Blog Post #3
Hurtful words/phrases have been used since the beginning of language. Many of these hurtful words stick around for a long period of time; these words are often referred to as curse words. For this blog Post I decided to uncover and understand one of the most offensive words in the English language, the word “cunt”. I chose this word because I have seen how hurtful it can be firsthand.
The connotations for the word “cunt” have not changed at all over time. It is a highly offensive word giving negative connotation to a person who is female. This word is not used loosely; in fact I have rarely heard it in my lifetime. One thing can be certain it is a gender biased word. From firsthand experience I have only heard males use the word explaining frustrations with his female counterparts. Have you ever heard the term “those are fighting words”? Well this word is most definitely a fighting word. I have seen fistfights break out with the use of this word. This is not a throw around curse word like damn, and shit. This is a negative word targeting women as the “deviant group”. Other words in the English Language are also used in a negative way. For example many able bodied people pity or poke fun at “handicapped persons”. The video below is a clip from the film Jack ass number 2, where the jack ass crew launches Mark Zupan into the water while attached to his wheelchair. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RHJfW4UXuxw
The Jack ass crew is infamous for making funny skits and pranks. But when do their jokes cross the line with offending groups of people. It is clear the butt of this joke was launching a disabled person into the water. This is evidence that our culture feeds this behavior through the media. It will be a struggle to undo the many hurtful jokes and words that are consuming certain groups in society.
The community that is most affected by this hurtful word is the female community. Inequalities for women have been and continue to be an issue today. This word associates any negative behavior as a female behavior. When a person calls someone a “cunt” that person is suggesting that 51% percent of the population has that same quality. It is an absurd word that has no benefit to the English language. As discussed in class deviant bodies continue to play a large role in American culture. (Feb 21). We specifically talked about the “fat acceptance movement”. I believe that the negative connotation towards women is almost identical to the negative connotation giving towards fat people. There is a sense of entitlement for those that are not in the “deviant” category. This is what keeps the viscous cycle alive. Those who aren’t fat feel entitled to be able to call someone fat. Just as some men feel entitled to make women feel less human. To me it is all the same, I think America needs to find a new goal. Equality among all persons should become the first most important goal.
Currently there are feminists groups out there that wish to reappropriate the word “cunt”. According to Jennifer Yachnin in her article “Making a 4-Letter Word Respectable (To some),” some feminist groups are actively holding rallies in college campuses to help reappropriate the word “cunt”. In her article one of the respondents from a college even stated “Part of the event was to create awareness--to say, 'There's nothing bad about this word, don't let people use it to hurt you,'" says Erica Smith, a senior who organized the event.” (Yachnin). Although some feminists groups believe the word is good, I believe the overwhelming majority of women oppose the use of the word. I personally do not agree with Erica Smith, I think the word should be banned. Accepting the word is just as bad as accepting the label.
Work Cited
In class discussion Feb 21, 2012
Lake Jack Ass 2 Clip. Video. YouTube
Yachnin, Jennifer. "Making A 4-Letter Word Respectable (To Some)."
Chronicle Of Higher Education 47.17 (2001): A8. Academic Search Complete.
Web. 26 Feb. 2012.
Word Count: 654
Disagree/Do Better
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I liked the word that you chose. It's not a word that is used much, like you said, so it was nice to read and learn more about it. I thought you did a great job writing your blog. The only thing I saw that could be improved is to expand more on the definition and the connotations of the word. I think most people know what the word is, but like you said it's not used very often so some might not know the exact meaning of it.
Other than that you did great and I enjoyed reading it. Good job!
Disagree/Do Better
ReplyDeleteI didn’t see any citation in the post that supported your version of the etymology of the word “cunt.” Whether or not it has varied over time I cannot say, but it was mentioned in class by Professor Williams that social constructions, in this case the connotations of the word “cunt,” vary by location and context. In other cultures and contexts the word does not carry the same negative implications towards women, and it is used VERY loosely. Having spent 3 months at a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base in Tindal, Australia I can tell you that they equivocate the word to something like “dude.” My first conversation with a RAAF member started with the phrase “What’s up cunt.” At first I was angry and a little insulted, but it turns out in their social context that word is totally acceptable and not meant to be negative. Additionally, the phrase is not exclusive to men, women use it too. I don’t know how representative the RAAF is of the rest Australian society, but I believe this shows the different constructions of the word by location and context. I felt you could have elaborated more on the etymology of the word “cunt” and its various constructions.
Williams, Meredith. Washington State University. WSU Vancouver Campus, VMMC Building, Vancouver, WA. 17 Jan 2012. Lecture.