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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think it’s a bit depressing that women still use these terms against other women?

163 replies

HazelMember · 08/02/2026 18:08

I’ve noticed that the harshest, most misogynistic insults on mumsnet I hear are actually coming from women directed at other women. Words like cunt, bitch, cow, etc.

When men are criticised, the language often seems much milder or at least less specifically gendered.

Is it internalised misogyny? Habit? Just how people speak now?

OP posts:
NotMeAtAll · 09/02/2026 23:52

thisfilmisboring123 · 09/02/2026 18:18

Are you from Liverpool?
I’ve never heard it and wasn’t aware it was used elsewhere haha

I’d only ever use it to call someone tight/stingy?

Although, I’d use it for a male or female - I might be a potty mouth but I’m no misogynist.

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Dublin. Mingebag is used in Corrie from time to time. 🤣

Differentforgirls · 09/02/2026 22:37

HazelMember · 09/02/2026 22:07

I know. It is like being at school again with people getting excited about using bad words and getting a thrill out of it!

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🤣

Madarch · 09/02/2026 22:27

HazelMember · 09/02/2026 22:07

I know. It is like being at school again with people getting excited about using bad words and getting a thrill out of it!

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I've enjoyed the levity on this thread! Makes a change from the usual stresses of AIBU 🤭

Madarch · 09/02/2026 22:23

raspberets · 09/02/2026 19:58

I guess wanker is ok, most people do it. Some more that others,

I don’t like using animal insults either. When someone say people are behaving like animals I just think, well no, they’re behaving like crappy humans.

Edited
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I always had wanker down as masculine on account of the hand gesture that usually goes with it

Original poster
HazelMember · 09/02/2026 22:07

Differentforgirls · 09/02/2026 21:23

Guess you got your answer OP. It’s people who have never grown up and are acting out their childhood online!

I know. It is like being at school again with people getting excited about using bad words and getting a thrill out of it!

OP posts:
Differentforgirls · 09/02/2026 21:23

Guess you got your answer OP. It’s people who have never grown up and are acting out their childhood online!

raspberets · 09/02/2026 21:09

Sweetiedarling7 · 09/02/2026 21:07

I quite like fucker. Use that very frequently.

Bollocks is another strong one.

Sweetiedarling7 · 09/02/2026 21:07

I quite like fucker. Use that very frequently.

raspberets · 09/02/2026 21:03

Tableforjoan · 09/02/2026 20:44

Why is bastard out? It’s just a child born out of wedlock.

It is gender neutral though and that’s the point of this thread so…..

BatchCookBabe · 09/02/2026 20:53

Tableforjoan · 09/02/2026 20:44

Why is bastard out? It’s just a child born out of wedlock.

No-one uses that term now. Not been used in half a century! Horrible word for a child 'born out of wedlock!'

'Wedlock' is ancient too by the way!

Tableforjoan · 09/02/2026 20:44

Why is bastard out? It’s just a child born out of wedlock.

raspberets · 09/02/2026 19:58

Sweetiedarling7 · 09/02/2026 19:53

I don’t use bitch or cow because it is implying female animals are horrible.
Quite like cunt for really special occasions.
I would use cock so as to be an equal ops swearer but it doesn’t quite hit the spot.

I guess wanker is ok, most people do it. Some more that others,

I don’t like using animal insults either. When someone say people are behaving like animals I just think, well no, they’re behaving like crappy humans.

Sweetiedarling7 · 09/02/2026 19:53

I don’t use bitch or cow because it is implying female animals are horrible.
Quite like cunt for really special occasions.
I would use cock so as to be an equal ops swearer but it doesn’t quite hit the spot.

raspberets · 09/02/2026 19:41

Notthepope · 09/02/2026 19:41

Bastard is out too imho

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Course, rookie error.

Notthepope · 09/02/2026 19:41

raspberets · 09/02/2026 18:46

Yes, that’d work. Bastard navel?

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Bastard is out too imho

usedtobeaylis · 09/02/2026 19:27

Upstartled · 08/02/2026 18:28

Well, that's a bit rich coming from a gay man.

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😂😂😂😂

Tableforjoan · 09/02/2026 19:24

walking to school this morning with the smaller child group of teenage girls walk by one is shouting into her phone and just goes “you absolute wet wipe”

now if that was for my child’s benefit or what she would genuinely say I must say it gave me and the smaller one a good laugh.

So Wetwipe is on our behave rude list.

raspberets · 09/02/2026 18:54

Madarch · 09/02/2026 18:52

"That fucking sphincter SIL stole my cake"

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🤣 That’s actually a very good one!

Madarch · 09/02/2026 18:52

raspberets · 09/02/2026 18:46

Yes, that’d work. Bastard navel?

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"That fucking sphincter SIL stole my cake"

raspberets · 09/02/2026 18:46

Madarch · 09/02/2026 18:45

We might see an emergence of 'nipple'

'You fucking nipple!'

Works, sort of...

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Yes, that’d work. Bastard navel?

Madarch · 09/02/2026 18:45

raspberets · 09/02/2026 18:43

The bottom would be the main feature in gender neutral terms then and very limited.

edit, and I do agree on the well executed cunt, it’s satisfying when no other word is (said often by me in an empty room at some inanimate object that’s managed to piss me off).

Edited
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We might see an emergence of 'nipple'

'You fucking nipple!'

Works, sort of...

raspberets · 09/02/2026 18:43

Madarch · 09/02/2026 18:41

Dick, prick, cock, cocksucker, nob/knob, bellend, jeb, wanker, dickhead, motherfucker... etc etc.

Admittedly, they don't carry the same weight as a well executed CUNT.

Should we use gender neutral terms of abuse? Arse, arsewipe, bumhead?

The bottom would be the main feature in gender neutral terms then and very limited.

edit, and I do agree on the well executed cunt, it’s satisfying when no other word is (said often by me in an empty room at some inanimate object that’s managed to piss me off).

Madarch · 09/02/2026 18:41

Dick, prick, cock, cocksucker, nob/knob, bellend, jeb, wanker, dickhead, motherfucker... etc etc.

Admittedly, they don't carry the same weight as a well executed CUNT.

Should we use gender neutral terms of abuse? Arse, arsewipe, bumhead?

thisfilmisboring123 · 09/02/2026 18:40

I do this and completely agree about the term of endearment thing.

Differentforgirls · 09/02/2026 18:34

UniquePinkSwan · 09/02/2026 17:12

Are we not allowed to call out other women? Being a woman doesn’t make you good

You can do it without using misogynistic insults.