Fashionistas you have arrived 3-25-03 - 10-3-03

[dtb]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
Though I seriously doubt paigow's hurt feelings are more than feigned, I have to ask the women of the board --- what's the current feeling on womyn-centric name-calling?

Let's leave aside the c-word, which is unspeakable and a hot-button issue unto itself. But how about "bitch"? Is it sexist and loaded and unfair, or just the feminine-gendered "asshole"? Are there any women who would prefer to be called a "dick"? Or an "asshole" or "prick"? What do we do with women who are cowardly --- can we call such woman "pussies" without it being mistaken for a sexual slur? Let's assume, for the moment, that we won't succeed in stamping out the use of the p-word as applied to men; does it minimize the slight to women to have it apply to them based on an ungendered character flaw?

Inquiring minds want to know.

You raise an interesting question. As food for thought, I will share with you the following: it is my esteemed husband's view that you can't call women "assholes" (mind you, his view is not motivated by anything resembling a gentile notion that one does not call women names, or the thought that one must always treat women with respect and kindness -- heaven forfend), but because it is gender-specific to men.

I disagree with that view, but there you have it.

To answer your inquiry, I think the use of the p-word (hey -- why are we using euphemisms? I thought we can cuss here!) where it is clear that the intent behind the slur is to impugn one's bravery, no additional slight would be perceived (by me anyway).

I do recall reading somewhere that some class-act (I think it was Roseanne Barr -- when she was a powerful person in H-wood) co-opted the phrase "suck my dick" to great effect, i.e., she had become so powerful, she was like a man.

Originally posted by Anne Elk
Bitch is such a great word, so many connotations. It can be good, bad and ugly. I use "wuss" for both genders instead of the p-word. The p-word is to close to the c-word for my taste. Others that I am particularly offended by are "dyke" and "fag." I don't see the need to include sexual orientation in an insult. You don't go around calling people "straight."

I think cunt is a great word. Love the phonics of it. Rolls right off the tongue. I have more problems that imply there is something wrong with being a woman, like hag- if you are ovre a certain age as a female, that alone makes you a negative (is there a corellating word for the man), or old maid- like if you are of a certain age as a female and arent marrie d(again, is there a correlating word for the man?). Because we only have these words for women and bc they are applied on objective criteria, that makes them misogynistic.

You cunt.

[str8outavannuys]

Originally posted by SEC_Chick
On the entertainment news front: Be on the watch for the new MJ/Bashir-like documentary on JLos upbringing (makes me think about that hilarious south park from a couple weeks back). Bonus: Anna Nicole is addicted to Vicodin (CTD, where are you?) because of back pain caused by her huge fake boobs.

http://entertainment.msn.com/news/ar...px?news=121021

SEC Chick, I love your taco-flavored kisses.

str("I love you Ben, you almost make forget about tacooooos")8

[evenodds]

Originally posted by Anne Elk
Bitch is such a great word, so many connotations. It can be good, bad and ugly. I use "wuss" for both genders instead of the p-word. The p-word is to close to the c-word for my taste. Others that I am particularly offended by are "dyke" and "fag." I don't see the need to include sexual orientation in an insult. You don't go around calling people "straight."

Cretin is an all-time favorite . . .

though I am rather partial to "punk," but of course, it has sexual orientation connotations.

Originally posted by paigowprincess
Rolls right off the tongue.

Indeed.

[Not Bob]

Originally posted by dtb
I do recall reading somewhere that some class-act (I think it was Roseanne Barr -- when she was a powerful person in H-wood) co-opted the phrase "suck my dick" to great effect, i.e., she had become so powerful, she was like a man.

Kind of like what Demi Moore did to Viggo Mortensen in "GI Jane"? Cool.

[ABBAKiss]

Originally posted by Anne Elk
The p-word is to close to the c-word for my taste.

Interesting choice of words. Peas and carrots, perchance?

Going to a wedding this weekend. Have not yet purchased a gift because, quite honestly, this is the second marriage for both, they are combining (have combined) two full homes of stuff, and they do not appear to need (or want for) anything.

Other attendees are giving them gift certificates to various restaurants, wine, etc.

Kafka-ette is at a loss, as am I.

Thoughts?

[ABBAKiss]

Originally posted by evenodds
..."punk," but of course, it has sexual orientation connotations.

It does?

Just popped into my head to (again) recommend "American Skin" by Don De Grazia, about skinheads (the anti-Nazi kind), punks, race relations, and living on the streets and in prison in late '80s-early '90s Chicago. Excellent book.

[spookyfish]

Originally posted by paigowprincess
I have more problems that imply there is something wrong with being a woman, like hag- if you are ovre a certain age as a female, that alone makes you a negative (is there a corellating word for the man), or old maid- like if you are of a certain age as a female and arent marrie d(again, is there a correlating word for the man?). Because we only have these words for women and bc they are applied on objective criteria, that makes them misogynistic.

You cunt.

Yikes. All that reasoning and not a single cogent point.

Male equivalents to hag - if related to age? Hmmm.

Geezer
Old Fart

If related to general unpleasantness?

Well, I don't know. Pick from any number of them.

asshole

bastard

motherfucker

Son-of-a-bitch (Daughter-of-a-bitch, Child-of-a-bitch, or how about bastard-child-of-a-bitch)

etc.

FWIW, I don't think being unmarried has anything to do with it, though some may be more sensitive to that than others.

The word doesn't imply that there is anything wrong with being a woman. Are all hags women, by definition? Yes. Are all women hags? Most certainly not. Why a problem with "hag" and not with "cunt" or "bitch". Is it the word used or the person using the word that is the problem?

Maybe so we are all safe, we should come up with a list of gender-neutral insults which won't offend anyone's sensibilities, but then again, isn't that the point of insults in the first place?

[robustpuppy]

Originally posted by dtb
... it is my esteemed husband's view that you can't call women "assholes" . . . but because it is gender-specific to men.

I disagree with that view, but there you have it.

I think it's great to call a woman an asshole when she deserves it. The word is so evocative and not-gender specific, it ought to be used against more women. More accurate than bitch in so many cases. Also a better use for women in power, as bitch is often a sexist slur when used against them. For example, I'm not a Hillary basher, but isn't she more of an asshole than a bitch?

I'm trying to think of more examples: JLo-bitch. Julia Roberts-asshole. Elizabeth Hurley-bitch.
JFF-asshole.

The word asshole has just gotten weird to me, in that way that I can't believe it's an actual word. Time to stop.

[str8outavannuys]

Yeah, it does. Shakespeare-type stuff. I think Henry V's army in France had a Don't Ask/Don't Tell policy about punks in the military.

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally posted by Not Bob
Kind of like what Demi Moore did to Viggo Mortensen in "GI Jane"? Cool.

Geena Davis did it before Demi in "The Long Kiss Goodnight."

TM

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally posted by kafka_esquire
Going to a wedding this weekend. Have not yet purchased a gift because, quite honestly, this is the second marriage for both, they are combining (have combined) two full homes of stuff, and they do not appear to need (or want for) anything.

Other attendees are giving them gift certificates to various restaurants, wine, etc.

Kafka-ette is at a loss, as am I.

Thoughts?

His & Her bottles of Thunderbird?

TM

[greatwhitenorthchick]

Originally posted by paigowprincess
I think cunt is a great word. Love the phonics of it. Rolls right off the tongue. I have more problems that imply there is something wrong with being a woman, like hag- if you are ovre a certain age as a female, that alone makes you a negative (is there a corellating word for the man), or old maid- like if you are of a certain age as a female and arent marrie d(again, is there a correlating word for the man?). Because we only have these words for women and bc they are applied on objective criteria, that makes them misogynistic.

You cunt.

I'm with Paigow. I like how in Trainspotting cunt was a gender neutral (overused to the point that it was basically meaningless) term. although I like hag too. And stupid cow. I frequently throw that around. (generally only in my head do I throw these around, although I do mutter them sometimes, or yell them at drivers who try to turn on my green light while I walk across the street). I do wish there were equally powerful across-the-board terms for men though. bastard and asshole do not equate to cunt in terms of power, unfortunately.