A slut is a person that is unapologetic in their sexuality and chooses to not conform to societal pressure to be monogamous, repressed, and/or shamed for following his or her natural sexual desires and/or any other characteristic including behavior, manner of dress, beliefs, morals, or beliefs.
Slut used to be used as a
derogatory term to describe women that had what “polite society “ (AKA male-centered/sexist) considered poor moral character. Generally, this term was used in a way to criticize, shame, and ostracize a woman for her sexual behaviors.
The word slut is now being reappropriated by females, as well as woke people of all genders, to convey a sex-positive attitude toward sexuality that is free from shame and judgment (see sex-positive).
Many books and media have been created to explain this movement. Examples include:
The
Ethical Slut (book)
Slurs and appropriation: An echoic account (research paper)
Stigmatizing Women's Sexuality (academic article -
University of Idaho Women’s Center)