New York, June 7 (ANI): A Californian woman, who got tired of the word "slut" being a slur, created a site 'Rock the Slut Vote' which aimed at reclaiming the word from being an insult.
Susan McMillan Emry, founder of the site is registering women to vote in November.
The 56-year-old mother of two was inspired to start the site after Rush Limbaugh famously called law student Sandra Fluke a "slut" in February when she testified before Congress in support of birth control.
"It's really about taking the power away from that word more than it is about Rush Limbaugh," the New York Daily quoted her as telling ABC News.
"He gave the word the notoriety but we are trying to take it back," she said.
Emry said she felt women's issues faced a series of threats in the wake of Limbaugh's comment, including the Susan Komen foundation's decision to cut Planned Parenthood funding - which was later reversed following an outcry - and proposed legislation around the country to restrict abortions and women's access to contraceptives.
"To me, 'Rock the Slut Vote' is all about galvanizing and the shock value, to get enough attention to what was happening," Politico quoted Emry as saying.
She says she chose to brand the site with the derogatory term in an effort to take it back and turn it into a rallying cry.
"By reclaiming the most hurtful, shaming words, groups rise up, unite and fight against intimidation and injustice," she wrote in a blog post.
"Do any of us aspire to be insulted as sluts and worse? Of course not. But neither will we allow that word to shame, intimidate and silence women any longer," she wrote.
Launched at the end of March, the website features a tongue-in-cheek quiz called "You Might Be A Slut..." which offers mocking answers ranging from "If you voted for Hillary in 2008," "If you're still downloading Dixie Chicks music," and "If you've ever lived with your boyfriend."
The site offers women the opportunity to register to vote and provides links so users can find information about local candidates.
It also sells a handful of items poking fun at their right-wing inspiration, such as bumper stickers, shirts and tote bags that read "Rush Limbaugh thinks I'm a slut!"
"It has evolved in the last few months from being my own personal avenue to let out a holler on what's happening to something that we hope will make a significant impact," Emry told ABC, explaining that she wanted to channel her outrage into a force for change. (ANI)
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