Yes. I am.
I've been spending a lot of time lately with the guys in the back room of my brain. You know the ones - the guys you leave to do the heavy mental lifting whilst you carry on with your life? Yeh, I’ve been actually conversing with them
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Flattery aside, I think I'll chime in here a bit. First, the observations were entertaining and quite astute - and I applaud your efforts to “take back” the S-word away from the perceived negative connotation.
However, I feel the need to point out a few things, perhaps to add more weight to the burden your heavy-lifting brain workers strain with day to day. Namely that a lot of your perceptions of negative connotation comes from Western ideology and dogma. The prudish-ness of the West, as well as the sexually repressive nature of the Judeo-Christian Religions (Most all of them, from Jews to Islam with all sects of Christianity in between), has made it such that its easy to feel that sexuality is gender biased. So I see the point. However, there are other cultures and ideologies that have women on equal footing. Not many, mind you, but in Brazil (where my Mom’s from), as well as in a lot of European areas I am told - there is much less emphasis on who’s sleeping with who and labeling the more prolific ones sluts or whores. Hell, in much of Europe, it was common place for the wealthy to have spouses as well as lovers. Not sure if that view is still held, but it was commonplace last I checked (namely when no one in Europe understood why we Americans made such a stink about the Lewinski scandal).
Additionally, you may not realize it - seeing as your crowd is self-described as way out there liberals, but the youth have already been taking back the S-word. Not that I’m all that “plugged in” but when Slut is written on glitter at Gap stores for the tween youth to wear emblazoned on their chesticles whilst discussing the latest happenings and Twilight get-togethers, I think the only positive part of that mental image is that sexuality (for better or worse) is becoming less taboo in our modern culture. The rest of it, on the other hand, makes me weep for our future. But when you get a chance, take a swing by your local mall and do some people watching, you may be surprised with the result. Also, and not sure how “urban” your neck of the woods is…. but next time you’re in Atlanta, you may want to drop in on the droves of Hip Hop clothing stores and nightspots. That world is everywhere and worn for the most part like a badge of pride. I have no clue why, and I’ve been meaning to ask my little brother about it, but women in that community seem to own the words like “slut,” “ho,” and “bitch” like they were status symbols. I don’t know what that says for women’s empowerment or objectification issues, but it is what’s out there.
Also, your opinion is additionally myopic when it comes to your concept of the “sacred whore.” Your idea is spot on, but it has been written, drawn, pontificated upon, and worshipped many times before throughout history as well as in the contemporary. The courtesan/whore came in a variety of social strata in many of the old cultures. Ishtar, aspects of Kali, Aphrodite and her roman counterpart Venus, all had divine women who gave themselves sexually in a powerful display of divinity, healing, fertility, and life. And not to mention the more recent revelry of “sexual healing” in the context of the Occultist movements of the 60s and 70s, bringing us a lot of the “New Age” faiths that place a high value of the sacred female offering herself in sexual rites to accomplish healing, insight, or expanded consciousness. If you have the time and the inclination - I highly advise you pick up Alan Moore’s book Promethia. It’s a bit mindblowing, but had large sections of the overall story addressing this point, with a heavy influence on the modern occult angle and the like. But I think you’d get a kick out of it.
There, my own opinions have been logged and sent to the masses. I hope you enjoy the reading. All my best.
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I'm fully aware that in other cultures throughout history sexuality has not been a burden. However, since I don't live in those times or places, the one I am most concerned about is the one in which I live.
Which is pretty white bread, suburban America.
You make a number of really valid points, all of which are still considered "fringe" in large tracts of Americana. Which is kinda my point.
I was raised by hippies and bikers and gynoenthusiast culture. Ishtar and Kali aren't wildly recogniseable amongst the masses, and by and large, middle America - despite its proclivity to emblazon a word on its chest - still finds a woman in control of her emotions or actions to be a raging bitch -- and that's not even taking into account her sexuality. I don't suppose you've been subjected to being told that your particular achievements are because you fucked someone - but I have.
And while, as a pagan, I fully embrace god/dess and the value of Sacred Rites, I feel fairly confident in saying the general public is still a long way from embracing that.
In no way do I think I am positing new thoughts here - I am well aware that my lame attempts are incredibly weak retreads. This is all just... kinda a brain dump on all the stuff I've been mulling that needed to get the hell out of my skullmeats ;)
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