internet (for the second time) with a nearly nude selfie. This isn’t surprising when you consider that Kim has never been shy about putting her curvaceous figure on display. But apparently, folks like Bette Midler, Piers Morgan and Chloe Moretz were appalled by the risque photo. "If Kim wants us to see a part of her we've never seen, she's gonna have to swallow the camera," said Midler. "I truly hope you realize how important setting goals are for young women, teaching them we have so much more to offer than just our bodies" tweeted Moretz to Kim. Kim (well, probably Kanye) served each one of them a shady tweet, and capped it off by with this gem. “Sorry I’m late to party guys I was busy cashing my 80 million video game check and transferring 53 million into (me and Kanye’s) joint account.”
Erykah Badu Thinks Short Skirts Are The Problem
Erykah Badu became everyone's problematic fave after chiming in on an article about a New Zealand school that started mandating girls lower their skirt length to lessen male attention. Badu shot off some tweets that suggests we as a society should “protect” young girls by requiring them to cover up, while insisting it is in their male teachers’ nature to be attracted to them. “One way to protect youth is to remind them we are all sexual in nature and as they grow and develop it is natural to attract men,” Badu tweeted. The solution? Requiring girls to wear knee-length skirts to school, she says, is "fair for everyone." Only…it’s not. The onus should be on men to control their desires and maybe NOT gawk at young women in skirts, versus repressing pubescent women for having developing bodies. Badu's opinion oddly falls in line with rhetoric that suggests a woman in revealing clothes is sending an invitation for unwanted sexual advances. Not cool.
Cameron Dallas Randomly Slut Shames Jessica Alba
Vine star Dallas Cameron probably didn’t wake up the morning of the 2016 Teen Choice awards planning to make a sexist joke at Jessica Alba’s expense, but that is indeed what happened. In a dispatch from the award show green room just before the commercial break, Dallas played what started as an innocent game of “Would You Rather” with the host. When asked if he’d rather use Justin Timberlake or Jessica Alba’s toothbrush, Dallas responded, “Oh man, I would honestly use Justin Timberlake's because I don't know where Jessica Alba's been.” Not only did that joke fall extremely flat…it was a completely tasteless and Jessica’s sexual history is really nobody’s business.
America Freaks Out Over Melania Trump’s Vintage Nudes
As painful as it is to defend anything remotely affiliated with Donald Trump, we must admit the media went ham on his wife Melania. Photos of the potential First Lady from a 1995 nude photo spread resurfaced more than 20 years later – conveniently while her husband is running for the most powerful seat in politics. The New York Post published the tacky headline, “Ogile Office” along with a photo of the then 25-year-old model in nothing but heels and two stars strategically photoshopped over her nipples. The message was clear: we got the dirt on you, Melania! But why does a photo shoot from over a decade ago define who she is today? Melania and her husband may be unfit for the White House for many, many reasons. But the fact that she once, or maybe several times, professional posed nude is definitely a cheap shot.
Liberte Chan Gets Checked...With A Sweater
KTLA 5 Meteorologist Liberté Chan was put on full blast by the good people of Los Angeles, who seem to think there should be a dress code for reporting the weather. Angry viewers flooded the station's email with complaints that her sparkly spaghetti strap dress was far too risqué for the morning news. Just how did the producers solve this? By abruptly stopping her mid-segment to insist she put on a sweater. Later that day, Liberte hopped on Facebook Live with her co-anchors to read the emails aloud where folks were convinced she hadn't made it home from the bar. Now that's as shady as it gets.
#TeacherBae Is Punished For Being Too Curvy
Similar to the popularity of Jeremy Meeks aka #PrisonBae's viral mugshot, the internet somehow got wind of Georgia elementary school teacher Patrice Brown's Instagram, and suddenly #TeacherBae was born. Aside from her undoubtedly curvaceous figure, Patrice is also is accomplished, charitable and committed to her career. Still, that didn't stop thirsty Insta-bots from reducing her to a piece of eye candy. The popularity of Brown's photos led the Atlanta Public School District to issue a statement saying Patrice had been "given guide" on appropriate attire in the classroom. Though she was able to keep her job, the fact that Brown's body is being policed when she never asked to be part of the narrative is ass-backwards and unfair.
Is it empowering when celebrities post nudes on the Internet? Find out what some of us here at VH1 had to say in the following clip.