Mom Says I'm a Whore

An Ask E. Jean Classic

Dear E. Jean: 

I moved away from my small hometown in my 20's and was promiscuous and accepted money from men three times. When I moved back home—and in—with my parents at age 26 (I was broke), it bore down on my conscience a great deal, and I told them.

Then my parents told everyone I was "a whore."

That was five years ago. Today I waved at a young single man in our church and he didn't acknowledge me. His friend asked him why he didn't wave at me. He replied, "She's a whore."

I resent this! There is more to me than what I did in my twenties! I've gone back to college and have made straight A's. I donate money to Debbie the Elephant at Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. I volunteer for the Clean Air Foundation. I am an excellent cook. I knit sweaters and sell them. There is so much more to me, you see?

I have been going to this church for five years, yet everyone there still regards me as "a whore." What can I do to live this down? People are so close-minded! I feel ve…