I been sayin’
Dw3t-Hthr in a thread on her blog about language and gendered insults:
A while back I realised that the words for female genitalia that are used as insults typically connote weakness, uselessness, and contemptability, while the words for male genitalia used as insults typically connote rudeness, obnoxiousness, and stupidity.
My response is basically the same as what commenter devastatingyet said:
That sounds about right. Nice world we live in, ain’t it?
:P Nice world indeed.
So, yeah, I will continue to get my panties in a bunch about pussy being used as an insult. Because it is NOT OKAY, and it IS important – not something to be “overlooked.” Likewise, years ago I stopped using “bitch” as an insult – there is no need to use a gendered insult when the non-gendered “asshole” or “jackass” or a million others will do. Plus I just hate the word. It makes me bristle and rankle and feel really bad inside. If I hear someone use it whom I consider a friend, suddenly I find myself questioning how much I should trust them.
And I will not abide those who roll their eyes and insist this is a minor issue and I’m – wait for it, here it comes – too sensitive.
If you give a shit about the status of women in society, you will STOP using those insults. That’s all there is to it.