Be Careful What You Wish For, Chloe Kim

[RedAngie]

US snowboard gold medalist Chloe Kim is NOT a fan of a supposedly commonly used term to describe her and others’ hairstyles while competing. The women leave a strand of hair on each side of their heads dangling out from under their helmets.

The term is “slut strands,” and was apparently coined by a woman. And most female snowboarders are supposedly OK with it.

Chloe, 99% of the US population never heard of this term before. Now you’ve helped many to increase their vocabulary. Great job.

https://www.insider.com/chloe-kim-t...tm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sf-insider-main

 

[Tink-osophy]

Now you’ve helped many to increase their vocabulary. Great job.

Or, people could choose NOT to add it to their vocabulary and, generally, stop using that word to describe women so much.

 

[easyas123]

Never heard of the term, but did notice a lot of young ladies with strands of hair hanging out of their hats...did wonder why they went for that particular look, but having been a young lady in the 80's w/ I figured I didn't have a leg to stand on when it came judging to hair-do's

My favorite term will always be The Bigger the Hoops, The Bigger The Hoe, as told to me by a young lady who was dating my youngest son briefly a few years ago...

 

[Moliphino]

They did a bit on them during the Olympics coverage, that's where I first heard the name. I agree that it's kind of an awful name.

 

[lifesavacation]

Never heard of it.

 

[Mysterian]

News to me. Two visible swaths of hair on both sides? I christen thee "Walrus Tusks".

 

[Shellsbutt]

Never heard of it until I read the article. How ridiculous, why does it have to be called anything? Tuck your hair in, leave strands out, who cares?

 

[design_mom]

We noticed that almost all the female "trick" skiers and snowboarders seemed to wear them. (Not so much the alpine skiers though.) My husband joked that he wondered if it was part of the uniform because all of them wore their hair similarly.

In Chloe's defense, it sounds like she was asked about the term in an interview. It's not like she's just made this her new "cause." But, I don't like the term either, and wouldn't want it applied to me no matter how I wear my hair or anything else.

 

[jdb in AZ]

They did a bit on them during the Olympics coverage, that's where I first heard the name. I agree that it's kind of an awful name.

You'd think the olympics commentators could have found something more important to talk about.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I never heard of her but looked her up. Hair looks fine to me. People complain about anything.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I never heard of her but looked her up. Hair looks fine to me. People complain about anything.

It's not the hair they are complaining about but the phrase used to describe the hair style

 

[Jennasis]

Sounds akin to the "tramp stamp", name-wise. While I'm not familiar with it (I'm guessing you have to be in that "world" to have even heard of it or know of it), I see nothing wrong with Kim speaking out against it.

 

[Dan Murphy]

It's not the hair they are complaining about but the phrase used to describe the hair style

Well, that's wrong. Stupid.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Well, that's wrong. Stupid.

Which part is stupid? My bad not understanding.

Is it stupid for people to complain about the phrase slut strand in reference to pieces of hair framing the face?
Or is it stupid for people to call it a slut strand?

 

[Nox]

The easiest way to discourage people from using it is to make them uncomfortable using it. I've done this before to some other derogatory term that I knew the origin/meaning of, but I played dumb and made them explain it. As their voice slowly got quieter, and they started to have to verbally acknowledge exactly what they were saying by using that term, suddenly it didn't seem to be such a great word to casually use anymore. Then I tie the conversation off with, "huh. Yeah, I just call that ___________." Have used it for racist terms and sexist terms, and it's worked very well.

So, in this case:
"Yeah, she wears those slut strands."
"Those what?"
"Slut strands. You know, the hair outside of the helmet."
"No, sorry, I'm not familiar .... why are they called that?"
"Uh... some woman called them that?"
"What are they for?"
"To distinguish women from men under their gear."
"So we distinguish women from men by calling them sluts?"
"Uh..."
"Do they call male boarders' hair man-wh*re manes?"
"It's... just what they're called...."
"Oh. Yeah, I just call that 'hair hanging out of the helmet.'"

ETA: apparently "slut" is acceptable in the word filters, but wh*re isn't.

ETA2: I want to add that some women being comfortable throwing around the word "slut" to describe themselves does not mean that all women have to be okay with it. Using "a woman coined the term" as a justification is like saying because some people don't mind a racial slur, that means no one should. It should also be noted that the founder of the Slut Strand Society "previously told [media outlet] that she “didn’t necessarily like” the moniker but has embraced it because of its common use." So, I guess if it's common to call women derogatory words, that makes it A-OK! Why don't we also have the Bimbo Brigade? The Floozy Federation? Institutionalized misogyny is still misogyny.

 

[Dan Murphy]

is it stupid for people to call it a slut strand?

 

[LuvOrlando]

I saw this and thought it was a post about some new dumpster fire in the Kardashians lives - glad it's someone else LOL

About the term, not ok, why do people use this language? It's so dehumanizing, good for Chloe wearing her hair the way she wants in defiance - it's like that anti Karen hair thing and calling back tattoos tramp stamps. Why are people so preoccupied with degrading women?

There used to be a Slut Walk movement, it was over before I had a chance to go, people need to let females be whatever and whoever they want to be.
removed the link - it could provoke out of bounds stuff

 

[John VN]

I saw this and thought it was a post about some new dumpster fire in the Kardashians lives - glad it's someone else LOL

About the term, not ok, why do people use this language? It's so dehumanizing, good for Chloe wearing her hair the way she wants in defiance - it's like that anti Karen hair thing and calling back tattoos tramp stamps. Why are people so preoccupied with degrading women?

There used to be a Slut Walk movement, it was over before I had a chance to go, people need to let females be whatever and whoever they want to be.
removed the link - it could provoke out of bounds stuff

Like riding that pump jack?

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

US snowboard gold medalist Chloe Kim is NOT a fan of a supposedly commonly used term to describe her and others’ hairstyles while competing. The women leave a strand of hair on each side of their heads dangling out from under their helmets.

The term is “slut strands,” and was apparently coined by a woman. And most female snowboarders are supposedly OK with it.

Chloe, 99% of the US population never heard of this term before. Now you’ve helped many to increase their vocabulary. Great job.

https://www.insider.com/chloe-kim-t...tm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sf-insider-main

Yes, great job actually. It’s about time women are able to speak up on things they don’t like.

Who cares that it was coined by a woman? That automatically has to make every woman ok with it?

What a terrible take on this. SMH

 

[robinb]

My DD is a snow bum at Steamboat Springs. She wears stands of hair outside her helmet. It’s adorable. It pisses me off that someone calls them “slut stands”. It’s very insulting.