Do I Look Like a Whore?

You’re talking to the new cutie in your class when out of nowhere he or she asks you to go to the stairwell to hook up. You say no, and the new cutie—who’s starting to look a lot less cute to you—replies, “Come on, I know what people like you do.”

“People like me? What does that mean?” you ask.

“You have a tongue ring and a tramp stamp; don’t tell me you aren’t a whore.”

You’re shocked, and all you can do is get up and walk away. And you wonder, Is that really what people think of me? You find one of your friends and ask “Do I look like a whore?” Your friend, confused, says, “No, what does a whore even look like?”

People sometimes refer to someone they’ve never met as a whore just by looking at them. Unfortunately, clothing and accessories, such as tongue rings, tattoos on your lower back and jelly bracelets, are sometimes enough for people to make assumptions about you sexually, and what your values are. Who knew that getting a piercing or tattoo would make people think badly about you?

Sadly, some people will judge you based on what you are wearing. But how can you get around this? Well, there’s no way to stop people from judging you, but you can take steps to stop it from affecting you. After having someone call me a whore, I was very upset. But later that day, I looked myself in the mirror, stood up straight and repeated to myself out loud, “I am beautiful, and I will not let what people think about me affect the way I see myself.”

Keep in mind that sometimes when people are insecure with themselves, they put others down. So, regardless of what someone calls you, have confidence in yourself and the choices you make about what you wear and what you do. After all, it’s your life, your body and, ultimately, your decision.

—Colleen Tierney, 17, Staff Writer