Gender specific epithets

[Kali]

Last night I got asked to remove the word bitch from a post I made about Ann Coulter.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x3931951 I know there have been many and long discussions about that word on DU, though I honestly did not know it was actually banned. I asked if I could continue the discussion or be shown some links where this was talked about because it is interesting to me and I can't quite work it out in my mind to accept it in all cases, this one in particular. This is what I asked:

"But she IS a female (or at least presents as one) and I don't see why she shouldn't be hated for that too. I find this discussion kind of interesting. At the same time I don't want to start anything that would get me in real trouble. Are we allowed to talk about this rule any more? Can I post this exchange? Or is there a viewable up thread I can see that actually has a discussion? (although I would prefer somethign I could participate in - thus asking if I can start somethin)" :blush: lots of sic's in there!

The response I got was inconclusive:

"I noticed that you changed the post-thank you.
After discussing the issue with the other mods, we have decided that the rule should stay. "Bitch" is a term used to degrade women just for being women, unfortunately. Although practically everyone on DU would agree that Ann Coulter is a truly nasty and mean person, referring to her as a "bitch" is an attack on her gender, not her views."

Now this morning I have been asked to remove the word "scag" for basically the same reason. Here is part of my reply and my reason for this post:

"follow up: I can't even find a definition of scag - I will concede I tend to think of a female when I hear or use that term, but I am having real trouble with this idea that a gender specific epithet is somehow reflective on other women. I mean why not restrict being able to use the pronoun "she" when talking about someone like Coulter?"

It is now being discussed by the mods.

I am NOT trying to start a big war, I do NOT want to get in trouble but I want to try to come to an understanding of where the line is determined. I can be persuaded that the word itself (either one) might be offensive to some individuals, but I am not convinced that in certain cases - Coulter being the PERFECT example, it is in any way inappropriate to describe HER with a female-gender specific epithet.