Have Feminists reclaimed the word "slut"?

Is anyone a member of the BPS? They are not engaging further or answering questions about this.

Of course it’s not reclaimed, hence why women are called it, by men, all over porn. This is Stonewall, yet again.

No. And it's really depressing the BPS has come out with this.
Also doubly unbelievable territory when looking at how Stonewall define 'conversion therapy', and how many of our large institutions who would provide counselling and therapies, are signed up.

www.bacp.co.uk/events-and-resources/ethics-and-standards/mou/

And SW definitions in the questionnaire:
Definition of So-Called “Conversion Therapies” and Practices:
(Taken from their survey):-

Our recommended legal definition combines elements of the legislation in place in both Madrid, Spain and Queensland, Australia, which are the two best examples of international
legislation. This is because the Madrid definition is the most inclusive of various forms of conversion practices and the Queensland definition ensures that gender-affirming treatments are not included in a ban:
“Conversion therapies”:
i) Encompass all medical, psychiatric, psychological, religious, cultural or any other interventions that seek to erase, repress or change the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of a person, including aversive therapies or any other procedure that Involves an attempt to convert, cancel or suppress sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression.

ii) Do not include any practice that—
(a) assists a person who is undergoing a gender transition; or
(b) assists a person who is considering undergoing a gender transition; or
(c) assists a person to express their gender identity; or
(d) provides acceptance, support and understanding of a person; or
(e) facilitates a person’s coping skills, social support and identity exploration and development.

*don't know whether point e refers to exploration and development of affirmed identity only, but content would suggest so

I really struggle with this reclaiming slurs as a positive thing, maybe I'm old but I think of the old saying " the master's tools will never dismantle the master's house"

In a way it gives other people an excuse to abuse you. "If you can say n..... / slut / dyke / queer why can't I?"

I've been called a n... and a s... many times in my life, but never by a friend and I refuse to accept it.

Well I guess the only male equivalent I can think of off the top of my head is f...boy. I don't think that is seen as a positive thing among girls / young women and I don't think many young men would like to claim it.

What even are any direct male equivalents?

Even the one (one!) I can think of has a very different feel to it. Not got anywhere the level of .. insult iyswim.
And given whole global history men/women/sex/double standard it's not a mystery why.

In fact I've seen males apply words like slut bitch to themselves loads.

Maybe that's who they're thinking of?
Blokes who enjoy the sense of humiliation and degradation those words make them feel?

Also note porn titles etc bitch slut etc ubiquitous.
Could it be about male porn addicts?

Oh hold on silly me
We've reclaimed it. So definitely about women saying hello I want you to describe me as aslut please.

Rather sexist in that their choices were derogatory female terms isn’t it? No male versions listed. And yes, I immediately thought about just who might be wanting to be called those words. Not females. Or if they are female, what is their state of mind that they feel the need to be denigrated in the feeble excuse of being ‘empowered’.

Yet another false narrative spread by those wanting to be seen as ‘edgy’ ultimately though, causing harm.

I read one of their tweet replies, I am not convinced their social media is run by a critical thinking adult.

For fucking fucks sake.

Title section-

'... Encouraged to use the preferred language of Gender, sexuality and gender diverse people.'

Section content-

May prefer gay, MSM (men who have sex with men, lesbian etc.

Culturally specific terms. (No example)

Reclaimed words eg
Dyke (fair enough is used lesbian groups etc.
SLUT.

Next
use preferred name pronouns.
Client way describe relationship (presume poly etc)

So in context-
Use the name pronouns wanted
Use eg lesbian/lesbians or dyke/dykes as preferred

Use slut/sluts if requested.

How the fuck does that go?
Hello nice to see you.
Have you thought more on your issues around being gay/ bigender/ poly /a slut?
Many sluts feel the same. Find it difficult to be entirely comfy with their bisexuality/ gender ID /knowledge they are a slut.

That's... What it's saying, right?
Given reclaim = take back power, positive word etc?

I did see someone on SM talking about how sex work was exploitation and someone piped up asking if that wasn’t slut shaming.

Horrifying.

Do those who attend “slut walks” actually refer to themselves in that way?

I guess there’s parts of the internet where women identify as sluts, but I doubt there’s any feminist discourse going on there.

I hate this word and have a very visceral reaction to it... so a hard no from this feminist!

Sounds like the patriarchy wanting to justify thinking of women in that way tbh.

No.

No one sent me the memo. Better check my feminist junk mail.

[checks]

Nope.

I don't see the use of Slutwalk as reclaiming a word. I think Slutwalk was used to garner attention for the derogatory way women's sexuality is judged and how women are victims of sexual assault and rape. It wasn't women affectionately reusing the word "slut" or wanting to take pride in the concept of 'sluttiness'.

Like so many feminists protests, Slutwalk was pushing back at the patriarchy's desire to define us, judge us and control us. It was an edgy way to say, "Leave us alone."

And you are told you aren’t a woman but you are a slut…

Well queer is the most topical example of that and no it's not gelt like it's been reclaimed by all. I had no idea that anyone was attempting to reclaim the word slut. BPS has totally lost its way.

Like greying said above, they are a mess.

I dont get how some people get to reclaim some words but not others.
For example queer has been reclaimed by some bisexuals, but if I as an an autistic went into certain autistic spaces I cant call myself aspergers.

Not in my world

What about racist slurs? Homophobic ones? Are they acceptable or not acceptable? And why would that be acceptable / not acceptable?

I can see some TW going in and saying please call me a sissy slut though.

But in answer to the OP - ‘No’

There's a great dinner party scene in the recent J. K. Rowling 'Strike' novel, Troubled Blood, where Strike confronts a bunch of middle class students about their 'slutwalks'.

It’s not my idea of feminism. I wouldn’t be very impressed if I was called this by “a fellow femisnist”