Criticism of the 2020 halftime show at the Super Bowl was slut shaming and it feeds into our rape culture. We need to stop berating and trashing women for their bodies and sexual energy. Slut shaming this performance is the same logic used to blame women for their rape.
Rape culture normalizes rape and sexual violence through slut shaming, victim blaming, trivializing sex assault, and rape denial. Slut shaming is “stigmatizing a woman for engaging in behavior judged to be promiscuous or sexually provocative”.
Shakira and Jennifer Lopez took the stage at the 2020 Super Bowl halftime performance and danced their hearts out. Immediately social media had things to say about the performance. The critics were upset that there was pole dancing while others were angered that the camera showed crotch shots of the dancers while performing a very physical performance . All of the criticism that I have seen is based on the female performers owning their own sexuality. By its definition, criticism of women for being sexually provocative is slut shaming.
Michael Jackson was famous for his crotch grab. Adam Levine sang topless at the 2019 Super Bowl halftime show. Countless male performers air hump, use sexually suggestive lyrics, and embrace their own sexuality without being slut shamed. It is time to ask why female sexuality is bad when male sexuality is glorified in our pop culture?
Just like the 2020 halftime performance critiques, I see slut shaming play too important of a role in rape cases. During jury selection attorneys ask potential juror about topics that might play a role in the trial. In rape cases lawyers always have to figure out what potential jurors will judge a victim based on what they are wearing, possible pictures that are provocative, or any other perceived sexual action the victim may have done. There are laws that help protect rape victims from having past actions revealed to the jury (ie sexy pictures that are introduced only to show that the victim was in the picture). These laws do not cover the more subtle discrimination that victims face which is the perception that they are a sexual being.
As rape victim advocate, I want us as a community to talk about rape culture and the role that slut shaming plays in it. Let’s look at why people are so mad at the 2020 halftime show. Why are performers who are singing, playing instruments, and dancing bad because they are female and sexual? Female sexuality is natural. If we want a world where rape victims to not be subjected to unrealistic criticism and shame then we need to stop blaming women for being sexual beings.
Until that time arrives, the world needs rape victim advocates. If you would like to meet with an attorney to understand your rights and options available to you on your path to recovery, please make a free consultation.
