Presentation given at the Student Leadership and Diversity Conference, held at the University of South Carolina, on February 7, 2015 by Hope Young and Nakia Strickland

1. The Cultural Implications of Promiscuity
and the Modern Black Woman
Hope Young and Nakia Strickland

3. • Biblical literature:
• Wife of King Ahab
• Book of Kings
• Descendant of Caananites; polytheist, worships Baal
• “How can all be well as long as your mother Jezebel
carries on her countless harlotries and sorceries?”
(2Kings 9:22)
(http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-
bible/people-in-the-bible/how-bad-wasjezebel/
trackback/)

4. • Jezebel was a polytheistic worshipper; main deity was Baal
• Jezebel was not a believer of Yahweh
• Ahab built shrine to Baal in town center
• Jezebel attempted to convert Ahab to her religion
(http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-
bible/people-in-the-bible/how-bad-wasjezebel/
trackback/)

5. • Black Feminist Thought
•Patricia Hill Collins
• Mammy
• Matriarch
• Welfare Mother
• Black Lady
• Jezebel
Hill Collins, Patricia. Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the
Politics of Empowerment. Boston: UnwinHyman, 1990, pp. 75-84.

6. • Jezebel.com
• “Celebrity, Sex, Fashion for Women. Without
Airbrushing”
• “Gossip, culture, fashion and sex for the
contemporary woman.”
• Gawker Media
• Kinja network
• Along with Playboy online and various tech blogs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jezebel_(website)
https://www.google.com/#safe=off&q=jezebel

7. • ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?
• The Hoochie
• Patricia Hill Collins
• The “modern” reinvention of the jezebel
Hill Collins, Patricia. Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the
Politics of Empowerment. Boston: UnwinHyman, 1990, pp. 75-84.

9. DEFINITION #1
• Thot
• A Thot is a hoe. Plural: Thotties
“Marquan: Yo thats my main girl”
“Deshaun: She yo main girl but she my main thot”
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Thot

10. DEFINITION #3
• Thot
• (Noun) An individual with a number of concurrent sex partners that is well
above the established cultural norm. These individuals have coitus for the
purpose of sexual pleasure, approval, or to fulfill an emotional void. These
individuals may or may not have sexually transmitted infections however this
term is still applies to whores with safe sex practices. These acts are not for
the exchange for illicit narcotics or monetary/ economic gain as observed in
prostitutes, crackheads, junkies, or gold diggers. (It is important to note that
ones sexual indiscretions must be well known within the community in order for
ones "thot" status to be identifiable). The term itself is of urban origins
translates to the acronym "That Hoe Over There." Unfortunately due to the
gender inequality this term has been largely attributed to females however
males can also exhibit "thot-like" behavior and should be identified as such.
• “Guy1: Yo that chick is bad. I should go talk to her”
“Guy 2: No No, stay away from her she is a thot.”
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Thot

11. How to spot-a-thot
-cheap patterned leggings that
she think make her ass look good
-clothes from rainbow or styles for
less
-wearin lace wit holes in it
-outdated nike high tops
-some red weave
-bamboo hoop earrings
-average twerking skills
-michael kors knock off bag or
any big plasticy tote
-cliche script tattoo about love or
strength
-ugg boots or boot heels
-May be butterface
-maybe slightly overweight,
doesn't work out
-thinks starbucks is expensive
-blonde highlights with 3 month
roots
-gets a little too drunk
-hangs out wit other thots
DEFINITION #6
• Thot
• that hoe over there.
Not exactly ratchet, but no where near a dime-piece. A basic bitch. You won't get ragged on
for messin wit one, but she ain't nothing to brag about either. They everywhere!
• “I ain't fuck wit thots, I only fuck wit 9 and ups.”
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Thot

12. FUN FACT:
THE METRO
REGION WITH
100% SEARCH
VOLUME:
MYRTLE BEACH-
FLORENCE, SC
PEAK IN
SEARCH:
JUNE
22-28,
2014
http://www.google.com/trends/e
xplore#q=thot&geo=US&date=1
%2F2013%2025m&cmpt=q&tz=

13. • FORM A GROUP WITH 3-4 PEOPLE IN EACH
• DISCUSS:
• WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU HEAR THE PHRASE T.H.O.T?
• DO YOU TAKE THE PHRASE AS IS OR IS IT BECOMING MORE ACCEPTED
(E.G. CALLING YOUR BEST GIRLFRIEND ‘BITCH’)?
• IS THE CONTEXT OF THIS PHRASE AS BAD NOW AS IT WAS WHEN IT FIRST
EMERGED?
• IS BEING A T.H.O.T. OVERPLAYED? HAVE WE BECOME DESENSITIZED OF THIS
PHRASE?
• WHAT ABOUT CELEBRITIES WHO ARE T.H.O.T.-SHAMED; CAN YOU JUSTIFY
IT?
• WHAT EFFECT DOES THIS PHRASE HAVE ON WOMEN IN TODAY’S SOCIETY?
• YOUR TIME STARTS NOW!
T.H.O.T. playlist

14. • Females
• Not exclusively used as a term
for “whore”
• Different uses of term
• THOT-pocket
• THOT chips = Pringles; Flaming
Hot Cheetos
• THOT car = Honda (anything)
• THOTler = THOT in training
• THOT drink = Bud Light Straw-
ber-ita
• Desensitized
• “There is no male equivalency”
• “Woman who is confident in
herself and has a high libido;
engages in flirtation to
achieve means or promiscuity;
libido is equivalent to men”
• Can be used as an insult due
to jealousy

18. • WHY YES, RANDOM ENTITY THAT ASKED THAT QUESTION, IT
IS!
http://cdn.blackenterprise.com/wp-
content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/09/shocked_620x480.jpg
https://ionehellobeautiful.files.wordpress.com
/2011/05/happy-men-turn-off1.jpg

19. • We live in a heteronormative, patriarchal, Puritan-originated
society
• “Once you speak something, you can’t take them back”
• The boy who cried wolf
• The continuous cycle of misogynistic ideals and objectification
• Self-fulfilled prophecy
• The more you hear it, the more you believe to be truth

20. • Turn to your neighbor and say,
“NEIGHBOR…”
• What do you think we, as a society,
can do?