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

Men get called dickhead, bellend, nob, prick, manbaby, manchild, etc all the time on Mumsnet. They also get called cunts and twats quite a lot.

I personally don't see calling someone a cunt as being any different from calling someone a dick. 'Private' body parts are routine insults for both sexes - cunt, twat, arsehole, tit, dick, prick, cock etc - and I don't find the use of cunt or twat as insults to be misogynistic. Context is always key, of course. For example, some of my favourite body part related insults are also the words I would use appreciatively for those body parts in the bedroom.

'Bitch' and 'cow' are obviously gendered insults because they refer to female animals. I'm not sure I necessarily find it more offensive to insult someone by comparing them to animal of their own sex than it is to use a generic insult, but I can definitely see why people might feel that way and I'm certainly open to being more mindful of that.

I do think it's extremely misogynistic to call a woman a slag, slapper, tart, skank etc, though. It implies that women should be judged for enjoying as much consensual sex as they want, and for not living up to some patriarchal ideal of purity.

I think the most misogynistic insults on Mumsnet are - ironically - the ones that imply anyone who doesn't share a very specific set of views on topics of sexual behaviour, gender identity or various other things must somehow only hold those views because she's desperate to be accepted by men. 'Pick-me', 'cool wife', 'handmaiden' etc. All massively misogynistic, despite invariably being used by women who call themselves feminists.

Also misogynistic: the posters who immediately say 'you must be a man' to anyone who expresses a different view on sex and relationships to theirs.

Clearly many women disagree and you don't get to be the language police

Which are all as bad.

I hate the word “cunt”. It’s vile, (to me) and I never use it in life or online. But, if appropriate, I’ll cheerfully use bitch, slapper, dopey tart etc 🤷‍♀️

Nobody is saying women only have to say nice things but each other but this kind of language does not need to be used.

So women are just supposed to say nice things about each other?

What would you call Rose West or Myra Hindley?

Edit: if you were highlighting the words tart, slut, whore or slag, I'd agree with you.

I think it’s still misogyny though, even when it’s coming from women. The words mentioned in my OP aren’t neutral insults. They exist specifically to put women down.

If we’d be uncomfortable hearing men use them, I don’t really see why it’s suddenly fine when women direct them at each other. It feels like internalised misogyny being normalised.

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?

So you’re comfortable with women calling you those things?

It’s definitely used affectionately in northern England

By some people. I tend to stay away from the childish name calling which people on this thread seem to think is normal discourse.

Not in England! You can use dick, ballsack no one cares, Use cunt and you can silence a whole room.

Move up!

Not in England! You can use dick, ballsack no one cares, Use cunt and you can silence a whole room.

Reclaim it? From whom? It’s a term of endearment in Scotland.

I think we should reclaim the word cunt. Everyone else is reclaiming. I personally think cunt is not used enough!

I was responding to “If we’d be uncomfortable hearing men use them…”

I’m not uncomfortable with a man calling me a bitch. I’m uncomfortable with them anything that implies I should be in a kitchen or am in any way inferior, and particularly uncomfortable with the ones that rape and kill women.

There is really more to worry about than whether a man thinks I’m a “cow” or not. Like I said, not that sensitive.

It was not my takeaway 🙄

I used that thread as an example because someone said they hadn't seen women call each other derogatory names on here.