There’s so much going pear shaped in the world today that it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up. Last week, the big news was about the Slut Walk, a phenomenon that started out in Toronto after a police after gave the advice that ‘women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimised’.
Six weeks later, the furious reaction to the police officer’s remark became clear as thousands of women took to the streets of Toronto in what was to become the first Slut Walk. The aim of the movement is to proclaim the message that women have a right to dress provocatively without being raped. The movement has gathered so much momentum that it has since spread to the U.S., Europe and now Britain.
The organisers of London’s Slut Walk held on Saturday the 11th of June, were keen to tell the world that ‘rape is never, ever the fault of the victim — no matter what they were wearing’. Let me be very clear on this – rape should never be excused under any circumstances. It is a horrific and evil act that should never be condoned. However, as a guy who has three sisters, I cannot help but feel a tinge of worry when I see young girls scantily dressed and struggling to stay conscious after a night of binge drinking, stuttering their way through the streets of London, trying to catch a minicab or taxi home in a very vulnerable state.
Whilst wearing skirts and tops that leave nothing to the imagination is no excuse for any man to rape a woman under any circumstances, women cannot be totally absolved of the responsibility to protect themselves from sexual predators. Showing and exposing more flesh than is necessary will always send out the wrong signals to the wrong men. It is simply provocative and asking for trouble.
Once again, this is evidence that feminism is not the answer to the problems facing women in our world today. In fact, those who originally proposed and promoted the idea of feminism will be cringing at this idea of a Slut Walk because the very freedom and empowerment that feminism preaches is lacking in this movement. Where is the freedom in having to dress in an undignified way to attract men? Where is the empowerment in dressing like a slut and drinking oneself to a state of stupor? After five decades, the state of young women today is more than enough evidence for the failure of feminism, another man-made idea attempting to fix a fundamentally spiritual problem. Feminism is a cosmetic approach to a deeply rooted problem facing women – the problem of a misplaced identity and value.
I hear stories of young beautiful intelligent girls who are prepared to do anything to get their man. It is heartbreaking to hear stories of girls who are so desperate to keep a boyfriend even if they are aware of their cheating. They will even go as far as letting their boyfriends hit them and spend all their pocket money. I have also heard cases of girls forced to perform gruesome sexual acts or risk losing their relationship to some guy. Is this empowerment? Absolutely not! The girls do not know who they are anymore and the by-product of a misplaced identity is a misplaced valuation of who you are. The guys think they are being empowered by this negative trend but in reality they are being stripped of their manhood as they fail to develop the character required to become godly men who can control their sexual desires and honour their wives as Christ loved the Church. It is a satanically inspired vicious circle that is designed to rob our women of their dignity.
In Christ, a woman is empowered to value who she is because her Father is the King of the Universe. She also values her body because her Father tells her that it is the Temple of His Holy Spirit and He wants it kept pure and holy. Christ commands respect for women. He defends them. He cherishes them. Just picture Jesus standing between the adulterous woman and an angry mob threatening to stone her to death. That is how much value he placed on her life. Jesus takes it to the root – how she saw herself.
I’m afraid Slut Walk is just another expression of the biblically predicted rise in human rebellion against God. It is just another attempt by man to fight for the right to do wrong. How a woman dresses says a lot about her and there is no way she can absolve herself of her responsibilities to society in setting the right examples and provoking men to desire her in a perverse manner. It’s like saying: I know that walking around that neighbourhood alone at night is dangerous but it’s my right and getting attacked by a gang should not be my responsibility! That’s just plain silly in my opinion. Some may have a different view and I would love to hear from you.
I leave you with some advice from the Scriptures: Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. – 1 Peter 3:3-4
Love it. So true and so on point.
The irony of the slut walk is that in the bid to call for freedom the women have degraded themselves and lost respect – every time the story has been reported, the word slut has been used to describe otherwise responsible women and even victims of rape and abuse – what a shame.
I like your point about the loss of identity – events like this do more to push women farther away from the truth about who they are in Christ. Believing in dignity, purity and chasitity is considered as falling for male chauvisnsm and patriachical ideology – yet somehow I sense that some women do not feel secure in their freedoms, and exposures and yearn for the security and comfort.
The issue is a clash between idealism and realism. While it would be nice to believe that we could all wear whatever we wanted without fear of any consequences, in reality there will always be sick people only too ready to rise to what they see as provocation, whether it is intended or not.
thanks for stopping by londonchoirgirl! That’s an interesting name by the way. You’re so right in saying that in an ideal world, women should feel safe wearing what they want but we all know we live in a fallen world and evil is a reality. it would therefore be naive and irresponsible of women to attract the wrong type of attention. It is just the sad reality of the world we live in really.
@MsLuffa – thanks as always for sharing your views. You said: “Believing in dignity, purity and chasitity is considered as falling for male chauvisnsm and patriachical ideology”! That’s a quotable quote if I ever heard one. I totally agree with you. Having three sisters, I am always bothered when I see women devaluing themselves because I feel women are extremely special and are a blessing to mankind. If men are likened to Christ in the bible then women are likened to the Holy Spirit who is equally revered in the Trinity. This is the greatest case of identity theft in our generation. very sad indeed
“In Christ, a woman is empowered to value who she is because her Father is the King of the Universe.”<— Love this.
@ Jaycee: I always say to my three sisters, ‘the only man worthy enough to marry you must be the son of a King”! In other words, I feel women are best valued by men who are truly submitted to Christ. It’s painful to see women settling for far less than they’re worth. Thanks again Jaycee
I do not have a different opinion. I do not think you could have said it better. God bless you for writing this so powerfully and eloquently.
I love your response to Jaycee here: “the only man worthy enough to marry you must be the son of a King.” Those of us with unmarried sisters need to communicate that to them at all times. And I agree that being a slut, dressing up like a slut, allowing oneself to be abused by “bad boys” has to do with one’s self image. A woman cannot see herself as a queen and dress to attract men who would abuse her. There is a saying in Yoruba language that has to do with the fact that our appearances determine how we are treated. While there are sick men who will be provoked whether or not there is a real provocation, I am of the firm belief that a woman can repel the wrong men and attract “the son of a King.” Sluts or slut-looking women attract men looking for sluts.
Having said that, I love how you did not absolve men of responsibility too because I think from the onset, this whole slut thing is really our failure as fathers, husbands and brothers – God-ordained protectors and builders of society. Christ reveals our role as men. When a real man, a Christ-like man sees a slut or a slut-looking woman, He wants to do what Christ would do – help to build her up, change her self-image, not destroy her further. The scriptures say, “A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench.” Jesus Christ is the man every real man wants to emulate – defending, cherishing, protecting women and womanhood.
I love your writings.
Tolu I can’t thank you enough for your contributions. They go a long way to improving the richness of the discussions on the blog. I’m really grateful to you for that.
I am always humbled by the level of insight you share. It always seems to be a refreshing perspective. This time, I love this quote of yours: “this whole slut thing is really our failure as fathers, husbands and brothers – God-ordained protectors and builders of society. Christ reveals our role as men. When a real man, a Christ-like man sees a slut or a slut-looking woman, He wants to do what Christ would do – help to build her up, change her self-image, not destroy her further”. Amazing insight. God bless you bro.
this is just an inspiring write-up. we live in a society where infidelity is promoted. In a society where men constantly cheat on their wives and young girls see nothing wrong with dating a man that has made a vow before God and man to be faithful and this is all as a result of the “right to live your life as you deem fit”
That’s not life and i am so glad someone is talking about it
@ ziariz – thanks a lot for gracing the blog. It’s a shame that we now live in a society where infidelity is promoted like you rightly pointed out. Thanks for giving me a new perspective when it comes to the young girls who see nothing wrong with dating a man that has made a vow before God and man to be faithful! I never really saw it from that perspective but it makes it all the more shocking to see how the institution of marriage is degenerating today. Thanks again for your encouragement.
I have been thorough blessed by both the write-up and the comments. God bless you all.
@MoH – Isn’t it amazing how God uses different people to piece together the puzzle of life? I have also been blessed by all the different contributions. God bless.