The B Word
Remember Elizabeth Dole's comment about Hillary Clinton when both of their husbands were running for president? "I can't say what she is, but it rhymes with 'witch'."
This question is as old as feminism. Why is it that strong, assertive, and most importantly, successful women are called bitches? Why is it that there is no masculine equivalent to that word? Because a strong, assertive, successful man is just a man!
I think Tina Fey may have been taking part in a time-honored tradition: reclaiming an insulting word. Back in the 1980's, lesbians decided that the word lesbian was not an insult, but a neutral descriptor. And dyke? A Dyke is a strong, assertive, political lesbian. If I take that word, you can't hurt me with it. At least that's the idea.
So, for me, Tina Fey was claiming a word that has been used and used and used against women and saying, yes. Yes, I am a bitch. I am a strong, assertive, political woman.
Me too.
Oh, yeah, and she was being funny, too.
This question is as old as feminism. Why is it that strong, assertive, and most importantly, successful women are called bitches? Why is it that there is no masculine equivalent to that word? Because a strong, assertive, successful man is just a man!
I think Tina Fey may have been taking part in a time-honored tradition: reclaiming an insulting word. Back in the 1980's, lesbians decided that the word lesbian was not an insult, but a neutral descriptor. And dyke? A Dyke is a strong, assertive, political lesbian. If I take that word, you can't hurt me with it. At least that's the idea.
So, for me, Tina Fey was claiming a word that has been used and used and used against women and saying, yes. Yes, I am a bitch. I am a strong, assertive, political woman.
Me too.
Oh, yeah, and she was being funny, too.
Comments
Not so much the word - bitch...but the idea that a strong, assertive woman is a negative. It goes beyond just a single word, doesn't it?
Heidi
Love;
Your Bitchy Blogging Buddy,Peggy.
;p
Also, it must be said wrt your topic today: GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE!
This topic is all over the Internet, not just your spot and mine. Wowsa, what whipped us all up into a fury over the weekend?
WRT no male equivalent, actually, yes, I think it would be a$$hole. A$$hat. D!ckwad. (Shall I go on?)
Dyke makes me think of Holland and walls that can hold back water. So yeah, I get you taking that word.
But only with wooden shoes. ;)
(I don't know how to say how much I resent that double standard...)
No, we don't HAVE to be bitches to be successful. We're just perceived that way. And being a bitch sure helps one (ok, me) put up with the crap that has been flung my way over the years.
Yes, I am. A bitch.
Wait, I'm falling into the violent male stereotype, aren't I?
DAMN YOU, CULTURALLY INVENTED MODES OF GENDER IDENTIFICATION! I WILL NOT BE YOUR PUPPET!
If a "male" is strong he's quoted as haveing "Balls" or "Stones", so I guess the female equal is being a bitch. Needless to say these terms suck.So why in the world do we use these terms any way? is it that men and wemen feel threatened and thus have to attack someone? If a woman is strong then thr dirogitory terms start flying,such as "bitch","lesbo","bull dyke".If a guy comes across as too senistive he's labled as "gay" of a "fag" use of these terms as far as ones sexuality donot come into play,it is just as a way to put someone down.Now Michael is departing his soapbox.
And thanks for the Tina Fey video. I don't get to see SNL over here in Italy. She nailed it on a lot of issues. Loved what she said about people being afraid of "co-presidents." Go Tina!
Too bad, though, that we can't just be strong, assertive, successful women, with nothing attached.