What is ‘slut-shaming’ and why Luana Piovani became a symbol of it after nude photos in the process

The expression “slut-shaming” has had a spike in searches in Brazil in recent days. This is because the term, which is not exactly new, has been associated with Luana Piovani, after the actress exposed on social media that nude images of her were attached to a lawsuit that her ex-husband, Pedro Scooby, filed against her.

The action would be to prevent the actress from going public to expose and charge the surfer who, according to her, refused to pay child support for the three children they have together. However, Luana claims that she was surprised that the action contained some more uninhibited images of her.

“I was shocked, how cunning, how cruel. He wants to discredit me as a mother and as a woman”, she evaluated. According to the actress, her lawyer also warned her that the content could be used so that, in the future, Scooby could ask for custody of the children.

But, after all, what does “slut-shaming” mean? The term in English, which means something like “shaming the bitch”, designates a sexist rebuke to a woman’s behavior. The practice seeks to expose, ridicule or even negatively classify a woman, and is used especially in the context of moral censure.

The offenses can range from the use of clothing considered “vulgar” to the manifestation of sexuality in a freer way, which deviates from the standards imposed by traditional patriarchal society. According to Janice Aguirre Linhares, a postgraduate psychologist in neurosciences and behavior with an emphasis on emotional competence, “slut-shaming” is psychological violence that has the potential to affect women in different ways.

“This aggression can cause many different problems, both professionally and in personal life. These situations can generate anxiety, in addition to resulting in feelings such as shame, fear, insecurity or guilt, which contribute to depression and isolation. social,” she explains.

In a context with children involved, as is the case with Piovani, the practice can also affect a woman’s role as a mother — and the way people around her can see her in that position. Often seen as the sole manager of the children, the affected person’s sexuality is exposed to defame the victim.

“Since we live in a society that romanticizes the maternal role, the image of ‘mother’ is shrouded in stereotypes, from heroines to saints, and little space is left for women’s sexuality. Before being a mother, there is a human being. And her intimacy, as long as it does not affect the well-being of her children, cannot serve to discredit her”, says Linhares.

Some attitudes that can be classified as “slut-shaming” are crimes in Brazil. Law 13,718, of 2018, typifies the disclosure of rape scenes as crimes, often used to threaten or discredit the victim. In 2021, Law 14,425, known as the Mari Ferrer Law, was also passed, which prohibits the practice of acts that violate the dignity of the victim and witnesses and prohibits the use of language, information or material that offends the victim during the trial. —the penalty is increased if it involves a crime against sexual dignity.

Displaying or sharing intimate images without the depicted person’s consent is also a breach of privacy that can result in legal action. “In addition, it can harm the relationship between the parents and the well-being of the children, which can lead to a loss of custody”, adds the psychologist.