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Originally Posted by Hektore
I could not disagree more about women needing more protection for their sexual history than men. This is no different than when that George Rekers fellow showed up in the airport with a Rentboy. In this case it's even more relevant because of her platform and it's condemnation of sexual promiscuity..
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It *is* different than Rekers, and that was precisely my point. I think it takes only a basic understanding of sociology to say that there is a far greater stigma for women engaging in sex than men. It comes out in our very basic use of language, from slut to whore. Men are lauded, women are condemned. We're just barely peeking out of the Puritan morals which have plagued the country for so long, and yet still women are not in any way shape or form encouraged to be sexual, have a positive view of sex or sexuality, or even ensure that their own sexual needs are met. Dildos are still illegal in many states, Texas included. Colleges still have "walks of shame" and college men still hang panties on their doors and women pretend it didn't happen. Pop culture icons like Letterman can have multiple affairs with coworkers and the country barely blinks an eye, but if a woman does it it's an absolute travesty.
You'd really have to be blind to the difference to think that revealing the sex life of a man or a woman is equal in terms of societal acceptance. We still have rape victims whose credibility is undermined because they were dressed too 'provocatively.' Really? There's no difference between how men and women are told to behave in regards to sex?
I'm certainly no protectionist and the very last thing I want to do is defend this terrible woman, but there is certainly a point to be made that revealing the sexual lives of women is not in any way equal to revealing the sexual lives of men, if only because the former is considerably more damaging to the person involved.
In this case, she really did nothing hypocritical. So far as I can tell from the stories I've been trying to ignore, she didn't even have sex. She got naked. HEAVENS NO! NOT NAKED! If this were a story about a male politician who got drunk and naked with some lady, it'd be a nonstory, and you know it.
---------- Post added at 08:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:45 AM ----------
So I finally got around to reading this wretched abortion of journalism and I find this part especially pertinent:
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"You've got to be kidding," I said. She didn't explain at the time that she was a "born-again virgin." She made it seem like she'd never had sex in her life, which seemed pretty improbable for a woman her age. And she made it clear that she was planning on staying a virgin that night. But there were signs that she wasn't very experienced sexually. When her underwear came off, I immediately noticed that the waxing trend had completely passed her by.
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If you really don't think this reads like juvenile slut-shaming than I'm not sure we can a real discussion. But it gets better..
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Obviously, that was a big turnoff, and I quickly lost interest. I said goodnight, rolled over, and went to sleep. It was almost four o'clock in the morning. I had to get up at 6:30 to go to work.
Christine wasn't in the best of shape when my alarm clock went off three hours later. I was hungover and exhausted and we'd both had about the same amount to drink, so I'm guessing she was feeling even worse. I got up and started to get dressed and told Christine she'd need to get up, too. But she clearly didn't want to budge, and even after I'd reminded her a few times, she was still under the covers. Did she think I was going to leave for work and let her sleep in my bed?
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This story has merit as something that makes her a 'hypocrite' or something even worth sharing? Really? It's a pretty clear slam that wouldn't work if the politician were a man and so I think its pretty clear that it doesn't follow the same "you're a politician, so your life is an open book" nonsense being espoused here.
I'm not alone, either:
Gawker's Christine O'Donnell tell-all backfires - Broadsheet - Salon.com
Shakesville: Holy Shit