I have a friend who sarcastically calls me a slut when I tell her about my hook-ups. It really hurts me and I don’t know how to address this with her.

The word slut is one that is still used so often but doesn’t have a definition.

How many people do you have to sleep with before you are called a slut? Who gets to decide what that number is? Your friend’s belief system is obviously different to yours. Your stories of hook-ups might be touching on a message that has been given to her during her upbringing or an insecurity that she has. Take this as an opportunity to discuss with her the issues of using the word slut. You should let her know it makes you feel hurt but also discuss with her the meaning of the word and why she uses it. Instead of just telling her you don’t like it, help her to discover why she uses the word in the first place.

You might also need to challenge yourself as to why it makes you feel hurt? Even though you might be proud of your hook ups, deep down if you are allowing yourself to feel hurt by her comments, is it tapping into a deep feeling or insecurity you have about your sexual actions? Woman will always be made to feel guilty or shameful for their sexual behaviour’s, but it’s up to us to fight against that and it starts from within ourselves first and our own belief system.