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Over this holiday break, I took it upon myself read something that would offer insight—insight I can bring with me into the New Year. In my reading of He’d a Stud, She’s a Slut, I learned of 50 double standards between men and women that plague society in daily life. It doesn’t even mention the fact that men make more money than women, or how health care (which, statistically speaking, women utilize much more) costs are becoming wildly unpractical, or even how women make up only a measly 16% of Congress.
So, I’ll just come right out and say it! Well, you see, my virginity is…uh…a sacred thing. And you see…because I lost my virginity already, I’m wholly impure—doomed by the word “slut” for the rest of my teenage life. And the guy who took my virginity? He lacks integrity for having taken my future husband’s gift.
Allow me to explain: I was never forced to go to a Purity Ball, which dates back to the 17th century tradition of a father-daughter dance. At Purity Balls, girls promise their father that they’ll “remain pure” and live virginal lives until they are married. Then—and only then—will they give their sacred virginity to their husband.
Well, that just pisses me off! Don’t get me wrong: I’m all for saving your virginity until marriage. But I’m sure you’re wondering the same thing as I was: where’s the male equivalent of Purity Balls?
These are called Integrity Balls. But once again, we are met with a sense of male superiority over a female’s virginity. At Integrity Balls, boys promise not to take a girls virginity, because they’ll be “stealing the gift” from her future husband. So, in essence, Integrity Balls aren’t even about keeping your virginity for the sacredness of it, but for ensuring the women don’t lose their virginities!
Misogyny, which is indeed the world’s oldest prejudice, just had a successful heart transplant and thus is well and alive today. How long will it take until society accepts the concept of “self-control”? People so often tell women to have “self-control” when getting action—to avoid having sex. But how long will it be until people realize that in order to have self control, a woman must have control over her own body, not just her actions. 77% of anti-choice supporters are men, but 100% of them will never be pregnant. Does this sound right to you? We have people telling women not to have sex, not to have abortions (even when it’s the product of rape or incest), and even not to have jobs (because a woman’s natural job is evidently maintaining a family). There are statistics that demonize this new fact that more and more women are putting off getting married to build up their careers. So what? Sorry for wanting a stable job before popping out 2 or 3 babies.
OK, so I went on a little rant there. My point is that we live in a world where women have been seen as inferior. So what can you do to help? When your friends start calling other girls “sluts” for having sex, remind them that it takes two to tango. If you’re going to criminalize the woman, you must also criminalize the man.
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by Anatic09
Talk to you soon!
Karina