We were just discussing my dad's new haircut. My sister thought it looked too young. I told her that I think he looks fine, but cougars wearing sparkly low-cut dresses are another story. She accused me of slut shaming. Do you think that's slut shaking?
I wouldn't say cougars are sluts, but shaming women for wearing low-cut dresses does sound a little bit like slut-shaming. I suppose it may depend on what your reasoning is. Why do you think they're "another story"? Regardless of whether it's slut-shaming or not, though, I think we don't have the right to over-police what others choose to wear. In this particular case: if a twenty-year-old can wear it, why can't a fifty-year-old? Because we're grossed out by older women's bodies? Because we're afraid of seeing the effects of ageing? Isn't that a little sad? (Also, what is a "too young" haircut? Really? My dad only looks maybe ten years older than my brother instead of thirty, and we're all fine with that. Mostly happy he's healthy and fit at his age.)
Slut shaming is a stupid concept to begin with. You should have barfed on her for uttering those words. However, it doesn't seem to me to be slut shaming. Who is the slut in this situation? You made no direct assertion that older women wearing low cut dresses are sluts. To me, it sees you're implying that older women shouldn't wear certain clothes. It sounds more like you being "age-ist" or sexist by implying that either 1.) older people should not wear things younger people do or 2.) that older men can try to look younger but it is socially unacceptable if women do.
On the low cut dresses thing, the way I see it, an oldish woman dressing in something skimpy is like a thirty year old wearing a tutu type skirt and hello kitty shoes. I guess if it's something age appropriate, something low cut is okay, but not if it's a fifty year old woman in a short strapless thing. I'm looking at you, my great aunt.
