What is Slutty?

 I was recently on tumblr trying to avoid doing homework, (per usual) when I saw a post someone I followed had reblogged. In this post fans of certain celebrities were discussing while Miley Cyrus (who has been dating the same guy for four years) is considered a slut while Taylor Swift (a known serial dater) is loved and regarded as a lady by many. Upon reading this post I realized that I too had similar beliefs. This led me to question my definition of what it means to me a slut and I realized I, like many other people, do not necessarily view girls as sluts but consider certain behavior as not proper or inappropriate. When analyzing the situation of Taylor Swift versus Miley Cyrus I began to compose a list of reasons behind people’s perceptions of both. Taylor Swift presents herself as being a wholesome young lady who is very proper. She does not wear skin tight or skimpy clothing, does not curse, and has never done anything illegal. She is not photographed going to clubs and she does not post pictures of herself alongside alcoholic beverages. In my opinion, the way she behaves results in her being viewed as America’s sweetheart. Miley Cyrus, on the other hand, wears skin tight and often revealing clothing, swears, and posts inappropriate pictures (one that comes to mind is one where she is eating a penis cake that she got for her fiancées birthday). These actions are seen as a direct reflection of who she is as a person and because these actions can be viewed as being negative by many she is given the label of being a slut. This is because the word slut has evolved and no longer simply implies a woman who is sexually promiscuous. In this day and age a person can be deemed a slut if their actions are viewed as being inappropriate or in poor taste. A person’s character is just as important as a girl’s sexual behavior. I do not think that this is fair and I personally do not agree with calling a girl a slut under any circumstance. I will admit, however, that a way a person behaves or presents themselves does affect how people perceive them to be even if that assumption is wrong.