Splash Biography

In our society, girls are often victimized and attacked by other girls. This often appears in the form of "slut shaming," or demonizing a woman based on her supposed sexual activity, lack thereof, decision regarding her style of dress, or her interaction with males. Slut shaming contributes to breaking down the confidence and security of young women. It upholds the double standard for sexuality and openness that culturally accepted. Perhaps the most dangerous form of "slut shaming" occurs with women attack other women, instead of bonding together to raise each other up. Additionally, slut shaming contributes to the larger problem of rape culture, through suggesting that a rape victim was "asking for it." We will discuss the systematic disempowerment of women through the rhetoric of slut-shaming mean girls.

Let's talk about sex! Sex is everywhere in our culture, so why do we want to talk about sex so often? And how are these discussions on sex framed? We live in a world where women are either "prudes" or "sluts" - either we don't talk about sex at all, or we talk about it in the wrong way. This is a chance to have an open conversation about sex with two college teaching assistants who are drawing material from what they've taught in their favorite BC feminism courses. We will address politics of the body, "slut shaming", gendered language, and how to have quality, safer sex! The class will include close academic analysis of Cosmopolitan magazine, tips and tricks for feeling safe, and how to be comfortable with your sexuality. This class will be real, honest, dirty, curious, self-aware sex talk!