Sexism in the Form of Slut Shaming and Ethical Solutions

Sexism is prejudice, stereotyping or discrimination on the basis of the sex or sex (typically against women). This social topic is a form of oppression and domination, also because many social form of hierarchy and abuse is shown in a male-over-female domination. Women are mainly affected by sexism, feminist theorist wet around explaining that the oppression woman was common in nearly all human society. The difference between men and women are easily taken as given and practices by rules, policies and laws that may seem in benefit towards both but in fact put women at a disadvantage. This essay aims to explore sexism in the terms of slut shaming; the practice of criticizing women and girls who are perceived to violate expectations of behavior and appearance regarding issues related to sexuality. There a many ethical solutions that can be used to solve the dilemma of sexism.

Through the eyes of Plato, he had many different views on sexism mainly on the nature and the abilities of a woman. Plato was known as the one early feminist or at least that’s what they say. He argued that women are able to take on social roles the same as men. According to Plato and in the realm of the Pythagoras’ ideas that men are seen as the opposite of woman, the men being a spiritual nature and the woman being of a materialistic nature. Plato’s studies went as far as saying men and woman have different souls and that the female body does not necessarily contain a “female” soul. Plato plays the role as a feminist as he said that the life in a female body is punishment for cowardice. He also suggests that “female” refers to someone who is connected to the world thorough a bodily level and “male” is someone who has risen to a higher philosophical level. Plato’s principal that he builds on is that woman are just as capable as men to be rulers in society.

The first ethical solution using Plato’s principal is that the government or state can put in specific laws that protect women’s rights by insuring that women are paid as much as men and given the same opportunities. Women should also be granted services where they can identify or voice their oppression in a specific environment. This will benefit women by allowing them to be more independent and less oppressed in society. Also providing services will benefit women as they will be given the opportunity to take action against sexism for themselves. Having specific laws to protect women’s rights will allow women to live free from discrimination and allow them to live equally.

Friedrich Nietzsche views on sexism mainly focuses on women, he believes women are incapable of doing most tasks/activities without a man or a male role model. Friedrich Nietzsche expects women to follow a man’s lead and believe that a woman in his life are accepting his point of views. Friedrich Nietzsche had three principal towards sexism which were skeptic, Nietzsche is afraid that older women are skeptical in their hearts than any man. The second principal is the strength of the weak, where he believes that women are inventive with their weakness so they appear as “fragile ornaments who hurt even by a speck of dust.” And his last principal, Vita Femina. Nietzsche calls life a woman as he speaks about the Greek prayer “everything beautiful twice and even three times. He also states about this principal that the one half of mankind is weak, changeable and shifty. He also says “women avail themselves of children for the cult of pity.” Some of the derogatory comments he makes towards women are calling them “big cows” and stating that if he had the choice of choosing between a woman and animals he would choose the animal.

An ethical solution towards Friedrich Nietzsche’s principals are that women should be all kept in one area to perform the womanly roles such as: cooking, cleaning and nurturing instead of providing and going out to get an education. This will oppress the women as this is how Friedrich Nietzsche believed women should be in a society. Also this will make women feel inferior to men as they will have to always rely on a man to be the leader and keep them safe in society. This solution will provide men with the supply of women to do what they want to do without being judged or held accountable for their actions being carried out.

Sexism is generally pointed towards females and how they choose to portray their appearance out in public. A modern issue in today’s society known as “slut shaming” is when a person or society stigmatizes a woman or women for engaging in behaviour judged to be sexually provocative or promiscuous. Slut shaming can easily lead others to categorize and perceive women to be a certain way, the way society wants women to be. For many years, and for which is still carried through in society today, women are categorized and judged based off their physical appearance. [3] They are judged for dressing with revealing clothing and for whom they associate themselves more with, male or female. [4] Slut shaming is directly in correlation with sexism and can be labelled as sexist mainly because females are taught from a young age to protect their sexuality while males are encouraged for such “wild” behaviour. However, the saying goes “boys will be boys” by girls will be sluts, whores, etc., for such actions.

An ethical solution towards slut shaming is to allow and encourage young women and women of today’s society to not be afraid to be who they are and dress how they feel. An ethical solution that began in 2011 that is called the “slut walk” was brought together by a celebrity by the name of Amber Rose whom was disgusted by a comment said by a Toronto Police officer. [5] This ethical solution should also be here to guide and educate young men about what sexism is and how it affects and how it has affected and shaped the minds in our society.

In conclusion, the topic of sexism is a form of oppression and domination, also because many social form of hierarchy and abuse is shown in a male-over-female domination. It is a prejudice, stereotyping or discrimination on the basis of the sex or sex (typically against women). [6] This essay aimed to explore sexism in the terms of slut shaming; the practice of criticizing women and girls who are perceived to violate expectations of behavior and appearance regarding issues related to sexuality. As well as it portrayed the views of sexism and possible ethical solutions through the eyes of Philosophers Plato and Friedrich Nietzsche. There a many ethical solutions that can be used to solve the dilemma of sexism however many need would need to be willing to open their minds and see.