THE SLUT MANIFESTO

IT IS TIME TO RECLAIM THE RIGHTS WE FOUGHT FOR IN THE 1960S!

THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION NEEDS A REBIRTH!

WE ARE NOT DONE FIGHTING!

Is it possible, in this climate of misogyny, to have a mutually gratifying and respectful sexual encounter between two strangers? It seems the likelihood of this is perpetually dwindling even as the frequency of casual sex in the modern world proliferates. Does the toxic masculinity of ‘fuckboy’ or ‘lad’ culture in universities and elsewhere prove pernicious to the idea that with every generation comes more tolerance and equality? Is it possible for a young woman to enjoy the same freedoms as a young man without a torrent of sexist vitriol aimed at her consequently? The very man who flattered and seduced her days before becomes her biggest critic, deeming her a ‘slut’ despite engaging in the exact same activity she has. Even if she escapes explicit vilification she rarely avoids implicit, subtle disrespect. Can young male friends escape the toxic masculinity and ‘group think’ that eternises the disparate treatment of men and women? And what happens when, after the male insists a condom is superfluous and ruinous to the experience, the woman is left to deal with the consequences of their actions on her own? How can we deal with this drastic inequality?

THE AIMS

To create a more egalitarian society that doesn’t devalue human beings based on their sexual activity.

To encourage safe sex.

To educate children the importance of sexual equality in classes.

THE PROCESS

Make feminist readings more prevalent in school.

Improve PHSE lessons so they consider modern issues of sexual inequality.

March in capital cities throughout the world to raise awareness.

ISSUE ONE – DIVERGENT CULTURES OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY FOR MEN AND WOMEN

The discrepancy between the terms ‘lad’ and ‘slut’ is emblematic of the chauvinism that is seemingly ubiquitous in regards to casual sex. Is there any clearer example of inequality than when two parties perform the same act and are judged differently for it? The lauding of the man and the condemnation of the woman is only part of the equation. Many women are left feeling empty, used, exploited after the same guy who told her she was beautiful, irresistible, and funny yesterday pretends not to see her across the street a few days after. The original question returns; can a woman successfully traverse this terrain of lad culture and misogyny and emerge sexual empowered? The answer remains unclear. The SLUT Manifesto aims to ameliorate this disaster of disempowerment. A future of sexual equality, unity, and respect is the goal, one in which women can feel safe and confident to mobilise their sexuality in a less exploitative sphere.

Education techniques to diminish the inequality such as increased feminist readings in lower secondary school, adverts on buses for equality, posters, improved PHSE lessons.

ISSUE TWO – THE PREVALENCE OF UNSAFE SEX

Students often relish the freedoms that living away from home offers. They clumsily attempt to look after themselves through cooking, cleaning, and washing. However, one way in which they often fail to look after themselves as they enter a new world of independence is sexually. Opportunities for random sexual encounters become readily available due to excessive alcohol consumption and a wide availability of clubs in walking distance from their rooms. But with this wild liberation of sexual debauchery and bacchanalia comes consequences. In the drug and drink induced haze of desire the ugly practicalities of STDs and pregnancy are quickly forgotten. The girl who swore she would never have unsafe sex weeks ago finds herself convinced by her ephemeral beau that ‘just once’ won’t matter, that it’s a one off, that a condom is uncomfortable, that it simply doesn’t matter. The SLUT Manifesto aims to encourage safe sex in universities through a number of propagandist and persuasive techniques:

Providing free condoms to students during freshers week in a confidential package to students’ dorm rooms to avoid the potential embarrassment that may be felt in a more public setting.
Having a safe sex awareness day on campus
Encouraging routine STD checks at the health centre
Having posters in club toilets reminding students of the consequences of unsafe sex and always having condoms available in club toilet vending machines