josephurgolookingatthings asked: What do you think about phrases like "I'm a free bitch" and the website Heartless Bitches International as far as the usage of the word bitch in a positive and empowering light? You may have already answered this as far as your opinion on reclaiming harmful and sexist slurs like these, but I am interested to hear. Thanks :)
The only time I’ve ever heard someone say, “I’m a free bitch”, wasn’t from a person in real life, but a Lady GaGa song (can’t remember the title off the top of my head). Do people actually say that?
I am familiar with the HBI site, and believe it or not, it was their site where I first learned about Nice Guy Syndrome (or at least that it was a coined term). I think the siButkus good for a chuckle, but I don’t frequent it. I know at the bottom it the site has its disclaimer about not being man-hating nor discriminating against any stupidity, ignorance, etcetera, but I do sometimes get a little concerned that people who don’t understand feminism might stumble across the site for one reason or another and not realize it’s not meant to be entirely serious. It can be very tounge-in-cheek and addresses stereotypes and oppression, but I worry there are those who will assume it’s “just another male-bashing feminist site”… which would suck, because we already fight an uphill battle there for no real reason.
I did write a post about reclaiming harmful and sexist slurs like “whore” and “bitch” in another post, but essentially my thoughts are: I do not wish to reclaim them if that means adopting them for my own every day use. At the end of the day, if doing so makes an individual feel safe and empowered, then good for them, but I would never advocate for it. I prefer to put any and all energy in this matter towards taking the stigma out of these words, yes, but not further commercializing them and making them any more commonplace than they already are. I think I was a bit more eloquent in my other post, and went into further detail in some areas, but that is my general stance on this particular point.
It’s always a pleasure, my friend. Cheers! :-) xx
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