Musings of a Feminist

I have refrained from posting anything too political in nature during my first week because I wanted to gain somewhat of a viewership before becoming "that left-wing-hippie freak" so many others view me as. I am still going to wait a while before posting any subjects that are particularly touchy- ease into the water, as it were.

You have probably seen the terms "Feminism" and "Feminist" on this post already. Perhaps this has caused you to make assumptions- assumptions that would be based on the patriarchal world in which we live. This system would have you believe that feminists are man hating, ball breaking, hairy legged women, but that is simply not true. Please enjoy this quote... from the dictionary-

 

Or, perhaps one of my favorite quotes; one that has to do with the bad rap we feminists get sometimes (like being called a Feminazi):

So without further adieu, here are my thoughts on a certain word that I am not a fan of (again, look at my dictionary quote)
 

bitch

[ bich ]

1. female dog: a female dog, or the female of another related animal such as a fox, or of another carnivore such as a ferret
2. taboo term: a highly offensive term for a woman that deliberately insults her temperament
3. something difficult: a difficult thing or situation

Today, we will focus on the dictionary's second meaning to the word "bitch"; this is is a word I find deplorable, yet somehow, use often. I have been getting better at finding different words to use, and here's why.

Think about the biggest "bitch" you know. Chances are, this person is a woman in a position of authority (you mother, boss, aunt, politician, whatever) with a voice and opinion- and not afraid to use either. Now, I want you to picture somone you would call a "little bitch". In most cases, the person you picture is a man you find inferior to yourself- usually one who is sensitive or posesses feminine qualities (whether it be sensitivity, appearance, or his values).

So this means that even the least significant man is still superior to the the most significant woman? That is how it sounds to me. This ideaology also makes it sound like being a woman is so horrible, so degrading, that calling a man a woman is the highest insult that can be given.

Take a moment to look at the following pictures (and accompanying captions).

A woman in a position of authority is a bitch.
When we say a woman is "bitching", we insinuate that she is nagging.
"Bitches" is the plural form of bitch, but is also used to reference women who are viewed as property.



When we call a man a bitch, we are insulting his "manhood" (a cardinal sin among men, I guess... because being a woman is so horrible, you know), and saying that we find him inferior.
When we say a man is bitching, we are insinuating that he is complaining about something (because, apparently, complaining is unmanly)
The word "bitches" is usually used by men to reference "their women" (women they view as their personal property)

One form of the word "bitch" that I am okay with, and actually like is the word "bitchin'", as defined here:

 

bitch·en

/ˈbɪtʃən/ Show Spelled [bich-uhn]  

adjective Slang.

marvelous; wonderful.

Also, bitch·in'.

 

Origin:
bitch + -en, -in' informal or dialectal variant of -ing² (here forming nonparticipial adj.)

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