THE DYNAMICS OF SLUT-SHAMING DISCOURSE AND FEMALE SEXUALITY Marysol Gonzalez AMONG LATINA COLLEGE STUDENTS WHAT IS SLUT-SHAMING?
• In this study, slut shaming is defined as: degrading language depicting a female’s morality and character (Fjaer et.al, 2015) • Influenced by: images, behaviors, attitudes, and sexual expression/behaviors (Hamilton et.al, 2009) • According to literature slut-shaming is defined as “the public exposure and shaming of individuals for their (perceived or actual) sexual behavior, and highlights its use as a lever of social control.” (Arvidsson, V., & Foka, A., 2015) https://www.brandwatch.com/2016/05/react-will-twitter-ever- free-misogynistic-abuse/ RATIONALE
•Why do we slut-shame? •Who are sluts? And what do they look like? What do they do? •Socially constructed idea of women's lack of sexual expression •Intersectionality of race, gender, and sexuality •Exploring perceptions and where they come from (culture, society, media, etc.) • Concepts of other women influenced by sexuality • Do women engage in slut-shaming discourse without conscious awareness? •A gauge to women's perception of themselves and other women in society LITERATURE REVIEW
•Previous research provides influential notions of sexuality and in creating one’s identity •Literature by Eivind Grip Fjær, Willy Pedersen, and Sveinung Sandberg, (2015) “I’m Not One of Those Girls”: Boundary-Work and the Sexual Double Standard in a Liberal Hookup Context, presents ideas of sexual morality and implications of gender boundaries when expressing sexuality •In Mobilizing Metaphor: Considering Complexities, Contradictions, and Contexts in Adolescent Girls’ and Young Women’s Sexual Agency by Deborah L. Tolman, Stephanie M. Anderson, and Kimberly Belmonte (2015), complex issues of sexual agency and sexual scripts used to categorize women are discussed • Finally, one of limited literature available on multicultural females is Latina Girls: Voice of Adolescent Strength in the United States which dives into issues of sexual health and touches on the cultural values applied to sexuality (Denner, Guzman, 2006) EXPLORATION FROM A MULTICULTURAL LENS
•Limited research concerning Latina’s sexual experience •Research will explore slut-shaming discourse in the Latina/o community •Analysis of culture, values, beliefs, and history revolving the image of the “ideal female” •Dynamics of female relationships among Latinas: family, friends, and larger society •Effects of societal implications of portrayals of Latinas and other women SLUT-SHAMING PERCEPTIONS •Latina girls are raised to model Virgin Mary •Expected to continuously present themselves as such •Conflicts: Over-sexualization of the Latina women (exotic, erotic, “bad”) •According to Reid, Elliot, and Webber, (2011) when notions of sexuality involve a female, judgments exceed into questioning her overall character as an individual; her actions and behaviors not only affect her image as a “bad girl” but also define her character as being a negative person in essence •When a young women decides to actively “hookup” (2) with different partners, she is slut-shamed for her behaviors with punishing portrayals like “loose” “whore” “slut” Fjaer et.al., (2015) •Hypothesis: strict cultural upbringings of Latinas contribute to their willingness to abide to these regulations and proneness to pass harsher judgments INFLUENCES CONSTRUCTING SLUT-SHAMING
•Influences derive from many prominent aspects of Latinas’ lives •Prevalent factors: intersections of reinforced values, beliefs, and exposure to culture (Watson, et.al, 2014) •A prominent aspect within the Latina/o community is marianismo which is defined as a “cultural value that denotes the gender role expectations of Latina women…encompasses expectations that a Latina is dedicated to one’s family…subordinate to others…self-silencing…” (B. Pina-Watson, L.G. Castillo, L. Ojeda, and K.M., Rodriguez, 2014) •In terms of sexuality, Latinas “…are expected to be like the Virgin Mary…virginally pure and non-sexual” (Castillo L.G., Perez F.V., Castillo, R., Ghosheh, M.R., 2010) http://g02.a.alicdn.com/kf/HTB11OBfJFXXXXb3XFXXq6xXFXXXk/winter- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marianismo lace-tube-Wedding-Dresses-2015-romantic-long-sleeve-wedding-dress-lace- up-off-the-sholder.jpg HOW SLUT-SHAMING IMPACTS RELATIONSHIPS •Women and Women •“Women’s participation in slut-shaming is often viewed as internalized oppression: they apply disadvantageous sexual double standards established by men” (Armstrong, Hamilton, Armstrong, & Seeley, 2014) •In studies published about interactions among teenage girls in high school settings the predominant features emerging were, “sexual drama” or sexual rumor spreading is also a resource for girls…other girls’ rumors about (other girls’) own sexual actions and/or orientations…reproduce inequality through these practices.” (Miller, 2016) •Women and Men • Some prevailing issues hypothesized: sexual objectification/lack of respect for women/issues when forming romantic relationships •Analyzing these dynamics among Latinas, predicted to have similar findings EXTENSIVE SOCIETAL IMPLICATIONS
•Some prominent issues impacted by slut-shaming in larger society: •Sexual assault/rape (especially on college campuses) •Domestic violence • Issues of self-esteem, self-image, self-worth/value, such as depression •Risky sexual behaviors (STI’s, unwanted pregnancies, and abortions) •Eating disorders, self-harm • Stigmatization of female sexuality • Method of oppression in patriarchal society •Generations of women lacking confidence in sexual agency, uncomfortable with discourse on sexuality RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
• Qualitative study with a semi-structured interview process •Five Latina college students •Ages 18-24 • Freshmen, sophomore, junior, senior, and graduate student •After data collection, information will be thoroughly coded and transcribed • Slut-shaming discourse, cultural factors, beliefs/values INITIAL FINDINGS
•Term slut is gender-biased, mainly a representation of females •Women tend to be the most hypercritical of other women •Cultural and societal implications about sexuality have a significant influence for women at a young age. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS •Thank you! •McNair Scholars Program •Mentor: Dr. Alejandro Morales REFERENCES
• Arvidsson, V., & Foka, A. (2015). Digital gender: Perspective, phenomena, practice. First Monday, 20(4). doi:10.5210/fm.v20i4.5930 • Armstrong, E.A., Hamilton, L.T., Armstrong, E.M., Seeley, J.L., “Good Girls”: Gender, Social Class, and Slut Discourse on Campus. Social Psychology Quarterly June 2014 77: 100-122, doi:10.1177/0190272514521220) • Castillo, L.G., Perez, F.V., Castillo, R., Ghosheh, M.R. (2010). Construction and initial validation of the Marianismo Beliefs Scale. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 23, 163-175. • Denner, J., Guzman, B.L. (2006). Latina Girls: Voices of Adolescent Strength in the U.S., NYU. Press. • Fjaer, E.G., Pedersen, W., & Sandberg, S. (2015). I’m Not One of Those Girls: Boundary-Work and the Sexual Double Standard in a Liberal Hookup Context. Gender and Society, 6, 960-981. • Hamilton, L., Armstrong, E.A., (2009). Gendered Sexuality In Young Adulthood: Double Binds and Flawed Options. Gender & Society, 5, 598-599. • Miller, S. A. (2016). 'How you bully a girl': Sexual drama and the negotiation of gendered sexuality in high school. Gender & Society, 30(5), 721-744. doi:10.1177/0891243216664723 • Reid, J.A., Elliot, S., Webber, G.R., (2011). Casual Hookups To Formal Dates: Refining the Boundaries of the Sexual Double Standards. Gender and Society, 25, 545-568. • Tolman, D.L., Anderson, S.M. & Belmonte, K. (2015). Mobilizing Metaphor: Considering • Watson-Pina, B., Castillo, L.G., Jung, E., Ojeda, L. (2014). The Marianismo Beliefs Scale: Validation with Mexican American Adolescent Girls and Boys. Journal of Latina/o Psychology, 2, 113-130.