The UnSlut Project created by Emily Lindin "the sixth grade slut" shares personal experiences through diary entries as a young girl. This is a means of reaching out to those who have been bullied and slut shamed. Lindin aims to spread her message through communicating with readers/viewers online by sharing words of both her own and others who've told their story. Her diary entries shed some light on how it feels to be victimized and she hopes of reassuring people that things will and do get better. Lindin wishes to give perspective to those who seek comfort in a community so easily accessible online, something Lindin didn't have growing up. The UnSlut Project allows other women to share their story and read the experience of others as well. Emily recently launched a Kickstarter for "Slut: A Documentary Film". Please check it out and donate whatever you can to make this film possible.
Kinkaesthetics: How did you get through your experience and what pieces of advice could you share with us?
Emily Lindin: I got through being sexually bullied by focusing on things I was good at. It boosted my self esteem and helped me realize that I could determine who I was, not the people who were putting me down and calling me a slut. I'd advise other girls to do the same: are you interested in playing an instrument? A sport? Schoolwork? Anything you feel that you can put your mind to and set goals for improvement in, focus on THAT, not the negativity.
K: How has social media taken its toll on girls today?
EL: Social media is not all bad, though a lot of people blame it for bullying. It certainly does allow bullying to be more pervasive in a victim's life, following them everywhere, even when they're alone on their phone or computer. But I am trying to use social media and online connectivity to UNDO that harm - to put girls in touch with people who have survived what they're going through, to remind them they're not alone and that it will get better.
K: We are somewhat lucky to be living in a more privileged part of the world than others. In some cultures and countries women are less superior than men, how do you hope to be a part of this change?
EL: It's true that many other countries' laws treat women as lower than men in quite an obvious way. But women are discriminated against legally and socially here in the US and Canada too - by recognizing it here and changing our own behaviour on a small scale, we can start to move toward worldwide change.
K: How have things changed from being a teenage girl to being a young adult? Perhaps there is a different outlook on a person's "sex life" where one act may not be deemed "slutty" anymore, but normal. Take one night stands for example; as a teenager if you hook up with someone and everyone finds out you're probably going to called a "slut", but as a young adult it seems to be more accepting then not. Basically is this true? Does it get easier as you age or is it all the same in some extent?
EL: Even as adults women get shamed for their sexuality and one night stands, unfortunately. The upside is that as you get older, it starts to matter less and less what other people around you think - because you don't have to surround yourself with people who disapprove of you or are mean to you. When you're in school, it's harder to separate yourself from that. But as an adult, if someone judges you for having consensual, safe sex with many men, you can just choose to cut them out of your life. In that way, it definitely gets easier. All women I maintain good friendships with feel comfortable with their own and others' sexualities and would never judge any other woman for "slutty" behaviour.
K: What do you think of slut shaming? How has it affected the way females feel about their place in society in the past, present and future?
EL: All you have to do is open a history book to see how slut shaming has contributed to keeping women back since records were kept. It is tied to gender inequality; women's sexuality has often been seen as dangerous, grounds for imprisonment, deserving of death, etc. It's common for Americans, Canadians, and many Europeans today to claim that women have completed the battle for equality but slut shaming is one of the last obvious bastions of inequality. Policing women's sexuality is closely tied to limiting their education, especially sexual education, which obviously holds us back in terms of our options in life. Education girls about consensual, positive sex and its risks as well as benefits is KEY to moving forward toward equality.
K: Like the UnSlut project, there are many groups or communities online that we may access for support, do you think the message has gotten to people? How can we stop slut shaming? Can we ever stop it?
EL: Yes we can stop it. It will take examining our own individual behaviour and starting conversations with others who might not even want to confront the issue. As I said, starting on a small, personal scale is a good way to get the ball toward global change.
K: Do you recommend any movies, books, or artists that touch on this subject?
EL: Leora Tanenbaum's book "Slut: Growing Up Female with a Bad Reputation" is well done and incredibly important.
K: What do you see in store for the UnSlut Project in five years?
EL: Just today (!) I launched the Kickstarter for "Slut: A Documentary Film", which will be raising $18 000 over the next thirty days. It will feature the stories of girls and women who have suffered from sexual bullying and slut shaming in the United States and Canada, as well as the opinions of psychologists, sexologists, media figures, and other experts. This film will explore how we can all work toward ending slut shaming. Please donate what you can and spread the word! Here's the link: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/unslutproject/slut-a-documentary-film
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