This is a very interesting and fraught area of human behavior. I always ask any woman that I am dating at some appropriate point what her 'number' is. I do this because I want to know more about who I am forming a relationship with and one's sexual experiences, and the expressions of one's sexuality are an integral and important part of one's personality. Some have lied about it, many have been honest, a few boastful but generally I find that a non-judgemental and open discussion of one's past sexual experiences is a great bonding exercise, builds trust and who doesn't like talking about sex?

I think that 'slut shaming' has deep roots in males' fear of female sexuality. I think that many many men are deeply afraid and threatened by female sexuality. There is an almost visceral belief that if women are allowed free rein to exercise their sexuality that they will become uncontrollably licentious and we men will suffer extensive pain as a result, not to mention feelings of emasculation. One reason that I believe that men fear women's sexuality is based on the fact that almost every culture in the world has generally sought to control, suppress or in some way limit female sexual behavior and female sexual expression.

As a matter of pure logic, 'slut shaming' is a ridiculous concept. Since it takes two human beings , one male and one female to have sexual intercourse the total number of sex acts involving penetrative sex is exactly the same for each sex. So who exactly is outdoing who in the heterosexual sweepstakes? So, either both sexes are equally sluts or neither is.

To conclude, your number is a part of who you are and no one should be ashamed of it (except for that one stupid mistake that you made back in High School/College/AtTheOffice ChristmasParty/OnHoliday etc. LOL!)