Scarlett Johansson is an outspoken advocate for women’s rights. Just two months ago the actress knocked Ivanka Trump’s “private advocacy” stance and revealed she started taking self-defense classes because of a sexist journalist. Now the Rough Night star is opening up about female sexuality, and her comments are spot-on.
In Cosmopolitan magazine’s July issue, Johansson calls out one of the oldest (but most prevalent) sexual double-standards in history: when men get lauded for their vibrant sexual activity, but women get shamed.
“When women talk about enjoying sex, it’s almost forbidden,” Johansson tells the magazine. “Just having a healthy sexual attitude, you are labeled as loose, wild, a slut. You have no morals, and you’re seen as some kind of sexual deviant or someone who can’t be in a monogamous relationship. The minute you talk about enjoying yourself, being curious, that is still taboo.”
And she’s right. Yes, our culture is more progressive and sex-positive now than it’s ever been, but women are still constantly slut-shamed. Hell, Ariel Winter is met with a barrage of disgusting comments every time she wears a bikini. “The height of a girl’s skirt, or whatever she is wearing, for that matter, does not imply what she is asking for,” Winter wrote in response to her haters back in 2015. “You are not asking for anything because of what you are wearing—you are expressing yourself and don’t you ever think you deserve the negativity as the consequence to what you are wearing.”
This should go without saying, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with being open and enthusiastic about your sex life. It’s about time for everyone to get on board with that concept. Hats off to Johansson for sending a reminder.