High Schooler Protests ‘Slut-Shaming’ Abstinence Assembly Despite Alleged Threat

[merithyn]

I am not sure what Grumbles has in mind but as much as I agree with your objection to only having abstinence lectures as a substitue for sex education it is not clear to me why an injuction was required.  In my view her actions distract us from the strength of her argument.

Of course the fact that she acted disproportionately to what had occurred is probably why this came to the attention of languish in the first place so I suppose there is something to be said for that.

It was escalated to that level because of how the principal handled it. She didn't immediately go to the media.

EDIT: Wait. I went back and read the article again. She did immediately go to the ACLU. Not convinced that that's a bad thing, per se, mostly because I can't see how else she could have gotten anyone's attention.

[Valmy]

No shit.  I mean, the first thing I always did when I disagreed with something at school was to contact the local press and get the ACLU involved.

Eh she is a kid, she is filled with the fires of righteousness.  Irrationally thinking she can make a difference and shit.

[merithyn]

What are the potential downsides to the way she handled it?

It's very possible she's an annoying person. She is a teenager after all. Actually given her age it's impressive she handled it at all, and not in the worst possible way.

But all that aside I'm not seeing any downsides to the way she acted.

She is telling the newspaper that people who were ashamed of themselves at the assembly are "sluts." They should be able to opt out of being called "sluts" by this girl.  Being referred to in the newspaper as a slut is potentially very damaging to them emotionally.

Maybe she's trying to reclaim the term and spin it into a more positive light.

[derspiess]

Slut acceptance?  The place for that is college

[merithyn]

Slut acceptance?  The place for that is college

It seems you have issues with any kind of acceptance that has to do with women being okay with themselves.

[Valmy]

She is telling the newspaper that people who were ashamed of themselves at the assembly are "sluts." They should be able to opt out of being called "sluts" by this girl.  Being referred to in the newspaper as a slut is potentially very damaging to them emotionally.

Slut shaming is a feminist buzzword for using shame to control women's sexuality or some such.  She is just using their lingo.

[derspiess]

Slut acceptance?  The place for that is college

It seems you have issues with any kind of acceptance that has to do with women being okay with themselves.

IT KEEPS THEM IN THEIR PLACE

[Valmy]

IT KEEPS THEM IN THEIR PLACE

[merithyn]

IT KEEPS THEM IN THEIR PLACE

[PDH]

IT KEEPS THEM IN THEIR PLACE

  The back seat.

[Jacob]

Good for her

[MadImmortalMan]

She should have just skipped the assembly to have sex under the bleachers. That's what I would have done. That's what I probably did, because I don't remember ever having an assembly about sex or pregnancy.

[Razgovory]

What are the potential downsides to the way she handled it?

It's very possible she's an annoying person. She is a teenager after all. Actually given her age it's impressive she handled it at all, and not in the worst possible way.

But all that aside I'm not seeing any downsides to the way she acted.

She is telling the newspaper that people who were ashamed of themselves at the assembly are "sluts." They should be able to opt out of being called "sluts" by this girl.  Being referred to in the newspaper as a slut is potentially very damaging to them emotionally.

Maybe she's trying to reclaim the term and spin it into a more positive light.

Some one should try to reclaim the terms "hooker", "coke fiend", and "murderess" while they are at it.

[The Minsky Moment]

Somehow I doubt that she sincerely believed her status at Wellesley would be imperilled.

[Jacob]

Somehow I doubt that she sincerely believed her status at Wellesley would be imperilled.

Probably. But if the principal made the threat, that's still not cricket and she was right to raise it.