# On bitchs.sluts and political correctness **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 12, 2002, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230 "2002-04-12T13:54:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jlzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jlzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jlzania)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/1 "2002-04-12T13:54:03Z")
One of the underlying premises, indeed a fundamental principal of SDMB is tolerance. We don’t trade insults based on a posters’ race, religion or sexual preferences. You can be a tri-racial, bi-sexual, neo-pagan fundamentalist and your opinions, if expressed politely and rationally, will be given credence. Should I strongly disagree with your position, I can call you a jerk or worse but I can never call you an overweight Chinese/Mexican lesbian Wiccan jerk. Which, of course, is how it should be. \*\* So why in the name of god’s green earth is it acceptable to use distinctly feminine nouns as a form of ridicule? I am referring specially to the practice of using the words ‘bitch” and “slut” as an insult in recent threads.Want to mock a poster whose opinion you disagree with? Call her a slut! Want to disparage a male poster? Call him a bitch! \*\* For years these terms have been a means of degrading strong and/or sexually active women and they are gender specific. Ask any high school girl how many sexually active boys are called sluts. Ask any women how many times assertive men are characterized as bitches. I don’t accept the argument that they have now become acceptable in popular culture either and therefore have lost their distinctly female connation. I don’t think most rappers as using the terms as a form of respect or endearment and I can also remember when calling some one a fag or queer was acceptable in popular culture as well. Insult someone by calling them a cretin or an asshole or a jerk but don’t bleat about sensitivity and political correctness while using terms that are derogatory to 50 percent of the population ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/2 "2002-04-12T14:03:39Z")
Isn’t asshole a primarily male insult? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jlzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jlzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jlzania)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/3 "2002-04-12T14:05:12Z")
Gee, I thought assholes were common to both sexes? ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/4 "2002-04-12T14:05:19Z")
[Kevin Kline] Ass-HOOOOLE! [/Kevin Kline] ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/5 "2002-04-12T14:06:26Z")
I can’t remember the last time I called a woman an asshole; most people I know use that as the male equivalent of ‘bitch’. Jerk, I’ve used for both genders. And that was a joke, btw. A poor one, perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/6 "2002-04-12T14:08:30Z")
So now I can’t call anyone a dick or a prick, or even dingus? When did PC take over profanity? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/7 "2002-04-12T14:10:16Z")
Don’t be a schmuck. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/8 "2002-04-12T14:16:59Z")
:wally ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/9 "2002-04-12T14:22:44Z")
Can I still say **Bitch** if I use it as a verb? 😉 Honey ---
**Author:** ![jlzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jlzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jlzania)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/10 "2002-04-12T14:24:04Z")
My point **Caught@Work** is that both bitch and slut have historical connations that dingus or dick lack. It was inspired by the irony of \*\* Redboss’ \*\* ire at the usage of the term “fat” as an insult. ---
**Author:** ![Briminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba9def/32.png) [@Briminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briminator)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/11 "2002-04-12T14:31:48Z")
OK no problem. So if I want to insult someone on this board I should first ask them what gender they are and then after they reply I can use the correct gender-insult terminology. Man that is going to be such a bitch ---
**Author:** ![jlzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jlzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jlzania)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/12 "2002-04-12T14:58:14Z")
Look-in the grand scheme of things, **, Briminator \*\* et al, you can use any form of insult that you choose. That’s certainly your prerogative. If you think someone is being wimpy, call them a \*\* fag**. If you consider someone stupid, call them a **retard**. If you have a problem with a lazy co-worker, call them a “fat ass”. Oh-not acceptable terminology, you say. Then why is it acceptable to use terms that have \*\* historically been used in the degradation of women?\*\* ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/13 "2002-04-12T16:01:38Z")
Man, all you ho’s is bitchin in this phat thread. word ---
**Author:** ![Embra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@Embra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Embra)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/14 "2002-04-12T16:42:44Z")
But what will happen to what is secretly my favourite Pit thread-title ever, “Laugh it up, tit-sweat”? (Thanks **jarbabyj** for that - I snigger whenever I think of it.) I suppose both men and women can experience tit-sweat. Or should I be referring to “man-boob-sweat” for a guy? Yes, “bitch” and “slut” are gender-based insults based on a historically oppressive characterisation of “strong women”. however, I do tend to think, “And?” It’s not the same as a word like “fag”: “bitch” is not synonymous with “woman”, whereas for the numb-nuts issuing the insult, “fag” is synonymous with “gay”. Yes, “bitch” criticises a particular female behaviour, and I agree that it’s unfair that there don’t seem to be similar words that are as offensive/useful as insults for exclusively male behaviour, but it isn’t the same as using the actual state of being a woman as an insult. Did that make sense? I really only joined in to use the word “tit-sweat”. Embra ---
**Author:** ![Dirty\_Earthworm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Dirty\_Earthworm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirty_Earthworm)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/15 "2002-04-12T17:49:00Z")
Maybe I am missing the point of the OP, but I’ve always used both “bitch” and “slut” for both sexes. Men can be bitches as well as sluts. When a guy bitches - er, um … whines too much, I consider him a bitch. Not permanently, not all the time. Same for a woman. John and Jane are pissing and moaning about one thing or another and won’t drop it. Both John and Jane are bitches. “Slut,” on the other hand, is one that I am more careful with. I don’t see the “male equivalent” of slut as “stud;” I see it as “swinger” or “player.” But, more often than not, if a guy is having a problem keeping it in his pants or has cheated on his SO, I consider him a slut. Both words have negative connotations, but isn’t the point of an insult to make someone angry or upset? Why insult someone if you can’t piss them off? There have been several times when I have said something in the course of an argument that may or may not be true, just to piss someone off. And since we’re going with the whole gender issue, is “motherfucker” a predominantly “male” word? Sure, I suppose a woman could theoretically fornicate with her mother, but … wouldn’t you just call her an incestuous dyke then? 😉 (I think we need a tongue-in-cheek smiley) Anyway, my original point was that, while I don’t speak for everyone, I personally don’t see gender labels on “bitch” and “slut.” Most of the time I use “bitch” as a verb, anyway. Just my 2¢. -Dirty ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/16 "2002-04-12T18:03:52Z")
Can I still call people a fucknickle? [arnold horshack voice] ooooohhh oooooooooh [/arnold voice] I know, how 'bout **genderless** fucknickle? or genderless fuckquarter (adjusted for inflation) adjusted isn’t a masculine concept is it?? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/17 "2002-04-12T18:11:57Z")
I sit with waiting, with baited breath, for even more pit threads on words we can’t use. While I’m waiting, can someone please pass me the offended-flakes? I clearly have not had enough to hang out in the pit this week. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/18 "2002-04-12T18:15:58Z")
Or maybe I am waiting with “bated breath”. ---
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/19 "2002-04-12T18:23:04Z")
Whatever, bait-breath.😃 ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2002, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230/20 "2002-04-12T18:35:07Z")
Well, I am going fishing tomorrow. It may not be a bad thing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bitchs-sluts-and-political-correctness/103230.md?page=2)