Playboy, casanova, and the like are words that are considered flattering epithets for men. Connotations of these words imply that the man is sexually active and has multiple partners, a testimony to his virility. Almost always, these adjectives are viewed with a triumphant lens. It’s 2023 and still, when it comes to women, the vocabulary for women remains woefully inadequate. Perhaps the bigger grouse lies in the fact that we don’t see the need to award such titles to women. Of course, the internet does love to shame them though.
Growing up, I never understood why the internet loved hating on Taylor Swift for dating different people. It seemed normal and regular. I realised it’s a sexist double standard that quickly makes women promiscuous but men sexy. It’s a rusted idea based on outdated conceptions of gender roles. Women’s dating lives, far too often, end up becoming a punchline in pop culture jokes.
Sickening to see people slut-shame Deepika Padukone for something as basic as “not being mentally prepared for a long-term relationship immediately after heartbreak”. They were BOTH NOT in a committed relationship while they were seeing other people and none deserves shaming.
— Garima (@j_garima_j) October 27, 2023
Misogynists, and by proxy, people without a life continue casting stones at women online, be it Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, who recently shared some of her prior dating life in the first episode of the eighth season of Koffee With Karan, or pop icon Taylor Swift, for casually dating other people. Something that a majority of the generation does any way. The same crowd wouldn’t hesitate to laud someone they knew who was as active in their love life—if they are a man, of course.
The fact that these women aren’t afraid to wear their hearts on their sleeves means that the Internet is always the best place to spoil the fun. Deepika Padukone was the target of trolling and name calling because she was allegedly ‘not mentally prepared for a long-term relationship immediately after heartbreak.’
View this post on Instagram
Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh revealing personal information about their normally confidential relationship led to massive discussion where the internet scrutinised and dissected every word they said, especially Deepika. Deepika is being publicly ridiculed on the internet for having a casual relationship with Ranveer Singh before her marriage has unleashed the kind of hatred that is both unwarranted and unhinged.
It has always been the case that when you scroll through your Instagram reel, you will see numerous reels of slide shows of guys a female celebrity has apparently dated. In the latest 1989 Taylor’s Version note, Swift mentioned how she swore off doing anything that could be weaponised against her by a culture that claimed to believe in liberating women but consistently treated her with the harsh moral codes of the Victorian Era. Which is a metaphor for people dragging her during the older 1989 era for dating too much. Such narratives are inaccurate and alarming; it’s an appalling concept to still view women as objects and question their loyalties while they do what everyone does.
Downplaying The Success
All of this targeted slut-shaming is also worrying because it undermines the tremendous hard work and talent these women bring to the table. Often reduced to their sex lives, the internet can be cruel, subjecting these women to constant judgement that has little or nothing to do with their work.
Gender Difference Or Misogyny
The double standards percolate down to many aspects of life. Female artists are viewed through a harsher lens, as if they are somehow doing something wrong by wanting love, wanting money, and wanting success. Women are not allowed to want those things the way that men are allowed to. It’s true that women like Taylor Swift, Deepika, or Olivia Rodrigo who bear the brunt, receiving a lot of trolling and verbal harassment for seeing too many men. Take a look at K-pop the industry, where slut-shaming female idols has been so normalised to the point where it happens unprovoked most of the time, be it Jennie’s stage costume or her dating rumours. The Internet often fills her and her bandmates comment sections with nasty remarks.
kpop stans rewatch their fav kissing and bed scenes: 💋😳❤️🤯😵 ohh they’re perfect
kpop stans watching jennie dance with men :😡🤢😤😰*slut shaming
— by🩹 (@rosieposieslay) June 5, 2023
It is cruel and should never be tolerated for anybody to partake in or witness slut shaming. The controversy surrounding Deepika Padukone’s revelations should serve as a reminder that, despite the fact that fans love to dive in the exclusive glimpses of their idols, the aftermath should serve as a catalyst for more polite communication. Celebrities, like everyone else, ought to be treated with respect and empathy, especially when discussing their personal experiences be it of any gender.
Also read, From BTS To Barbie, Here’s Why Men Love Hating On The Things Women Enjoy
