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Only women are vulgar

Through the Scribbler, I found out about this Wikipedia weirdness.

Under the entry for 'woman', there is a vulgar terms section. The entry for ‘man’ has no such section. I think there are plenty of gender-specific vulgarities for the boys, no?

But I digress. This lovely collection of vulgar “woman” terms at Wikipedia made me remember this exercise a professor of mine did the first day of class (I've brought this up before, but I think it's that important):

What’s the worst possible thing you can call a woman?

You’re probably thinking of words like slut, whore, bitch, cunt, skank.

Now what are the worst things you can call a guy? Fag, girl, bitch, pussy.

The worst thing you can call a girl is a girl. The worst thing you can call a guy is a girl. Like Tiffany at BlackFeminism notes, “most slurs that are directed at men somehow have to do with feminization and/or homosexuality.” It all comes down to one thing. Being a woman is the ultimate insult. Ouch.

Posted by Jessica - January 09, 2006, at 08:49AM | in News , Sexism

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7 Comments

[0+]  bear said:


I was tempted to go edit the section myself when I decided that maybe we should add a vulgar terms section (professionally written, of course) to the definition of men on wiki (without referring to them as women). I wonder if that would be edited or deleted by wiki.

Jess - that college exercise really made me think the first time you posted it. I have always thought it was absolutely a vile thing to call a woman a bitch (although a very select few have deserved it), but I would have called my guy friends one without thinking about it. Thanks for re-posting that.

Ok, but Wikipedia is edited by everyone. This is something you could change right now. I think it would make sense to add a vulgar terms section for men as the above comment said. And I don't know what they meant by 'wiki' changing or deleting it, because there's no unified group in charge of the page.

actually, men get called "dick," "cock," and "asshole."

these are used similarly to "bitch" to indicate unfriendliness, whereas as any college freshwoman knows, there is no "ho" or "slut" for men. there is no "too friendly." although... "motherfucker" rarely refers to women.

but few people this side of 1978 call all men "mofos" because it makes them feel like a gangsta.

[0+]  bear said:


The Scribbler article linked above referenced a Wiki info team. I figure they have untimate control of the page.

I thought about the name calling some more. I am around a lot of athletes and women are also ridiculed as being too masculine. Butch and manly are terms I hear a lot.

Heh. Vox Day. He thinks he's cut me to the quick by referring to my site as "Pharyngirl", and using the feminine pronoun to refer to me.

The first three "worst words you can call a guy" that came to me are bastard, asshole and wanker, but maybe that's just me.

TO BE THE PERSON IS MUCH, BUT TO BE THE WOMAN - EVEN MORE!!!
I agree to live in the world where men correct, to those while I can be in this world the woman.

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