A Twitter conversation started by @HoodFeminism on “black women, sexuality and promiscuity versus respectability” struck a nerve with women around the country yesterday and continues online today. Mikki Kendall (@Karynthia) and Jamie Nesbitt Golden’s (@thewayoftheid) discussion (based on this piece) got #FastTailedGirls trending and quickly became both something of a feminist rally and an emotional outlet for some women as they shared their own moving stories. Relive the conversation through some of the top tweets below.
When I talk about being #FastTailedGirls I’m talking about the way young black bodies are treated inside & outside the community.
— Mikki Kendall (@Karnythia) November 30, 2013
Inhabiting an increasingly womanly/developed/curvy body = a target to predatory adults while other adults blame your body #fasttailedgirls
— .gif Goddess (@LexiScorsese) November 30, 2013
Being told I couldn’t walk around in certain clothes b/c of who it may tempt, meanwhile men were free to do as they pleased #FastTailedGirls
— Valérie (@Vivaciously_Val) November 30, 2013
If you’re not reading the hashtag #FastTailedGirls, you’re missing out on the criminal way society sexualizes girls of color.
— Jess Banks (@ProfBanks) November 30, 2013
Black girls are regularly “blamed” for experiencing puberty early, as if the presence of her body alone is consent. #fasttailedgirls
— Trudy (@thetrudz) November 30, 2013
Be clear “Fast” is just the child version of the word “Ho”. These are the terms black girls/women are called all thru life. #FastTailedGirls
— Reagan Gomez (@ReaganGomez) November 30, 2013
@thetrudz @Karnythia Exactly because even a “good” girl who is victimized will more than likely face the question “what did you do?”
— Stacey E. Singleton (@staceyNYCDC) November 30, 2013
At it’s core, #FastTailedGirls is blaming children for the actions of grown men. Don’t wear this, don ‘t move like this…just don’t exist.
— Reagan Gomez (@ReaganGomez) November 30, 2013
Teach boys that being men means respecting women and standing up when other boys threaten/harm them. #FastTailedGirls
— Mother of Purrl (@ashe_phoenix) November 30, 2013
boys are encouraged to seek out girls from birth, at any cost& use& abuse the #fasttailedgirls. girls are told wait til marriage.
— dulce de leche (@bad_dominicana) November 30, 2013
Teach your sons to value girls as people & not use arbitrary patriarchal purity measurements to measure a girl’s worth #FastTailedGirls
— El Cosby Esq… (@TheCosby) November 30, 2013
Black boys allowed to be boys in our community but Black girls are “old enough to know better, old enough for consequences” #fasttailedgirls
— Adrienne Gravish (@AquafarE) November 30, 2013
Some 40-60% of black girls are sexually abused before 18. Many don’t report it because they know they’ll be called #FastTailedGirls
— Mikki Kendall (@Karnythia) November 30, 2013
We embrace girlhood in our girls but cringe at/fear advent of womanhood. #fasttailedgirls #FastTailedGirls
— Adrienne Gravish (@AquafarE) November 30, 2013
Sometimes I don’t think it really matters what you wear as long as you are coded in a black/brown skin. + #FastTailedGirls
— Inda Lauryn (@IndasCorner) November 30, 2013
#fasttailedgirls The strong Black woman impervious to pain, hypersexual & is hopeless if she has no man stereotype affects our girls
— Adrienne Gravish (@AquafarE) November 30, 2013
the phrase #fasttailedgirls makes exceptions for abusers. it creates villains out of children, and absolves men w/ no self control.
— surly murdock (@dopegirlfresh) November 30, 2013
The myth of #FastTailedGirls is one that allows victims to be blamed & abusers to get a free pass if they target “bad” girls.
— Mikki Kendall (@Karnythia) November 30, 2013
@thewayoftheid I am wondering how many teens don’t get tested bc they don’t wanna be shamed by their mothers #fasttailedgirls
— Loryn-Ishii (@elledub_1920) November 30, 2013
#FastTailedGirls is why when our daughters go missing, they get no media airtime. They’re not “innocent” or precious. Must be runaway hoes
— A$AP Feminist (@FeministaJones) November 30, 2013