Why did Faith dress like a prostitute?

[BuffyElevated]

It's not the ammount of skin shown... it's the materials and the colors and the outfits. I can see and agree it was more of her attitude than he clothing... but if I saw someone dressed like Faith out in public, I'd think they were sexually promiscious. It's her outfits and ensembles, not the ammount of skin shown.

So you'd think someone was sexually promiscuous just because they wear a pair of leather pants or a low-cut tank top?? If that's the case, that's pretty stereotypical and it makes me wonder if you think Buffy looked like a slut in the early seasons, since she wore plenty of low-cut shirts.

 

[zobothehobo]

So you'd think someone was sexually promiscuous just because they wear a pair of leather pants or a low-cut tank top?? If that's the case, that's pretty stereotypical and it makes me wonder if you think Buffy looked like a slut in the early seasons, since she wore plenty of low-cut shirts.

I'll be the first to admit I make snap judgement about people based on stereotypes of their clothing. Of course, I'd be skeptical of anyone who says they don't. I think Buffy dressed kind of promiscuously in the first three seasons, but as I said before... the colors of her dress and makeup are really important. The black and red really says sex. In the first three seasons, Buffy's clothes were often more pastel colors... which is more neutral. And I think part of the point of Faith's clothes were to say "sex." She was supposed to be this sexy bad girl... that includes her clothes, which were sexy bad girl clothes.

---------- Post added at 04:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:14 PM ----------

How can you be to confident in your sexuality? What was "a bit much" for you?

In my opinion, what doesn't hurt you or anyone else is not a bad thing. Any person should be able to dress however she or he want with out it being anyone elses damn business. If Faith was comfortable and happy with her sexual actions is another thing, but that is not the issue here. The issue is the way she dressed.

There's a point where being confident in your sexuality crosses a line to flaunting it for attention. That is where I have the problem. I feel Faith, in all of her demeanor not just clothes, was more on the flaunting side. Which I also feel was part of the point.

I'm not saying people shouldn't be able to dress how they want to... they should. I don't know where you would have gotten that from what I said.

 

[Seeing Red]

Whoa, I honestly take offense to this question.

If a female in comfortable and confident in their own skin and clothes then they are called a prostitute or slut? So what if she wore tight clothing, it was not like there was anyone around to tell her what she should and should not wear. To me she was a teenager who wanted to get attention from some wither in a good or bad way.

 

[prophecygrrl]

I don't think Faith dressed too promiscuously and even if she did, who cares? It's part of her character and I don't think she, or any other girl who dresses like her, deserves to be insulted and put down for it.

 

[Gum Gnome33]

So, I just wanted to point out something that I think is kind of interesting about this topic--we're talking about the way Faith dressed and what that said about her personality, more or less, right? The thing about Faith though, in my opinion, is that she was so insecure and so unsure of who she wanted to be that what she wore was really a costume. It was a projection of confidence, both in a sexual and in a more general sense, (maybe the need for intimidation was a big factor).

Now of course I believe that anyone can wear whatever she wants and never deserves to have negative things said about her because of her dress. But since we know Faith, I think it's an interesting idea to take the concept of how she dressed one step further to say that it really was part of a desperate attempt at figuring herself out. And truly, whatever she wore, would have been just that. If she made a specific statement, maybe she'd get more of an idea about who she was, based on the reactions of others. I mean I think this is sort of how she existed, until she finally decided to team up with the mayor. It was always a tightrope walk for her. And if Buffy was going to dress one way, she was going to do whatever she could to look "different;" more "provocative" or "edgy." *

That being said, I do agree with [MENTION=9799]Taake[/MENTION] that most of the time she really isn't dressed very provocatively at all. But when she is, I think she is trying to inspire the notion of a sexually confident woman who won't let another man/woman/demon define her when, ironically, she wants to find definition for herself.

What's interesting, again, is that if we believe it was a shot at figuring herself out, why this particular look? Why not clown feet and sweatpants? I think it had to have the same implication of power and confidence that Buffy's wardrobe had, but in a contrasting way. It could also be the writers hitting us over the head with the idea that Faith is different from Buffy. And that I do sort of find offensive, because why are we pitting one confident wardrobe against another confident wardrobe? What are we really saying about characters? Is there too much left to interpretation and room for insult?

*Oh and just to clarify, when I use terms like "sexual" or "provocative" I don't mean to imply anything more than the standard associations we tend to make with those general terms and tight leather, cleavage, and dark red lips/vampy makeup.

 

[caitaintdead]

I viewed Faith's clothes the way I viewed Faith: oover stated, over done, and over compensating. I don't think she dressed like a prostitute... but she did dress like a slut. (and before anyone jumps on me for that word, I know what it means, I know how strong it is, and I do mean it. I am entitled to my opinion). I have no problem with a woman dressing like they're confident in their sexualities... but Faith was a bit much to me.

While there are certain aspects of Faith that fit the definition of 'slut' (she is definitely immoral, I mean... She did kill people), I do NOT think it is completely appropriate at all for you to refer to her clothing choices as 'dressing like a slut'. How can a woman's clothing choice make her immoral or dirty? Are you telling me that if you saw me wearing leather pants then you would call me a slut?

You clearly have some major problems with your confidence and your appearance, but for you to belittle other women is just absolutely disgraceful.

---------- Post added at 01:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:49 PM ----------

[MENTION=10363]zobothehobo[/MENTION]

I forget that people are simply not as well educated in feminism as I have been sometimes, so maybe you should do some research on what you're saying and what it means.

Have a read of this: http://cupwire.ca/articles/42810

I believe it is one of the better articles out there on the subject.

---------- Post added at 02:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:54 PM ----------

zobothehobo disagrees: I resent the implication that I am ignorant on the subject. I said I understood what it meant and still wanted to use it because I knew people were going to take an issue with it. I have read articles on this subject and stand by my statement.

Well how about instead of acting like a conservative you actually address some of the issues that the article brings up?

How about I make it a little more simple for you:

1. "When we consider the endless scenarios that render a woman a slut these days, it becomes clear that this word is used solely to shame a woman for expressing herself sexually. There's a notion that this act of slut-shaming "” making a woman feel ashamed for being sexual or having one or more sexual partners "” is a tool that can be used to compel a woman to alter her behaviour for the better."
Do you believe that women should have to alter their behaviour to conform to social norms set up by men?

2. "Slut-shaming has been used to make examples out of "bad" girls to their peers, sometimes ending with severe consequences. In 2009, a 13-year-old girl from in U.S. sexted a photo of her breasts to a boy she liked, which was intercepted and circulated around her school and a nearby high school. The girl was forced to endure endless taunting by her peers, routinely being called a "slut" and a "whore."

When school officials were informed of these events, their response wasn't to talk to the girl about what had happened, or to discipline the offending classmates. They suspended her from school for a week, an action that sends the message to students that calling someone a slut for exhibiting "slutty behaviour" is okay "” that, perhaps, slutty girls deserve to be punished by their peers.

She hung herself less than a week after the suspension."
Do believe that this 13 year old deserved this outcome? Would you have been first in line to call her a 'slut'?

3. "In 2007, a British man charged with the rape of a 10-year-old girl was given concurrent two-year and 18-month jail sentences, as opposed to life in prison. The judge felt he was faced with "a moral dilemma" in this "exceptional case" because the victim regularly wore make-up, strappy tops and jeans, making her appear at least 16 years old "” as though somehow her provocative clothing trumped her right to consent "” assuming a child is even capable of consent."
How do you feel your contribution to the 'slut shame' culture impacts cases such as this one?

4. Next time you want to call a woman a slut, think about what you actually mean to say. Does the fact that she's open about her sexuality make her a slut, or is she just a liberal woman?

5. Is the woman that ****ed your boyfriend really a whore, or is your boyfriend simply a cheating asshole? I know you're a lesbian so this may not be a literal question, but I think it's an interesting question posed by the original author of the article I have question. I believe it is an interesting question because I feel it gets to the root of why you are so angry at women.

6. Is that classmate wearing the low-cut top skanky, or is she just gutsy enough to wear something you could never pull off?

 

[InsaneMystic]

I don't even understand the concept of "dressing promiscuously", the concept makes little sense to me. (Unless you change your clothes often and have sex with them... which would be weird. 😉)

(As an aside, I really don't like the whole concept of monogamy, at all - but that's a topic for another thread.)

Faith's outfit just seemed "street tough" to me, which implies "cheap rather than classy" in clothing style - but I didn't associate that with any kind of sexual behavior/attitude per se, let alone with judgment of that supposed behavior/attitude.

 

[zobothehobo]

Well how about instead of acting like a conservative you actually address some of the issues that the article brings up?

How about I make it a little more simple for you:

WOW. Seriously, I do NOT appreciate the attack at my intelligence. I don't agree with you, I am NOT stupid. Difference hun.

1. "When we consider the endless scenarios that render a woman a slut these days, it becomes clear that this word is used solely to shame a woman for expressing herself sexually. There's a notion that this act of slut-shaming "” making a woman feel ashamed for being sexual or having one or more sexual partners "” is a tool that can be used to compel a woman to alter her behaviour for the better."
Do you believe that women should have to alter their behaviour to conform to social norms set up by men?

I am going to say this once.... I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY ME THINKING SEXUAL PROMISCUITY IS OK FROM ANYONE ALWAYS COMES BACK TO ME THINKING WE SHOULD CONFORM TO SEXUAL NORMS SET UP BY MEN!

In other words, I don't agree with sexual promiscuity. And I DESPISE the logic that "well if it's ok for men to do it now, it should be ok for women" and THAT is the change we work for rather than "it should not be ok for men to sleep around and disrespect the sexual partners they have by treating them as just another sex act rather than PEOPLE."

Now, I will also say that even though most people only use it about women... I use it for men too, simply because there isn't a male equivalent of the word (which I also think is wrong, because it is socially ok for men to do this too). So this entire argument is invalid to me.

2. "Slut-shaming has been used to make examples out of "bad" girls to their peers, sometimes ending with severe consequences. In 2009, a 13-year-old girl from in U.S. sexted a photo of her breasts to a boy she liked, which was intercepted and circulated around her school and a nearby high school. The girl was forced to endure endless taunting by her peers, routinely being called a "slut" and a "whore."

When school officials were informed of these events, their response wasn't to talk to the girl about what had happened, or to discipline the offending classmates. They suspended her from school for a week, an action that sends the message to students that calling someone a slut for exhibiting "slutty behaviour" is okay "” that, perhaps, slutty girls deserve to be punished by their peers.

She hung herself less than a week after the suspension."
Do believe that this 13 year old deserved this outcome? Would you have been first in line to call her a 'slut'?

Yes. I do. And I probably would have been. A THIRTEEN YEAR OLD girl should NOT be sending naked pictures of herself to a guy. She should VALUE herself more than that. And I find it HORRIFYING that what you take an issue with in this situation is that she was called a slut NOT that she felt the sexual pressure to send a NAKED PICTURE of herself to a boy at THIRTEEN YEARS OLD. I'm so... I'm shaking thinking about you (a general you) taking an issue to the word "slut" and not the pressure behind it. That is what I consider what is wrong with society.

3. "In 2007, a British man charged with the rape of a 10-year-old girl was given concurrent two-year and 18-month jail sentences, as opposed to life in prison. The judge felt he was faced with "a moral dilemma" in this "exceptional case" because the victim regularly wore make-up, strappy tops and jeans, making her appear at least 16 years old "” as though somehow her provocative clothing trumped her right to consent "” assuming a child is even capable of consent."
How do you feel your contribution to the 'slut shame' culture impacts cases such as this one?

I think this has nothing to do with sexual promiscuity but rather a pedophile trying to justify his actions. And I don't agree with the way of thinking that because someone dresses a certain way (that may even be considered "slutty" by me) that they are "asking for it" or trying to have sex. I think that's just stupid. And I believe that Even though someone dresses in a way I would consider "slutty," that doesn't mean they're actually slutty.

4. Next time you want to call a woman a slut, think about what you actually mean to say. Does the fact that she's open about her sexuality make her a slut, or is she just a liberal woman?

Open about her sexuality isn't what I consider slutty. Slutty to me is strictly being promiscuous. I am open about my sexuality, too open sometimes, I am not a slut. Difference.

5. Is the woman that ****ed your boyfriend really a whore, or is your boyfriend simply a cheating asshole? I know you're a lesbian so this may not be a literal question, but I think it's an interesting question posed by the original author of the article I have question. I believe it is an interesting question because I feel it gets to the root of why you are so angry at women.

I think both are an issue. If a woman has sex with a guy in a relationship, and she is aware of that, then she has done something wrong... and the guy in a relationship who cheats has also done something wrong.

6. Is that classmate wearing the low-cut top skanky, or is she just gutsy enough to wear something you could never pull off?

[/QUOTE]
I've already spoken several times to the fact that I believe clothes can be categorized as "slutty" without the PERSON being slutty or skanky. I don't feel like I have to do it again.

 

[BuffyElevated]

Ok, people... Let's stop the personal attacks. If you can't discuss the issue civilly, the thread will be closed.

 

[Tueuse de Vampires]

No, I definitely do not think Faith dressed like a prostitute. When I think of 'dressed like a prostitute', the first image that pops up is Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman...and I don't really see that much of a resemblance between her outfit in the movie and the way Faith dressed. Faith dressed confident and aware of her body. I actually liked a lot of her outfits (minus her first one we saw her in) and would've worn them too, if they'd suited me (which some would, others not). Also, her clothes changed with time. Her s7 outfits I wouldn't even describe as dressing particularly sexy, just normal everyday street wear.



About the whole slut discussion...Zoe, you say you hate the sexual norms set up by men, but that's why I don't get why you think it's appropriate to call a girl a slut. THAT'S the norms set up by men, a woman expresses herself sexually and she gets labelled a slut. In my opinion, all you do is endorse men's chauvinistic views of women.

I don't think there is such a thing as a slut, it's a meaningless term set up to punish and shame anyone who goes a perceived sexual moral code. But guess what, that moral code is very subjective, arbitrary and by no means universal. That said, I hate it when people get all judgmental and call anyone a slut, because honestly, who are they to say what's wrong or write.
Having been called a slut several times myself, I can tell you it can hurt a lot. The retort I have for that is 'Sour Grapes?'

 

[ILLYRIAN]

So, did Faith dress like a prostitute?

Did she wear tops that showed off her breasts? A little bit of cleavage maybe. So to me, the answer is no.
Did she wear really short skirts? No.
Were her jeans so tight fitting that every curve was seen? No.
Did her shoes accentuate the shape of her legs? No. (The way high heels do.)
Did it look like she dressed for sex? No.

The chances are she was dressed in case she needed to fight a dead person. Just look at her clothes, they did not restrict her fighting movements.

 

[Buffy Summers]

Guys, seriously, let's keep the discussion about Faith rather than trying to bully others who have a different point of view. Not everyone has the same ideas about sex and sexuality but that is something for a different discussion.

Keep the thread to the question asked by the OP or it will be closed. Thank you 🙂

And just to reiterate, the question is what you think of how Faith dressed, as compared to Buffy, not whether or not Faith is a slut.

 

[caitaintdead]

WOW. Seriously, I do NOT appreciate the attack at my intelligence. I don't agree with you, I am NOT stupid. Difference hun.

I didn't mean to insinuate that you were stupid, I was simply trying to understand where you were coming from and what your understanding of my feelings was. Not everyone is educated on the 'slut shame' culture and what it means and doesn't make anyone stupid.

For the record I think your opinion on this matter is incredibly flawed and due to my moral code, I believe it is immoral. I do not think you're stupid. Except in that little kid kind of way of when you're frustrated kind of saying 'YOU'RE STUPID'. But not unintelligent.

Yes. I do. And I probably would have been. A THIRTEEN YEAR OLD girl should NOT be sending naked pictures of herself to a guy. She should VALUE herself more than that. And I find it HORRIFYING that what you take an issue with in this situation is that she was called a slut NOT that she felt the sexual pressure to send a NAKED PICTURE of herself to a boy at THIRTEEN YEARS OLD. I'm so... I'm shaking thinking about you (a general you) taking an issue to the word "slut" and not the pressure behind it. That is what I consider what is wrong with society.

Personally I find it sad that a 13 year old hung herself. If you do not then there is nothing to discuss. We clearly have very different levels of empathy and show different levels of understanding towards people.

Open about her sexuality isn't what I consider slutty. Slutty to me is strictly being promiscuous. I am open about my sexuality, too open sometimes, I am not a slut. Difference.

Please educate me - what do you believe to be the definition of slut is? Seeing as how you do not like to use the English definition please let me know. This isn't meant to be funny or sarcastic, I just honestly do not understand why you're definition is different to the one in the dictionary.

Okay I'm going to leave this here as I don't believe there is much point in discussing this with you as you seem pretty set in your ways.

Anyway, I think Faith looked a lot sexier and hotter in the later seasons. The jeans, studded belt and black tank top was amazing on Faith and really suited her personality. I would definitely be more than happy to look like that!

 

[NY State of Mind]

springtime love is on my mind.....come back to me 🙂

anyways I don't see how dressing a certain way defines what a person is in my opinion....case closed for me......I know from experience cause cops always harrassed me and friends as a kid for looking a certain way but doesn't mean all of us were whatever they judged us to be.....and trust me I know plenty of sluts who dress very conservative and girls who dress like what you would call a slut cause of there background but are not sluts in the definition of promiscuous.

 

[Tome]

I think calling it a 'prostitute look' is really pushing it... She was just dressing sexy. 😉 The only thing that bothered *me* was the crazy make-up in S3 haaaaaaaaaaa!

Oh and...

Buffy looked like she was dressed for church half the time.

I totally disagree with that. Dressed for church, lmao!

 

[Ripper666]

well in fact I think that faith lived and grew up into a big city. There she was alone. Maybe ,and we all know storys about such people, she get involved by the wrong people were it was normal to get dressed a little bit crazzy. And her clothes made the Story more interesting. ;D

 

[Aloverssoulz]

She didn't dress like a prostitute. The most we ever got to see was her belly button. Not even a bra strap. If showing your belly button makes you a prostitute than Rachel from FRIENDS would be the biggest tramp alive. You see through her outfits each eps xD

And Buffy dressed like she was going to church? O.O...I gotta start going to church than.

In my opinion if you got it, show it. I have less respect for someone that's ashamed of their body and hides it under baggy outfits than I do for someone that feels comfortable in their own damn skin.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

Just because a women dresses in revealing clothing does not mean she looks like a prostitute. That's like saying that a man dressed in a suit looks like a lawyer. Many prostitutes dress conservatively, and many lawyers dress in t-shirts and sweats. Believe me, I have seen both.

 

[Summerlilly]

She looked hot. More important, she looked like Faith. I think her dress was perfect, as was her attitude.

My thoughts exactly. It was perfect for HER. One thing's for sure, Faith was not a prostitute. And the best part is, I have no doubt she would kick anyone's ass for saying that.....but then again maybe she wouldn't give a S**T! 😉 A little trash talk would never get her down! lol

 

[badwolf]

As everyone else said a million times her clothes did not make her look like a prostitute. Granted she did dress different to most of them, and that was merely to show that she is different than say Buffy or Willow. And you can't really say she wore stuff that was just that bit extra tight, or extra revealing. How many of the chicks wore crop tops in the early seasons? All of em. What bothered me was the leather! No one should wear that much leather! I had a bigger problem with the leather, more than anything! And these characters are supposed to be attractive, and Faith's clothes made her attractive and yes, confident.