It's no secret that female sexuality is largely misunderstood by society writ large.
Certainly, while men are able to talk about their sexual proclivities and conquests openly, it's still frowned upon for women to express a desire in sex. And this is mostly due to a harmful double standard; while men are praised for sleeping with multiple partners, and branded as "players" by their friends, women who engage in frequent sex with different partners are called "sluts".
Model Samirah Raheem, however, shut down such insidious notions when Reverend Jesse Peterson attempted to slutshame her at the 2017 Amber Rose Slutwalk.
In a video clip that has recently started making the rounds on social media again, Samirah turned the word "slut" on its head, and redefined it on her own terms.
Choosing to see it as something empowering rather than demeaning, she asserted that she sees herself as a slut: "Because I own my body. My body is not a political playground, it’s not a place for legislation. It’s mine, and it’s my future."
Peterson then asked Samirah whether she believed in God. When she answered yes, he went on to ask if she thought that God would want her to be a slut. Rather than falling into the trap, Samirah stated that God would want her to use her freedom of choice.
"He would want me to be whatever I want to because God believes in choice and you should know that Jesse that's why you’re allowed to wear this lame a*s shirt," she quipped.
Samirah has earned a whole new batch of Instagram followers since her response to the Reverend went viral. And overwhelmed by the love and support she has received, the model took to the social media platform to thank everyone for their kind words.
Disclosing that it's taken a long time for her to exude the confidence and self-assurance that she does now, she asserted:
"My body is not a political playground. Growing up it’s been a very interesting journey I’ve always been a walking contradiction. I never thought I’d have a voice like this. I was often ashamed of being opinionated and louder than most. I tried to make myself smaller to fit into social circles. I genuinely thank you guys for your overwhelming love & support. There’s no more hiding. Thank y’all for forcing me to step into my unapologetic tongue."
Naturally, the people of the internet were all for it. "I’m obsessed with your energy. work it work it and don’t turn down the volume!!!," one Instagram user wrote, while another corroborated: "Don’t stop! Take it all the way to the TOP! You’re amazing."
A third added: "Girl that video and even your Instagram handle just SPOKE TO ME, I’m naturally curvy and people sexualise me so much when I’m not even thinking about them, I’m just trying to do my job or buy groceries or walk home. Half the time I literally end up saying “this is just what I look like”. The presence of my body in the way it exists does not make me more sexual."
Good on Samirah for redefining what it means for women to be sexually confident today!