Unslut Stories

Know more about #TheUnslutProject

I was the 6th-grade "slut." And I kept a diary. So I decided to create The UnSlut Project in the hopes that my own diary entries could provide some perspective to girls who currently feel trapped and ashamed. I am publishing these entries one at a time, without changing a single word except for the names of the people involved. My limited commentary, which is confined to brackets in each entry, is meant to provide the relief of my current perspective, fifteen years later. The UnSlut Project: Working to undo the dangerous slut shaming in our schools, communities, media, and culture by sharing knowledge and experiences.

Legend has it that "sluts" are lurking all around. You might encounter one on a shadowy street corner or posing in a magazine. But those tricksters also blend in easily at school, at church functions, and even in your own home. Constant vigilance is required. Without it, you might accidentally become one yourself. Except... there's no such thing as a "slut." It's just a myth. So is the "slut's" invented opposite, the "good girl." What's the deal with these lingering stereotypes and around female sexuality? Why do they still bear so much control over our cultural and personal expectations? These chapters are collected/edited from my Teen Vogue column. I want to share them with you here, where we can discuss them together, because the Wattpad community was so crucial to establishing The UnSlut Project as an international movement. I hope your comments on these essays will grow into conversations, and that we can keep inspiring and learning from each other!