Changing the Meaning of Sexist Words---Is it Possible?

Question

Since we can't censor derogatory and demeaning words like "bit*h," "wh*re," and "c*nt" out of our language some third wave feminists say we should try to change their meaning in everyday speech. Have you personally seen this shift in the meaning of these words in your life? When someone calls a woman a bit*h or a wh*re do they ALWAYS mean it in the derogatory way, or can it sometimes be a compliment, an unconscious attempt to change the meaning of the word?

Answer 1

Linguistics relativity is an absolutely fascinating theory that you should survey for the overview of this subject. I highly recommend that anyone with an interest in this subject should get to know Benjamin Lee Whorf's ( pronounced "hworf", linguistics scientist 1897 - 1941) theory of language, culture and consciousness. His work is extraordinarily illuminating, concise and easy to comprehend. His essay, "Science and Linguistics" is an excellent place to start. That essay was where I was first introduced to the intriguing debate of whether language forms our thoughts and societies or if our societies and thoughts form our language.

What I have always taught children about this subject is, as for their OWN feelings, "Sticks and stones can break your bones but words can never hurt you." But, as for other people's feelings, I teach that it is dishonorable not to intelligently assess your audience and make an effort to use language that they are most comfortable and avoid using words that might offend them. For example, saying "crap" works with some people but only an insensitive cretin would use that word around a very elderly person, for whom that word has harsher connotations, as language is fluid and changes. The insensitive use of words is either the moronic blatherings of the intellectually impaired or an offense, a deliberate blow meant to harm. Only a mealy-mouthed coward uses words to get their digs in against others.

Also, here is a famous fiction written by William March ( 1893 - 1954 ) about this subject. March was a closet homosexual and one of the most brilliant geniuses of all times. He was sensitive to and intellectually curious about this issue of common derogatory language and "bad words".

The Unspeakable Words by William Marsh

"There were words in the Brett language considered so corrupting in their effect on others that if anyone wrote them or was heard to speak them aloud, he was fined and thrown into prison. The King of the Bretts was of the opinion that the words were of no importance one way or the other, and besides, everybody in the country knew them anyway; but his advisors disagreed, and at last, to determine who was right, a committee was appointed to examine the people separately. At length everyone in the kingdom had been examined, and found to know the words quite well, without the slightest damage to themselves. There was then left only one little girl, a five-year-old who lived in the mountains with her deaf and mute parents. The committee hoped that they little girl, at least, had never heard the corrupting words, and on the morning they visited her, they said solemnly: "Do you know the meaning of poost, gist, duss, feng? The little girl admitted that she did not, and then, smiling happily, she said, "Oh, you must mean feek, kusk, dalu, and liben!"
Those who don't know the words must make them up for themselves. "

Answer 2

I suppose they can...but this smacks of black America's effort to "reclaim" the N-word.

In that particular case, I think it's a noble effort that's failing miserably. See, what they have ultimately done is divide people even more. Now black people can freely use the word in almost any context, but whites can't say it no matter what, even in a very positive way. So it divides us more.

I think efforts to "reclaim" such words towards females would have the same effect. Women would be able to use them freely to each other, but men would face heavy criticism for doing so, even if he just wants to be "part of the club".

For really offensive words, I say EVERYONE stops using them altogether (which will obviously never work totally, but at least as a population we won't become desensitized to the offensiveness of a word), or we let EVERYONE use them in more positive ways. No more divisions.

Answer 3

Believe it or not but "c*nt" used to be perfectly acceptable about 150 years ago, while "blast" was considered the height of swearing. So words can change, and do, but changing some that we know already just means they will be replaced by something else.

Viz comic's character "Sweary Mary" once included a professor who invented the word "fitbin" as the world's new rudest word, mainly to annoy their distributors (almost every other word in the strip was censored). Maybe one day *that* will actually be the world's rudest word...

Answer 4

Yes.

I use c*nt as both a euphemism and as a dysphemism depending upon context and I think it's appropriate to do so. Words like wh*re are so wrapped up in double-standards of sexuality that they are not really candidates for re-definition. B**ch already has multiple meanings and is the correct, technical term for a female dog. HOWEVER, the word has retained it's strong dysphemism relationship due to it's misogynistic use among youth in various sub-cultures (hip-hop/rap being the one with the most influence). Unfortunately due to the mainstream accessibility of such use, it is unlikely that "b**ch" will be redefined anytime soon. Any effort by 3W Feminists is simply undone.

It is possible to change the meaning of words, this is related to the "political correctness" movement that unsucessfully tried to create "neutral language." I recommend starting with the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis and studying things like the "euphemism" treadmill.

We can see the effects of language reclaimation/redefinition in the black community where dysphemisms like n****r and ***** have been reclaimed by the community (at some tension towards other parts of said community) and are in the process of changing into euphemisms. Same goes for the LGBT community and reclaiming "gay" "queer" and to some extent "f**."

I think it's entirely appropriate that the victims of hate-language turn around these words and reclaim them as euphemisms and terms of endearment. It is an effective way IMO to undercut the power of discrimination and hate.

Answer 5

No I don't think it is, the nature of kids is name calling you may change the meaning of the words you listed but new ones will come along to replace them. Most languages in the world are evolving all the time.

Answer 6

I don't think it can ever be a compliment. I know a lot of my friends call each other "b*tches", like in a kidding way. But I still think it is always going to be in a derogatory way.

Answer 7

I think words that were created in a hurtful mind will always carry that feeling. It is possible to start using the words in a different meaning, but they will always carry the risk of offending someone who can't get past their origin. It is just easier to not use them than to try and redefine them.

Answer 8

What you are alluding to s called "Continental Drift". Read a history of the Grimms Brothers and their research into folk lore and fairy tales. If we could remove all the "ists" and "isms" from the English language the world would be a better place.

Answer 9

You mean like how the n word has become acceptable among some black cultures? No. These words will always have negative connotations with them, at least for the next 100 years. Just like the n word still does.

Answer 10

Does Paris Hilton saying to Nicole Ritchie, "love you b*tch" count?

Actually, that's seriously stated. (no, I don't watch the Simple Life) My female friends and I will occasionally use that word the same way, "how's it goin b*tch" or something similar.

It's not the first time that a group has taken back a derogatory word. F*g and the N-word have colloquial uses among groups of gay and black people, for example.

Language is dynamic; things change.