How do folks here feel about the constant references to Palin as "bitch" on the main boards?

[Captain Hilts]

It's weird that while the socially acceptable terminology for the handicapped or minorities becomes more sensitive, the use of "bitch" to refer to women has become wider and more acceptable.

I think it's sexist in its noun and verb forms because we don't have a comparable term exclusive to men.

[ismnotwasm]

1. I personally don't like it

It's become more of a mainstream word and used against both men and women, but it means something very different when it's used against women. Women have tried to empower the word, like in the SNL skit with the female new-casters defending Hillary Clinton and those calling her bitch, "Bitches get things done" There's feminist books with the title and of course, BitchPhd, a feminist blog.

At DU, of course we had the so called "bitch wars" about the word, which I vaguely remember, and probably didn't participate in.

My oldest daughter, ex-military and a dedicated potty mouth like myself says something like this; I don't want to be called a bitch, I'm not calling anyone a bitch. If someone's going to use a pejorative, use cunt, it's something that's part of me, and something I'm proud of and something you can't take away. I'm not an animal, I'm not a breeding dog, and I don't want to be called one. Cunt I can deal with.

Since everyone squirms at THAT word, it's not a bad approach. I'm not the language police and have no interest in changing what people say, as much as I do in giving them a alternative way to think about gender when I can.

There's a broader problem with pejoratives and women that the entitled male and the compliant or complacent females don't, or won't, see. Most refuse to acknowledge the power of words embedded in language when it comes to gender, and the subsequent disenfranchisement and dis-empowerment it causes with gender and sexuality. Bitch has enough nuances that it can be considered anywhere from "cute" to something outright evil. Bottom line, it's still a female dog.

Which is an interesting blindness on a political board, because they sure see it when it comes to political framing.

So I've been calling Palin the (mostly) gender unspecific "asshole"

[Captain Hilts]

2. Here's one thread...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7333844

[bliss_eternal]

4. Locked.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=7333844#7335258

:thumbsup:

[Captain Hilts]

3. Here's a HUGE thread about the word...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7333929#7334847

[bliss_eternal]

5. Also locked w/lots of deletions.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7333929#7334847

Alert is sometimes our friend. ;) Use it and it may surprise you (pleasantly).

[BlueIris]

9. That's what I say about Alert. It's your FRIEND. Use it. nt

[ismnotwasm]

6. Of course there is always

This for comparison. Locked as well
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7328414

"Cock Tease"? people still say that?

If I'm going to cuss Palin, it won't be with the word bitch. I don't understand the overexcited "There, I SAID it she's a BITCH" posts at all. Like it takes special courage of some sort. To me, it's stupid and ineffective because I'll bet you a buck Palin likes the appellation "bitch" and uses it in the "I can be a real bitch sometimes" way. I'll also bet she completely expects to be referred to as a bitch. So those oh, so brave souls busting out with their bitches are wasting their time.


Bitch. To some it's a Badge of Honor
To some it's an unpleasant female, or emasculated male

To me, it's a dog.

[bliss_eternal]

8. Eeuuuwww. Yuck.

Really glad that was locked. Way to go, Heidi...:applause:

You know, I really get the sense that some(too many) take these occasions as opportunities to let their misogyny fly free.
It's like they are just going through life way angry at females....they just can't wait to get on-line to say horrible disturbing things about women.

:scared:

[bliss_eternal]

7. Terminology for the handicapped & minorities....

...is not altogether banned on this website. You may have not encountered it, but I've seen more than a fair share of people arguing for their right to use ethnic slurs, homophobic language and other words that are generally used to denigrate people belonging to specific populations. More often than not people were allowed to use such language. The rare times it isn't allowed, I see lots of complaints about people being 'too sensitive' or 'too pc.' :eyes:

It seems it's far easier for people to see the grass as greener than the reality that all groups face oppression, and still have issues of inequality to overcome where language is concerned--yes, even on DU.

There were times before a black male was running for president that I had to fight to get many an ethnic slur or comment removed, and frequently lost that fight. I've had greater success with such slurs (and other racially denigrating comments)since Obama's been running. :shrug: Go figure.

We all recall the b*** wars on this board.
Since Senator Clinton's run, I've had greater success having comments that denigrate women removed from DU. It's not an always thing, but much more frequent than before. I've alerted on Palin stuff that was completely removed, some stays w/a lock.

I thank Senator Clinton running on the Dem presidential ticket for that, but we still seem to have a long way to go.

[Ellen Forradalom]

10. It's happening because we're in an UWNA

Uppity Woman National Emergency. Too many uppity women running for president and vice president and holding down important jobs and doing them well! Something must be done!

[MountainLaurel]

11. ROFL

On first reading your subject line, I thought "What is the United Mine Workers saying about calling women "b****"?

[Book Lover]

12. I snarfed up my coffee

That is just too good. And sadly, too accurate.

[bliss_eternal]

13. LOLLOL!

:spray:

[iverglas]

14. so, how do we feel about

"harridan"?

Do a little searchie ...

Points for originality, I suppose.

[iverglas]

16. sorry 'bout that ...

I was trying to be discreet and resurrected this thread for the purpose.

There was a thread on LBN, I think it was, about Diane Feinstein and her problem with some appointment being made.

Obviously people have strong opinions about Feinstein. But I took exception to her being described as a "harridan". And much merriment ensued ...

The thread seems to have been deleted.

[ismnotwasm]

17. The more things change the more they stay the same

What we call women in particular is pretty fucked up. Even with compliments a lot of the time. It's a mess.

"Harridan"? Missed that one. Someone has issues. That's an antiquated word, really, or at least I thought it was.

[iverglas]

18. to tell the truth

I'd rather reclaim that one than "bitch". ;)

I rather fancy myself a bit of a harridan ...


Yes, I suspect the poster thought he was being very clever. A three-syllable word many people had probably never heard, under the radar. Didn't count on me showing up!

[ismnotwasm]

19. Partial to the "C" word myself

I rarely use bitch. It's a dumbass word and I'll never understand women bragging about calling themselves a breeding dog.

The other one, now is aggressive, and neither men nor women seem to be able to use it with impunity. Oh yes, They use it, especially gender entitled men, but not easily and the tendency in those that do is to want to be shocking, misogynist, or violent. It also represents a powerful body part that isn't or shouldn't be the sum and total of what is female. I always think of the Courtney Love and the band "Hole" in their heyday.

When I was younger I directed a certain insult including that word toward males mostly. Fun actually, but ultimately futile.

It's an look at me, attention seeking word. And an ascetically unpleasing word, one that will never be "cute" , one that sums up all meaning behind the gendered name calling. Which is why it's banned. Verbal equivalent of fingers on a chalkboard.


You're right though, harridan--even being one-- isn't so bad.

[iverglas]

20. ultimately futile ...

In my quite young days, while in law school, I worked part-time at a prestigious government agency. Research job, no public contact, so I went to work in the same ratty ripped jeans I wore everywhere else. After work, me and a couple of other long-haired youngsters there would hang out in the bar at the hotel next door -- leather couches, soft lighting, expensive drinks ...

One day I was walking up the circular staircase to the washroom, and this drunken businessman called something after me of the usual variety. I'd been thinking of comebacks to test out. It had got to where "fuck off" didn't shock anymore (this will be 1974), and in fact was regarded as cute too often. So I turned slowly around, gazed contemptuously down at him, and said something I thought could not be interpreted as cute: "eat shit". To which he promptly replied: "I can think of something I'd rather eat."

It was round about then that I taught myself how to spit accurately ...

[Ellen Forradalom]

15. self-delete

I already commented on this topic.