Have Feminists reclaimed the word "slut"?

[BuffysBigSister]

According to the British Psychological Society feminists have reclaimed the word "slut" and therefore it would be appropriate to address a client as such if that were their preference.

Did I miss when feminists reclaimed the word? I think its still offensive.

twitter.com/BPSOfficial/status/1479127686073110533

I suppose it's possible that some feminists (or people who identify as feminists) have done so.
Does this body also support the use of other 'reclaimed' words?

Well I can see that the example of the "SlutWalk" is given, but I am surprised that the BPS think that those women who might take part or organise such an event actually would describe themselves by that label. And it's a very US centric idea, I can't see how it's been shown to be a popular or common idea in the UK.

The ones they have mentioned in addition to that are "dyke" and also give MSM (men who have sex with men) as an example. I would have thought that if a woman came to a therapist insisting she be called "slut", the therapist should be trying to find out why.

@UltraVividLament

Well I can see that the example of the "SlutWalk" is given, but I am surprised that the BPS think that those women who might take part or organise such an event actually would describe themselves by that label. And it's a very US centric idea, I can't see how it's been shown to be a popular or common idea in the UK.

Agree. I can see - maybe - a group of women friends jokingly using the term. But in a therapist's office? Unprofessional is the kindest word I can use.

The BPS are a mess at the moment, for a whole range of reasons. This is just one of them. A group of us already wrote to them last year to express concern about some of the policies in place.The more people who push back on this, the better.

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

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'.

@IvyTwines

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'.

Looks like I need to get the new Strike book

@IvyTwines

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'.

Yes I was thinking of that too.

But in answer to the OP - ‘No’

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.

Not in my world

@IvyTwines

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'.

Tis excellent but his behaviour does upset Robin.

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.

@BuntyAurBabli

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.

That is probably who the BPS mean when they talk about feminists, or ‘women’, for that matter.

Like greying said above, they are a mess.

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.

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

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."

No.

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

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

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

Horrifying.

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?

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.

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.