Victoria BC Boudoir Photography: By The Self-Proclaimed Artistic Slut

Hi there, my name is Molly Ashlie, business professional, entrepreneur, full-time artist, and a proud feminist slut.

Being a slut is a part of my identity that I strongly resonate with. Importantly, before I start diving deep into this blog post and really baring all my juicy heart-feels with ya, I need to make note of one really important thing. Being a slut is not always a sexual act.

Societies and cultures have a habit of using language to aid in systematic oppression. In this particular instance, the word slut has historically been used to shame women who relish in their body, sexuality, and pleasure. It has been used as a way to encourage women to feel smaller in their bodies, that their own pleasure is wrong, invalid – that their sexuality is unnatural, wrong, immoral. That taking pleasure in our bodies – taking any pleasure, honestly – is selfish and shameful.

“Sluttiness” looks different for everyone. For me, being a slut is almost entirely unsexual – as someone who identifies as demi-sexual, my sluttiness is entirely tied to the notion of reclamation. Taking back power, and not allowing shame to dictate how I relate to my pleasure.

Okay, okay, okay. Pause. Why is any of this important? Why am I blabbing on about the word “slut” on my business blog?

BECAUSE STIGMA HURTS, YA’LL. And the stigma around women’s bodies and the slut-shaming they experience is very real, and very harmful. It’s something I try to actively combat through my photography. Reclaiming words that have been used against us to silence and shrink us is important. Recognizing where these words stem from, and the purpose they yield is important in breaking their power over us.

So when I say I’m a slut, I don’t mean I have a lot of sex with a bunch of people. Nah. That archaic definition of the word is moot. When I say I’m a slut, I mean I’m an angry woman who is unafraid to seek out pleasure in life. Be it sexually, sensually, or in any other means. When I say I’m a feminist slut, I mean I’m done being told to be afraid of taking up space, and asking for what I need and want. It means that I will sluttily stand up for the women around me and encourage and support them to do the same. Take up space. Reconnect with your body. Find pleasure in life, without shame or guilt. Fall in love with yourself. Unabashedly draw boundaries. Tell people no. Tell people yes, when you want to.

When someone calls you a slut for being a strong, powerful force of nature, don’t give that word any power because what they think it means is no longer valid.

Enjoy the things you enjoy and take pleasure in allowing yourself to take pleasure. Words that are meant as shackles have no place in our society any more – so wear them proudly. Support your sisters, your non-binary lovers, friends, the gods and goddesses of colour in your life. Fuck being put in a box. Unless you want to be, then enjoy that fucking box. ;)

(Also enjoy some eye-candy by yours truly. Enjoying my slutiness and things that give me pleasure. Like space, sci-fi, and being naked).

**Content warning: this post contains photos of my evil woman nipples. Family members who read my blog beware.