How to Protect Yourself From Becoming the Victim of Gossip

Threat to Women! How to Protect Yourself From Becoming the Victim of a Slut Smear Campaign! At Work! At School! Within Your Social Group!

What is a slut smear campaign?
That is a bully campaign where peers are bullying you by wrongfully targeting you as a slut when the title is undeserved and unwanted.

Whist slut campaigns are not a new phenomenon they are increasing in incidence and the consequences can be very serious for the victims. Slut smear campaigns can be manufactured to undermine the victim and bring into question her credibility.

Who is a risk?

  • Any woman or girl - It could be you!

    Where are you at risk?
  • Within your social circle
  • At work
  • Within your own family unit or groups such as religious groups

    Slut campaigns can be manufactured at any to undermine the victim and to bring into question her credibility.

    Types of victims
    Anyone can become a victim of a slut smear campaign at any time. But there are 3 main categories that victims commonly fall into. These categories include:

    Those who inspire peer Jealously: At a high school level these are often the girls who develop faster and attract the attention of boys before their peers. In the workplace these are often the amazing beautiful women who seem to easily win promotions inspiring workplace jealousy. Socially these are often the women who frustrate their friend by attracting attention from many desirable men whether they intend to or not.

    Sexual Assault Victims: The worst example of this abuse tragically it is not uncommon for victims of sexual assault to become targeted by a smear slut campaign. In these instances the purpose is to discredit and intimidate the victim by making her look and feel responsible for her attack. If you are a sexual victim who has been victimised by a slut smear campaign hold you head up high. You do not deserve this treatment and seek support from a training sexual counsellor.

    Cultural Victims: Cultural Victims are those who fail to comply with strict cultural rules such as strict religious and dress code. These women/girls often live outside of the original geographical region of their cultures origin and threaten the structure of the environment in which they live.

    How to avoid becoming a victim of a slut smear campaign
  • Avoid standing out
  • Comply with the social norms of your school, family, workplace and religious group
  • Avoid being in situations that can be misinterpreted
  • Do not flirt with someone that a friend may be interested in
  • If you are sexually assaulted seek legal action immediately and do not tolerate any smear campaigns

    As you can see from the example listed above it is almost impossible to protect yourself from becoming a victim of a slut smear campaign.

    How women can stick together to protect each other from slut smear campaigns
    Do not believe everything that you hear. If one of your friends or sisters is being attacked by a slut smear campaign giver her your full support and sick up with her
    Do not participate in gossip that includes attacking the sexual behaviour of other women.
    Remember it could be you that they are gossiping about next
    Do not be naive, Slut smear campaigns are just another example of bullying, see it for what it really is. Give you full support to anyone who has been sexually assaulted, no matter what is said about her.

    By Lisa O'Brien
    Careers Coach
    www.careerscoach.com.au

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