You've been called the 'Mom' or been referred to as motherly and caring more than a few times in your life.Ģ. Isn’t it strange that when a woman is promiscuous and has a lot of sex, she can be called a slut, but a man in the same situation cannot? Isn’t it weird that a degrading word was brought into existence simply to bring down women for a behavior possible in both sexes? In society, women are seen as lesser women because of what, doing something consensual and legal with another adult? Doing something they have a right to do?ġ. I think the root cause of the different responses to sex between men and women lies in slurs and femininity. In the most extreme of scenarios, they look at me like I’m less of a woman or like I’m a disgrace to my femininity. They try their hardest to turn the conversation in any other possible direction.

They tell me to quiet my voice in fear of being caught with the word. People look at me like I’m shameful or disgusting or an embarrassment to my parents.

Whenever I so much as mention the existence of sex, the room gets quiet. I’ve seen this awkwardness with adults, but it grows stronger with teenagers.