Your UnSlut Project

Submitted by @sydann11

Growing up, I knew the world was cruel. I wasn't sheltered, but I never thought that I would be a victim of sexual assault. I grew up in a crowded city known for being dangerous, but who would have thought that I would've been assaulted in a small, easy going town?

When I was around 10 years old, I moved from my hometown to a small city with my mother. Just about every other day in 5th grade, I would return home in tears due to the bullying I received. It wasn't anything physical, just name calling. To this day, I still don't know their reasoning for insulting me.

When I finally got to middle school, I was so happy to start over and to finally make friends. And thankfully, my wish came true. But, as the saying goes, nothing lasts forever. I was very curvy for my age, with wide hips, and a thin waist. I didn't appreciate my body shape back then, and if the matter was ever brought up, I was called a slut for thinking so. Apparently, guys had spread around false rumors that they were allowed to "feel me up."

And that's where it got physical. I was only in 6th grade when guys would start coming up to me and touching my ass. It was sick hearing the guys brag about their "success" of touching "Sydney's ass." By then, most people knew my name, and along with it, I was called a slut. I was "Sydney the slut, the girl who was too easy." Sadly, my friends started to get involved. They tried to stand up for me, but that only got them called sluts as well. Some of them even experienced the sexual harassment I went through. Soon enough, some of the people I called friends went against me. They began to call me the same names other students would spit at me.

I haven't told this to anyone, but I want to come clean with the truth. A week before I got help, the guy who harassed me the most cornered me into a corner. He covered my mouth with his hand so I wouldn't shout. By then, the hallway was empty since class was taking place. He leaned in close, and whispered in my ear that he was going to take me. Before he could do anything, the sound of a teacher's high heels echoed in the hallway, and he fled to class.

I knew by then that it was time to get help. I informed my friends that were assaulted as well, and we went to the counselor's office. We were in there for about 2 hours filling out forms and confessing what was occurring. The sad thing was that nothing happened. The guy was sent to the office for questioning, but he never received any punishment. If anything, we were the ones to be punished. Rumor spread that we snitched on him, and we received many glares and hateful words. He was Mr. Popular, and we were the sluts of the school.

Throughout middle school I continued to be "slut" shamed and touched inappropriately, but things did get better. I stood up for myself!

Nowadays, I might occasionally overhear conversations on my curves, or my friends will joke around about my body shape, but no harm is done. I've learned to love my body, and to not let anyone tell me that I'm a slut for having curves. I still get a bit depressed thinking about it all, but I refuse to let "slut" shaming overrule my life.