musing on misogyny and language
Feb. 8th, 2008 02:29 pm(I think setting myself a relatively endless data entry job to do on a sunny friday afternoon may have been an error...)
Eventually I'll learn not to start debates at (my) bedtime, but this one got abridged last night, and I'd be interested by others' views.
It came up from the discussions around the Hillary Clinton's campaign and the insights it has provided into our society's still-raging misogyny. The question was raised of whether 'bitch' is sexist term.
One commentator had argued for a parallel between calling one candidate a bitch (allowed) and calling another by a word beginning with N (that I won't type in case it activates the internet to kill me) (not allowed).![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
exactlyhalfwas of the opinion that the parallel did not follow, because his experience of the term was that it implied a specific criticism (of personality) that, although used solely about women, was not an aspersion on their gender. Hence its frequent use by many women. (I think I've parphrased that right, but he can correct me if I've got it wrong).
My opinion, that actually crystalised during the conversation, is that the important point here is the setting of the language. I might, OK, I frequently have referred to people as 'bitch', with the same tone and meaning with which I use 'bastard' - an expression of dislike. On the other hand, I would call that 'private language', and would never use either term in a public forum.
However I'm thinking that once you get into a public discourse [1] the implications of your language can vary. If you publically condemn a person, and you do so using a gender specific derogatory term, then the criticism *of* their gender is implicit.
What do people think? Am I splitting hairs to allow me to maintain a double standard?
[1] yes, I have a BA in lit, I can use that word
Eventually I'll learn not to start debates at (my) bedtime, but this one got abridged last night, and I'd be interested by others' views.
It came up from the discussions around the Hillary Clinton's campaign and the insights it has provided into our society's still-raging misogyny. The question was raised of whether 'bitch' is sexist term.
One commentator had argued for a parallel between calling one candidate a bitch (allowed) and calling another by a word beginning with N (that I won't type in case it activates the internet to kill me) (not allowed).
exactlyhalfwas of the opinion that the parallel did not follow, because his experience of the term was that it implied a specific criticism (of personality) that, although used solely about women, was not an aspersion on their gender. Hence its frequent use by many women. (I think I've parphrased that right, but he can correct me if I've got it wrong).My opinion, that actually crystalised during the conversation, is that the important point here is the setting of the language. I might, OK, I frequently have referred to people as 'bitch', with the same tone and meaning with which I use 'bastard' - an expression of dislike. On the other hand, I would call that 'private language', and would never use either term in a public forum.
However I'm thinking that once you get into a public discourse [1] the implications of your language can vary. If you publically condemn a person, and you do so using a gender specific derogatory term, then the criticism *of* their gender is implicit.
What do people think? Am I splitting hairs to allow me to maintain a double standard?
[1] yes, I have a BA in lit, I can use that word