Sunday, December 11, 2011

More Slut Than Stud

SlutWalk SG has come and gone, with minimalist impact, thanks to our sisters who made sure exposed epidermis on display did not detract from the main message.

When a female bares her midriff, you're spoiled for choice when it comes to adjectives: tart, slapper, slag and slut ... all of them nasty and all of them suggesting that women should really stick to sex for their procreative role only. And try not to enjoy it too much. Due to a quirky bias in history (there's no such word as "herstory"), coming up with a pejorative for someone male who likes to flash his nude torso in public is really challenging.

In our unfair world, men are esteemed for their conquests, women are cherished for fighting them off. So is there even a male equivalent for the word "slut"? What exactly do you call a guy who delights in brandishing his naked bod as a badge of pride?

UrbanDictionary defines "manwhore" as:
"A male who's unleashed himself from the bonds of society; thinking for himself and following his own mental dictates and biological drives."

That sounds more stud than slut. Dominique Strauss-Kahn may prefer "womaniser" or "libertine", and even that smacks of a boast rather than a scarlet letter. None of these labels seem to convey a sense of moral depravity, instead they are tinged with admiration and (male) jealousy. No wonder DSK was widely expected to seek the Socialist nomination for President of France in 2012, until he was derailed by the Sofitel tryst in New York.

Even so, it's hard to imagine DSK standing in front of the Abercrombie & Fitch store in Orchard Road. If it's abs they want to show off, Arnold Schwarzenegger would been more appropriate. But these in the line-up look more like boy toys. Fairies also come to mind, but Enid Blyton will be upset by the imagery.

In 2009, the American Family Association disapproved of the influence of the A & F "sex-as-recreation" lifestyle fashion apparel, and asked the brand to remove its "sexualized shirts" from display. The government will probably wait for outraged citizens to protest first before they figure out if the store's message is consistent with the recent roll out of moral education in schools.
Does this picture make you see red?

3 comments:

  1. On the internets we call such "men" fags, gays and they probably are. Else why are there half naked men standing together in a group eyeing each other and its not army.

    ReplyDelete
  2. A key that can open 100 locks is valuable.
    A lock that can be opened by 100 keys is useless.

    ReplyDelete
  3. So the AD association has earlier on banned a static huge billboard and call that indecent, so what do you call these group of 'live' studs with real time exposure. I remember eons ago there was a more juicy ad during the launch of VirginMobile phone in SG where they boldly claimed "we have nothing to hide" (i.e. contract). In comparison, the A&F ad and live mannequins are tame by comparison.

    ReplyDelete