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Opinions On the Usefulness of Women's Studies Policy Reflections
on Our Wounded
Identities in Law
Holy Trouble To Make a Dragon Move To Rescue or Research Pornography: Subjectivity and Gender-Identity in Cyberspace GWU Resources
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A
Cunt by any other name….. The language women have to define themselves is so limiting. There are simply not enough words to express who we are as individuals and as women. Rather than identify ourselves, too often we loose our selves in the language. There are more words to make women feel bad about their bodies than good, to make them diminish their value than uplift them. Women’s genitalia has had a particularly raw deal. Whilst men are taught to be proud of their ‘manhood’, and are given the words to express that pride. Women have to tread carefully when naming their own sexuality, the language they are given to talk about ourselves with a proud positive way is almost non existent. It is not surprising therefor that the most abusive word in the English language is CUNT!!. It is really the last taboo word, and it is mealy referring to a women’s genitals!! Many people who value women simply refuse to use the term. I understand this desire to censor it completely, but I do not think it will make the word go away. The C*** word is so taboo that its ability to shock and insult is greatly increased. Women need to claim the word as their own, and decide the agenda for its use. Not shying away from its power to shock, but use it to maximize its potential power as an uplifting tool for women to name themselves without apology. Why can’t cunt, be used as queer has for some gays and lesbians and nigger has for African Americans. The prejudice and hate these words have been loaded with has been undermined when used as self defining terms. The key to there power, however, has been that they have been reclaimed but restricted, interchangeably affectionate and insulting within the community, but still potentially a word expressing bigotry and prejudice when used by others. We as women should set the boundaries of our language and the best way we can do that is by talking. Using words in new ways and taking them as our own. Cunt is our word whether we like it or not, we should use it. It is my right as a women to define my cunt, to enjoy my cunt to think of my sisters as lovely cunts when they make me happy and bloody cunts when they make me mad but not to tolerate being named a cunt by a man who wants to hurt me by twisting the meaning of my cunt and makes me feel I am nothing but my cunt.
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