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The "Whore" word

I am a woman.... and if I get out of line, you call me a whore!

And if I have a good time, you call me a whore!

And if I speak my mind- you call me a whore!

You throw the word at me when I stand on my own

You use the word often to hold me down.

You ever remind me that whores are the worst-

the outcasts, pariahs, without any worth.

 

"You're just a whore!" you repeat like a mantra-

Like a shot of cold water to dampen my joy.

'You're just a whore- so what do you know?

and what do I care of whatever you think!"

"You're a whore," is a dagger you drive through my heart

as you pound into my psyche that name..

You equate everything that I ever thought good- with that word

which you spit out like venom- to show me how awful I am.

But I ask you, please tell me, just what is a whore?

A whore says what she thinks and she thinks for herself...

She's independent and feisty- so what? is there more?

Why does it frighten you so to know I've a mind of my own

and don't need your permission to live or to love or to be?

And what if I tell you

I don't care anymore if you call me a whore...

What will you call me now?

 

©Norma Jean Almodovar 1996

 

This poem was written while I was co-organizing ICOP 1997 with California State University, Northridge. The two professors with whom I worked decided that we (the sex workers) could not use the word "Whore" in the title of the art exhibit which was being held in connection with the conference. In the beginning, we had no title for the exhibit, other than a sex worker art exhibit. I chose the title, "Curious Images- Visions of the World Through the Eyes of the 'Whore'- the Prostitute as Subject and Artist." It was not out of line with the many academic titles containing the word "whore" which were being presented at the conference. I was told that we could not use the word "whore" in our title because the University objected to it. If I insisted upon using the word, then we could not have the exhibit as 'part' of the conference- merely 'in conjunction' with it and we could not hold it on the university campus.

Not holding it on campus was never a problem because I never wanted the exhibit to be there. It would not have been available to the general public to view, only the academics and students. In the end, the exhibit was held at a church (a much better location), but despite the location, under much pressure from people who wanted to remain politically correct, the title was changed to "Curious Images- The Sex Worker as Subject and Artist, Poet and Politician." It was during the time we were having heated discussions over the use of this word that I wrote this poem.

The professors compiled a book from the conference and wanted to use this in their book, but I denied them permission. The title of their book? "Prostitution- Whores and Their Johns"

 

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