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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Use of the word cunt as an insult towards a male

82 replies

kukeslala · 24/04/2013 19:48

Have posted this on another thread, but very interested to read some more replies, so have decided to give myself my own thread.

I have been reading this board for a few days, and have noticed the word cunt being used to insult males.

I just dont get it?

Why use a word that describes a females vagina to insult a male.

Its not that it is classed as a swear word, its that its used to describe a female body part and then its being used in a derogatory way to insult someone- IYSWIM?

Is it being used to reclaim the word? Or just used without thinking?

Thanks

OP posts:

WrenNatsworthy · 25/04/2013 18:37

www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=cunt&searchmode=none

Yep - wedge is mentioned here too.

WrenNatsworthy · 25/04/2013 18:35

Dunno - Gloria Bertonis is an MEd So I'd hope so.

JustCallMeHerodina · 25/04/2013 10:04

wren, are you sure the link is a real etymology?

I'm fairly sure 'cuneiform' comes from the Latin for 'wedge-shaped'. It's a fairly new word so far as I know (ie., a few centuries). People called early writing 'cuneiform' because of the shape of the letters.

WrenNatsworthy · 25/04/2013 09:42

Did anyone read my link? It says that the word cunt is actually complimentary and can be translated as 'queen who is good with letters and numbers'. I'd rather name my fanny after that than only have it be defined by what goes in it.

Original poster

kukeslala · 25/04/2013 00:54

Im on pg 9...
This is so funny, I cant wait to see if lemon drizzle murder pops up...

OP posts:

Sunnywithshowers · 25/04/2013 00:37

It's okay. No lemon drizzle cake was harmed during the thread. But someone did punch some victoria sponges at the end :)

Original poster

kukeslala · 25/04/2013 00:35

No No NO!!!!

I cant read the link, lemon drizzle cake is my fave.... but want to read the link...dont read the lilk--arrrghhh.

OP posts:

Sunnywithshowers · 25/04/2013 00:15

Hi kukesala I can't claim arsepart - it comes from 'citrus-titted arsepart' (something to do with lemon drizzle cake).

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1718384-To-pelt-my-cakes-at-this-mums-head-in-the-playground-this-afternoon-fume

Original poster

kukeslala · 24/04/2013 23:53

Thanks Sunny,

Never heard of arsepart-lol.

OP posts:

Original poster

kukeslala · 24/04/2013 23:51

Thanks Wren.

OP posts:

Original poster

kukeslala · 24/04/2013 23:48

DroopyTulip

words I've heard finger fuck, frigging, wanklette, bean flicker, but also wank is also used for a female masturbating (but you do tend to think male first).
Never really heard them used as an insult though, only to discuss the act of masturbation.

OP posts:

Sunnywithshowers · 24/04/2013 23:44

I've stopped using cunt so much to insult, as it's gendered. 'Arsehole' is gender neutral, as is arsepart (thanks person on lemon drizzle thread).

I have objections to the word vagina as it means 'sheath for a sword' i.e. a place where penises go. That irritates me beyond belief, so I don't use it except at the dr (if necessary of course, not randomly ).

If your husband was calling you cunt or the equivalent, I'd be worried about the verbal abuse rather than the word if you see what I mean.

JustCallMeHerodina · 24/04/2013 23:41

I like the 'origins of cunt' like but it's not serious, is it?

Cuneiform comes from 'wedge-shaped'.

JustCallMeHerodina · 24/04/2013 23:39

The female version of wanker is wanker. It means someone who masturbates ... which both men and women do ...

WrenNatsworthy · 24/04/2013 23:31

Read this: Origins of Cunt

droopytulip · 24/04/2013 23:27

As gender based insult words go my favourite is by far wanker which I feel is very male. Is there a female version? I do use it for all varieties of the human species but would love to expand my vocabulary.

Original poster

kukeslala · 24/04/2013 23:25

I think you all think Im offended by swearing, Im not at all in fact am often told I swear to much- blah.
Because I swear to much, I would use the word cunt, to really get my point across, In away fuck doesn't even any more.

I was challenging my own thought processes, after reading this board for a few days.

Nonce is a disgusting word, and have never used it or heard it as an insult, I wouldn't find it appropriate at all to use this as an insult or in a joke.

Unfortunately I cant do this now, but would be really interested to see what people would say if I was to post, my husband has just called me a cunt, or something along those lines.

Would people be just offended by the husband swearing at wife, or would they also specifically be more offended by the word used.

OP posts:

tethersend · 24/04/2013 23:23

Cunt' has a dual meaning- it means both a vagina, and a despicable person (usually male).

This does not mean that to call someone a cunt is to insult vaginas, just that the word is being used to mean the second definition; in the same way that nobody thinks that cricket is played with small, blind, flying rodents, or that anyone really believes that David Cameron's parents are unmarried.

'Cunt' is not a bad word- it's the best word for a bad thing.

BitBewildered · 24/04/2013 23:18

I use cunt in the same way I use bollocks, usually. Nonce is really disgusting to me. Deeply insulting to call someone that.

SconeRhymesWithGone · 24/04/2013 23:08

It's a funny word. In the US, it is used as particularly hideous insult aimed almost exclusively at women.

I was discussing this with a friend the other day, who like me, is an American woman who has in the past lived in the UK. We were a bit surprised when we actually realized that we had never in our lives heard anyone utter the word aloud in the US.

Original poster

kukeslala · 24/04/2013 23:05

Yes, it is what I thought.

OP posts:

Original poster

kukeslala · 24/04/2013 23:04

Nicetabard
I know the word and its meanings (I think, Im going to double check), I have never heard it being used to insult someone.

OP posts:

JustCallMeHerodina · 24/04/2013 22:40

ku - no, was replying to the post just before mine.

NiceTabard · 24/04/2013 22:33

Actually hold on a minute!

OP no you are wrong I'm afraid.

It's not the worst swearword as I just remembered I actually pulled someone up on MN the other day for calling another MNer something that I thought was rather strong. I suspected she didn't know what it meant and I was right.

The word was nonce, it is definitely miles worse than cunt, and interestingly as cunt is associated with women (due to being their genitals) nonce is associated with men (starting as it did in men's prisons).

What do you make of that?

NiceTabard · 24/04/2013 22:29

I think that Blackadder did a lot for a well turned insult in the UK.

I like to combine to improve the overall effect.

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