Thursday, April 11, 2013

The Mindset of Slut ~ Let's Get Lucky Blog Hop

Hello,
Welcome to my stop on the Let’s Get Lucky Blog Hop…where I am not going to promo a new release.
I have a couple, don’t get me wrong. But there’s something more important on my mind or, rather someone.

Her name is Rehteah Parsons. She’s seventeen years old and she will never be eighteen. She’s dead, by her own hand. Rehteah was raped by four young men at a party. She was fifteen at the time.

What came next was worse.

I do want to focus on one aspect, the way other young women sent her text messages calling her a slut.


Slut. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/slut

A four-letter word much harsher than any other four-letter word I can think of. Slut. As a rape survivor myself, I’d say those messages were more harmful than those from young men asking if she’d have sex with them, and I am not saying the messages from young men weren't harmful. But for the love of God, where's the solidarity, the sisterhood, the support from other woman we all need to get through something like this? And who raised these young? They need to step up and be handed their measure of shame.



Rehteah posted this image on her Facebook wall prior to taking her life.

I’m a widow. I’m a mother. By September, I’ll be a grandmother—twice.
And I write erotic romance. In part, I chose the genre because I wrestle with the line between ‘nice girl’ and ‘sexual being’—and why that line exists.

I think it’s time we stop the shame game, because all other issues aside, at the core of the behavior by the young women who tortured this child with social media and who shunned her as though her rape were somehow her fault, is the mindset of slut, the idea there are two standards of sexuality, one for men and another for women. It pisses me off that women are still slinging this kind of mud on other women, resulting in a new generation all too ready to pour the water of superiority into the dirt of shame. A generation who has the magic of social media at their fingertips to carry the message far and wide.

Women need to stop judging each other for sexual choices made, much less for a rape. Let Rehteah Parsons be the last women to take her life because those who should stand in support turned away—then circled back to attack.

Let us wipe the word ‘slut’ off our lips, and those of our children. Rape is a crime, but the behavior of others toward a victim after the fact in many cases, is an equal, if not larger crime. No woman needs others to make her ashamed of her sexual history, particularly for an entry not made by choice.

Thank you for dropping in. I’d love if you’d join my blog and my Facebook page, but those are requests, not conditions.

I’ll be delighted to give anyone who reads this entire post a free copy of my latest release, Breaking Glass, no strings attached. Tell me your preferred format, .mobi or .epub, and your e-mail address and I'll send you a copy of the e-book. You may use the “Contact Eden” form at top right, or post a comment below.



43 comments :

  1. It always amazes me at how mean teen girls can be when a peer is raped. Where does this idea that it's ok to attack and harrass a victim of such a horrible crime. Do they not realize that it could have been them? Would they have wanted to be treated this way if it had been? I work with middle school kids and I'm always surprised at the hateful way they treat each other when they should be bonding together in support.
    Thank you for the book offer, mobi.
    suz2(at)cox(dot)net

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    1. Completely disgraceful, where do these young women learn this kind of cruelty?

      Your copy of Breaking Glass is in your inbox. Thanks for visiting!

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  2. Thanks for a provocative post. I agree. Breaks my heart to see this kind of behavior.

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  3. Thanks for bringing attention to this issue. I had not heard the story and am sitting here thinking about my 3 nieces all heading into their teen years just scared. We live in a very strange world these days and it saddens me that there wasn't more support for Rehteah. How is it that these other girls don't realize it could happen to them? Or it could have been them and not her? Why would you tear down in this situation and not work to build up the person? Rape isn't their fault, it is something done to them unwillingly. Where are the parents, how do they let their children do this to another child? I guess it does all fall under the bullying banner just in a more ugly and aggressive way - it is time this stops.

    Thanks again. I do have your book on my TBR list so if you do want to share, I would love to read it. Kindle user
    mjtoth.dis(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Your copy's on its way, Mary Jo, thank you for commenting.

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  4. thanks for a provocative post. I agree. when i went thru i was bullied and the girls were the worst

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    1. I cannot understand this mindset but it seems to be getting worse, or else it's garnering more media attention. I'm truly sorry you experienced this sort of evil first-hand, Laurie.

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  5. I completely agree with you. I couldn't imagine not being there for my child if something like that happened to her or any of her friends for that matter. It's ridiculous how victims are seen in the world today. Thanks for sharing this story!
    Thanks also for the book. I would love .mobi format.
    Rhonda D
    slinkydennis@yahoo.com

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    1. the mother was trying to break down the bathroom door while her child hung herself, and was too late. I cannot imagine her pain.

      Your copy of Breaking Glass is in your inbox. Thank you so much for coming by. :)

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    2. I can't imagine either. I hope I never have too. Thank you so much for sharing with me.

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  6. Bullying is so unfortunate. I'm glad that in a recent case in Ohio, the girls who used social media to harass a rape victim were prosecuted, but it's sad that such things actually happen in the first place.

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    1. I feel like we need to understand what compels this kind of behavior. If I knew my son had raped any one, I'd probably go to jail for what I'd do to him, but to learn my daughter had tortured someone who'd been through this? I don't think my tears would ever dry.

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  7. I'm so happy my children are all past their teen years and considering what goes on with teens today it scares the dickens out of me what I think my grandchildren are yet to go through. Thanks for posting and writing about such a touchy subject. V

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    1. I feel you on that, V. I know my son is expecting a girl in May, and we'll find out (hopefully) what my daughter is expecting on the 15th. I am terrified for these innocents.

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  8. It's bullying plain and simple. Sometimes the attacks are about appearances, clothing, weight.I had a couple of high school boys follow me down the hall doing wolf calls because I wanted the teachers to call me "Nikki"...unfortunately that was the year "Nikki, Wild Dog of the North" aired. Why some people think it's okay to attack someone else mystifies me. Then again how often do children hear their parents gossiping meanly about an acquaintance?

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    1. I'm starting to feel the term 'bullying' is too removed, too clinical. The word leeches the emotion out of the act. This is an act of criminal sexual violation, evil masquerading as manhood.

      Thank you for commenting, Mona :)

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  9. This morning, I woke up to this story in my inbox from a friend: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/12/17716055-trio-held-in-connection-with-sexual-assault-in-wake-of-teen-girls-suicide

    I keep thinking the world is going to get better. Steubenville brought so many victims to the forefront, and, I believe, opened all of our eyes to how truly terribly our children are treating each other. It boggles my mind that they somehow think all of this behavior is okay.

    I never thought I would consider myself lucky to have gone through puberty and adolescence merely being bullied.

    What a waste of young lives. They had so much left to experience if not for the cruelty of their peers.

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    1. I would love a copy of the book, Eden. kaitlinashbury@gmail.com

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    2. I read this one this afternoon. In far too many of these cases, the perpetrator is given far more consideration then he ever offered. In practical terms, if the PARENTS of these young criminals are subjected to some public scrutiny, they might get off their butts and do a little parenting before something like this happens.

      I ache for these parents.

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  10. Hello Eden - Yes, it makes my heart hurt at hearing how cruel peers can be...I had some bullying while growing up and understand how hurtful and degrading it makes a person feel inside. Add a dysfunctional family to that, and yes...it's grounds for total disaster.

    Thanks for sharing, I salute you and hope your post ripples out and makes a difference so another doesn't suffer:)

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    1. Hi Kay Dee, thanks for coming by. I just can't help but feel a bunch of writers who have a female audience can make a difference, by speaking up and speaking out. Thanks so much for commenting today. :)

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  11. Awesome post. It is so sad how cruel those who we think should understand us most can be. I agree women especially in a situation like this should support and comfort not tear down a fellow sister in need.

    fictionrulz@live.com

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    1. I cannot understand this. Any female should know how easily this could be her. The statistics say one in three women will be sexually assaulted. we have to stop the violence, both physical and emotional.

      Thanks for commenting, your copy of Breaking Glass is in your inbox, Elise :)

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  12. It is a horrible thing that happened to this beautiful girl... It is sad that it took a year to address this crime... Where are the parents of these children (the boys who raped her, the classmates who taunted her)? I have two boys oldest 9 youngest 3 and they will know how to treat girls, I have nieces they know how what is right and wrong... You have been hearing more about this on the news not just this case but others and you wonder what is happening to our youth? I know i will be 30 this year so i am "young"... It saddens me to see children have to grow up before they should... My heart aches for her family and for her... I hope she finally found peace from judgement and shame(that she shouldn't have ever had to feel).

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    1. Agreed. If we cannot teach our sons self-control or our daughters compassion, then we are failures as parents. If the police need public scrutiny/tragedy to motivate them to do their jobs, then they are failures at their jobs as well.
      Thanks for commenting, Jeanette:)

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  13. The poor girl! What kind of despicable people would text her things like that? All I can say is the poor child! She never got to be a woman, grow up, have a life! At least now she is at peace and no one can torment her any longer!
    It's just so horrible! I don't want to elaborate but I understand what she went through...My thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family.
    Ashley A
    ash_app@hotmail.com (.mobi format for book please)

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    1. Indeed, horrible is a good word for this entire situation. I'm so sorry to hear that on your behalf as well.

      Your copy of Breaking Glass is in your inbox and thank you for dropping by, Ashley :)

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  14. I've been following this story, and I'm aware of others like it. It's very sad. People, no matter the age, can be very, very cruel. And the ability to do so on-line through social media where hundreds of thousands of people see it, and worse yet, believe it, then continue to perpetrate it, just stuns me.

    What ever happened to “if you don’t have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all”?

    I would love to read your book Eden. anne_lange66@yahoo.ca
    epub format please.

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    1. I don't have the answers, but finding a way to engender empathy would seem paramount. Thanks for commenting, Anne, your copy of Breaking glass is in your inbox :)

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  15. It's just a horrific thing all around. Things were bad enough when I was in high school (the "mean girls" were pretty effective), and it seems like it's even easier for people to feel disconnected and detached from each other now. And as long as girls and women tell themselves "that can never happen to someone like me--she's different, so she deserves it," it will only get worse.

    vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. I agree, it's astounding how the relative anonymity of the internet turns some into vicious dogs. I cannot fathom why the Canadian police couldn't track down the source of the image. Thanks for commenting.

      I sent you the .mobi version of Breaking glass. Should you need the .epub file, just say the word.

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  16. It is awful how some people treat victims of such horrible acts. I do hope that their actions haunt them for the rest of their lives. They should all have to pay for both the rape and the bullying. I just hope that this story makes a difference, keeps others from doing the same bullying and abusing of others in the future.

    I would love a mobi version please
    manning_J2004 AT yahoo DOT com

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    1. Your copy of Breaking Glass is in your inbox, June. Thanks so much for dropping by, and for the comment. If these young kids have a conscience, I agree, I hope it pains them for a long time.

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  17. Self-love is key. These young girls who hate so much can't love themselves.

    Thanks for sharing!

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    1. interesting idea. Can it be that unrealistic portrayals of the female body in the media makes young girls so miserable, they need someone to look down on to make them feel better about their own lack of ability to measure up? seems hard to connect those dots. I mean, a picture was taken, depicting a rape. For other young women to message this young woman and call her a slut...just heartbreaking in the lack of empathy displayed. How can you dehumanize a peer to that extent?

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  18. I can't even imagine... We have a 10 year old daughter and a 6 year old son, and this kind of bullying is unconscionable. The answer has to lie with parents-- we have to teach boys to respect girls and women, and we have to teach girls to be supportive of one another.

    haydenbraeburn@gmail.com

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    1. We surely do. Thanks for commenting Hayden. I'll send your copy of Breaking Glass now.

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  19. its sad that there are so many of these type of stories these days

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  20. As a retired teacher, I have seen the results of all kinds of bullying. Children often do not understand that even name-calling is bullying. But in the case of what happened to this young girl, it is just unthinkable that things like this are allowed to happen. Part of the problem is that, for the parents of the girls who did the bullying, there was nothing to punish because "it was just words". If their daughters had been treated the way they treated another girl, their parents would have plenty to say, I'm sure. It's a shame that things like this are allowed to happen, but even worse when the end result is someone's life is lost.
    Thank you for speaking out on this subject.


    Mobi, please.
    mrshab6@gmail.com

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    1. Thank you for the insightful comment. I was talking to my 21-year-old daughter about this. She said "You have no idea how mean girls can be to other girls."

      Just words, huh? As a parent, if I knew my kid did this, I'd have that cell phone turned off so fast, as well as the internet connection to their room, her little head would spin. Electronic devices with the power to carry a message to the world at large are privileges earned, not rights. This sort of abuse would tell me my child wasn't ready for the responsibility.

      Your copy of Breaking Glass is in your inbox :)

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  21. This has been so heartbreaking, to see more come to light about the cruelty towards the victims of rape. I cannot fathom being on the receiving end of such callousness, and pray that I'm teaching my children to be full of compassion and grace instead. Thank you for speaking honestly about this, Eden.

    f dot chen at comcast dot net
    PDF, if that's OK

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    1. I had to make a .pdf version...cannot believe I forgot to do so. Thank you so much for your comments. Your copy of Breaking glass is in your inbox..if I converted your e-mail addy correctly. 'Tis a Monday, after all. If it doesn't arrive, let me know and I'll be glad to try again :)

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