Unexpectedly Becoming a WAP-Warrior

You’d have to be living under a rock to not have heard about the new controversial rap song WAP by Cardi B featuring Meg Thee Stallion. It is a naaastyyyy song full of vulgar lyrics and profanities singing the praises of a certain female body part, the vagina — more specifically those one the more moist spectrum. You can see the video here, but it is NSFW to the thousandth degree … also watch your babies’ eyes and ears.

I can’t believe I just typed all of this here. But alas, it’s 2020, and the song is catchy.

And while my children will not be hearing these lyrics anytime in the next 5-10 years, and I understand the outrage that comes from hearing these words set to a good beat that makes you wanna sing along, I feel like this song is important, in a ridiculous way.

I came of age in what is to me, the golden era of booty music: the 99s and 2000s. Backing my “thang” up with Juvenile; learning about fantasies from Ludacris; shaking it like a salt shaker and whistling while I twerked with the Ying Yang Twins; going from the window to the wall while getting low with Lil’ John. The list could go on. These songs are all inappropriate for young ears and generally feature sexual and misogynistic messages, but they are FUN to dance to! Female voices during that time were few and far between, and usually it was Missy Elliot’s Work It that was played.

I feel like the arguably nastiest song of that time though, was Three 6 Mafia’s Slob on my Knob. Explicit lyrics, check. Sexual descriptions, check. Mysoginistic messages, check.

So, when WAP dropped, I really didn’t bat an eye. Because to me, this has been done before, sung by men about men. And I knew that so many would dislike or even hate the song, because it is not a song for everyone.

Then in steps Mr. Ben Shapiro, ready to take on WAP, and blasted every single thing about this song. Then dropped some comments regarding vaginal moisture that were not only insulting to himself and his wife, but actually incorrect and damaging to the esteem of young girls everywhere.

See, vaginal moisture, vaginal discharge is a key fertility sign for ALL women. It fluctuates throughout your cycle and promoting self-monitoring and awareness of this discharge is important to a woman’s reproductive, sexual, and gynecological health. Here’s an article explaining why (hint: it has to do with Bartholin glands). But for SO MANY WOMEN, this is seen as shameful. They are embarrassed by their WAP, and so to hear a man declare that they are NOT the norm only serves to reinforce that shame. He even goes further by declaring that an increase in vaginal moisture due to sexual arousal is indicative of a medical problem. Unless it is accompanied by other symptoms such as itching, burning, abnormal changes in color, or a change in smell, a WAP is well within the normal framework of female health. Like there are literally little cotton liners sewn into panties because of WAP. Pantyliners are made for WAP. This is not to discount vaginal dryness, which can also be normal. There is a whole spectrum of normal for vaginas … no two are alike.

IT’S NORMAL!

I think that Mr. Shapiro and his comrades are offended by this song because of its female perspective. Cardi B and Meg Thee Stallion are turning the demure image of idyllic womanhood perpetuated by men for thousands of years onto its head. Neither images are wrong, in fact, most women have both identities of a wanton vixen and sweet virgin within them … along with other identities that serve them in different areas of life. If the only reason for sexual relations is procreation, which is so often the platform perpetuated by Mr. Shapiro’s key demographic, then it is understandable why seeing women embracing their sexuality for the purposes of pleasure would make them cringe. They are reacting out of the suppression of female sexuality that has pervaded our patriarchal society since its inception. So, maybe I could extend some grace because this man is obviously oblivious to these issues. But to listen to a man, ANY MAN, so viciously eviscerate a woman because of how she is choosing to express her sexuality makes my blood boil. This voicing and POV was lacking during “Slob”‘s time, because it is socially acceptable for men to speak this way — it’s just “locker room talk.” Ladies talk too, though, and it’s more often a discussion of their shame. At one point he snarkily questioned whether or not this is what feminists fought for … YES IT IS! The right to speak freely about all things, and to not be censored with discussing sexuality are two massive pillars of the feminist movement. People are recognizing his ridiculosity and have taken to Twitter to defend women and finally attempt to shut Mr. Shapiro down.

My girls will know that having a WAP is normal and that any man who feels otherwise is not worth their time.

Sarah Keating
Sarah is a 30-something mom of four children under six and wife to her high-school sweetheart. She returned to Acadiana two years ago following her husband’s completion of medical school and residency in Shreveport. After the move, Sarah switched gears from full-time pediatric speech-language pathologist and working mom to full-time stay-at-home mom to her brood. Her current hobbies include “speech-therapizing” her children, re-reading the Outlander series, catching up on her Netflix queue after the kids go to bed, completing XHIT videos at naptime, and taking her medication every morning. She loves and respects the sacredness of motherhood, but sometimes you just have to let go and laugh it out. Motherhood has been the most humbling, and empowering journey she has experienced.