This post [link] discusses the debate over that word that I'm not comfortable using. I've heard many, many times from feminists - feminist blogs and discussion boards especially - that since it's a tool of oppression, the word can be used to mock oppressors and their attitudes. I still find the word sexist and offensive. It's hard to explain exactly why - but I think that the popularity of words involving female genitalia is based in the idea, subconscious or otherwise, that these are there to be degraded. (I'm aware that the existence of 'cock' and similar terms, and the popularity of such, may undermine my argument here. I suppose I avoid using those terms for not-dissimilar reasons, though I don't think it's such an oppressive term, in a patriarchal society - where 'cock' is often considered a positive thing.)

ETA: Cross-post with Glamcookie, who says much more in many fewer words.

I think that the popularity of words involving female genitalia is based in the idea, subconscious or otherwise, that these are there to be degraded.

I get that -- and it's why I want to smack myself every time I use "pussy" as an insult.

I confess to having used the word "gypped" freely in my youth, as it was commonly heard. Not having seen it written out, I imagined it spelled as "jipped". When I did see it in print, realized it was less savory than I thought, I released it from my vocabulary.

Well, sure. Me too. The second part is the important part.

Do you actually throw a wrench in the works?

Yup. See the book The Monkeywrench Gang.

There are SO many things I still say that I don't think about that I really need to get out of my vocabulary. "Don't be a pussy." "Oh my god, you are such a woman!" (Way to contribute to my own oppression, dipshit Teppy.) And -- though my understanding is that this word is hotly contested among disability-rights advocates -- "lame."

This also goes for me, though the words differ. It's always a work in progress. I've eliminated "retarded" but KBD still says it (baby steps. i just got him to stop saying "gay" as a pejorative). I still use "lame," though I try not to. I'm still dithering on "crazy," since I don't use it to describe people with actual mental illess but that's where it came from. Also, it's *deeply* ingrained.

I regard language as a living thing that evolves for many reasons, and appropriateness is just one of them. I try to see it as a challenge to find other "cool" words rather than harp on their loss.

where 'cock' is often considered a positive thing.

Similarly, I was pondering 'dick,' which is pretty much universally an insult, right?

Similarly, I was pondering 'dick,' which is pretty much universally an insult, right?

Pretty much. Then again, probaly depends on the look on the person's face when they use it.

t look of anger: "What a dick."

t look of longing: "What a dick."

t look of surprise: "What a dick."

I think that the popularity of words involving female genitalia is based in the idea, subconscious or otherwise, that these are there to be degraded.

In Arabic (for Israelis cuss in Arabic, and Palestinians cuss in Hebrew), the wording is specifically about the other person's mom's genitalia.

I cuss a lot and use it a lot (it's got a nice "sssssssssss" in it), but since most if not all of my spoken cusses refer to non-living objects (books that fall on me, when I hit into tables, chairs, random objects in the hall, walls, etc.), I don't feel so bad about it.

Similarly, I was pondering 'dick,' which is pretty much universally an insult, right?

'Cock' and 'dick', the former in particular, seem to have connotations of confidence as well as of rudeness etc. The idea being that a man can be as much of a dick as he wants, he'll still be accepted by society, whereas a woman who's called a C-word is going nowhere. Or maybe I'm making that up. But it often feels that way.

Heh. I just found out that "cuss", on a Hebrew keyboard, spells "lonely".

The one I am trying to strike is "jerry-rigged". Especially since it is supposed to be "jury-rigged".

Before I just googled, I had no idea how common "jerry-rigged" is. It apparently arose after WWII and became one of those weird folk etymology things. I had assumed it was just bad spelling for jury-rigged, which comes from a very old word for a temporary mast. People do, sadly, also say n-word rigged, but if they say it around me once, they're quite unlikely to say it around me again.

I've eliminated "retarded" but KBD still says it (baby steps. i just got him to stop saying "gay" as a pejorative).

Now those I've been able to stop saying and raise my eyebrows when other people use them. "Gay" was easy because it's...just dumb. There isn't even any sort of etymological leg to stand on.

I still use "lame," though I try not to. I'm still dithering on "crazy," since I don't use it to describe people with actual mental illess but that's where it came from. Also, it's *deeply* ingrained.

We can't say "crazy" either? I guess I could eliminate "retarded" and "gay" easily because I could clearly see how pejorative they were to their respective groups, but I have trouble seeing "lame" and "crazy" as specifically insulting. Like you said, they're so ingrained. To me, they're just...words.