By SheLit Editorial Desk
(Inspired by the recent hate Ellie Abrahams faced online) 
In a digital age where a photo can go viral in seconds, a woman’s worth is still being reduced to a number — her “body count.” This obsession was on full display recently when actress Ellie Abrahams posted a simple picture with YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani. What should have been a moment of friendship or collaboration quickly spiraled into a storm of misogynistic trolling, with hundreds of comments speculating about Ellie’s so-called sexual history.
Let’s be clear: no one knows anything about her personal life. Yet, the internet didn’t hesitate to hurl moral judgments, call her “used,” or declare that she has “thousands of body counts.” And the most heartbreaking part? It’s not just trolls. It’s often regular people — students, professionals, even women — perpetuating this toxic narrative.
What Even Is “Body Count,” and Why Does It Matter So Much?
The term “body count” has become a twisted buzzword — originally a term from war zones, now casually used to count sexual partners, particularly to shame women. It’s rarely asked of men. When men share their experiences, they’re often applauded. When women do (or are rumored to), they’re dragged.
But here’s the truth
A woman’s past — sexual, romantic, or otherwise — is no one’s business but her own.
Her dignity does not decrease with her choices. Her worth does not fluctuate with her relationships.
Why Is This So Prevalent in Indian Society?
India, like many patriarchal societies, equates a woman’s purity with her sexual history. This outdated belief system is reinforced by:
- Movies and pop culture that often glorify the “virgin bride” trope.
- Double standards, where a man’s experience is “macho” but a woman’s is “shameful.”
- Societal control — women who explore their sexuality are seen as rebels or “bad influences.”
- Lack of sex education, leading to myths and moral policing.
- And now, the internet, which gives every moral cop a keyboard and a spotlight.
But What Does It Say About Us?
When hundreds of strangers feel entitled to judge, mock, and shame a woman they don’t even know — it doesn’t reflect on her character,
it reflects on ours as a society.
We must ask ourselves:
- Why do we care more about a woman’s “body count” than her talent, values, work, and voice?
- Why are women policed for the same choices that make men “desirable”?
- Why do we forget that our favorite actresses, athletes, and creators are humans first, not public property?
What SheLit Stands For
At SheLit, we believe that a woman’s life is hers to live — free of judgment, free of numbers, and full of dignity.
Whether Ellie Abrahams has dated one person, ten, or none — that’s not the public’s concern. What is our concern is the invasion of her privacy, the online bullying, and the normalization of degrading women for simply existing.
We need to move away from a society that:
- Asks “How many men has she been with?”
To a society that asks:
- “How can we ensure every woman is safe, respected, and free?”
If you’re reading this and have ever judged a woman for her choices — pause and reflect.
And if you’re someone who’s been on the receiving end of such hate,
know this: you are not alone, you are not dirty, and you owe no one your story.
Let’s build a world where women aren’t counted —
they’re respected.