Yes, I am a slut. Because I love sucking dick. Because I'm bisexual, and everyone assumes bisexuals are slutty even we're in monogamous relationships. Because the first time I was kissed in a way I actually like, my girlfriend and I were told we were disgusting and going to burn in hell. Yes, I am a slut. Because I love the night. Because I wear miniskirts. Because I smoke weed. Because I flirt. Because sometimes I like sex. Because sometimes I don't like sex. Becase I've been raped. Because I'm a feminist. Because I'm a survivor. Because the only person who can make me come is myself and I'm fine with that. Because I rub my clit when I'm being fucked. Because I've done webcam work. Because I've posed naked for pictures. Because I like to masturbate. Becase I've always loved to masturbate. Because I used to jerk off to naked pictures of women when I was like ten years old and I thought there was something seriously wrong with me. Because there is nothing wrong with me. Yes, I am a slut. Because my girlfriend called me one. Because she got on top of me and screamed it in my face. Because random men have yelled slut at more times than I could possibly count if I tried to sit down and write a list. Because I have been called an ugly bitch, sweetheart, honey and other degrading names more times than I could count too. Because I am sick of being told and this time I am telling you: Yes, I am a slut. Because my pussy is beautiful and insatiable. Because I love my body. Because the clothes I'm most comfortable in apparently make me a target for rape. Because my body belongs to me no matter how many times I have been violated and none of it was my fault ever. Yes, I am a slut. Because yes, I do fucking know what the word means and yes I am a feminist and yes I am intelligent and yes I do choose say yes, I am a slut. Because the police officer who said women should stop dressing like sluts to avoid being victimized was talking about me and he was talking about you and he was talking about all of us. And because if we say it's okay to rape any of us, then it's okay to rape all of us. Because the slut card can be pulled out any time and you never know when it will be used against you. Because it can always be used against you, even if you've tried hard to make the 'right' choices. Because all of us are sluts because in a rape culture women are considered inherently rapable. Because none of us can be free of the word until those of us who choose to are free to embrace the word. Because the word will never lose its power to hurt as long as we allow them to control it. Because I respect a person's right to self identify and I expect the same respect in return. Yes, I am a slut. Yes, it is a complicated identity full of disempowerment, empowerment, struggle and resistance. Yes, it was forced on me and used against me and yes I and many of us were able to find different, new and empowering ways of relating to the word. Yes, we are sluts. So please hear us out. Hear what we have to say. Don't condescendingly tell us whether or not we are sluts or whether or not we can find empowerment this way. Yes we can, yes we do, yes we are.
- Clementine Canibal