Is the word ‘cunt’ misogynistic in the U.K.?

Despite me understanding that it ought to be misogynistic, I'm not sure it is.

Eg, when I say fucking hell, I'm not thinking of sex.

If you're talking about the intention of the user, I've used the word cunt when I want to convey that somebody is really, really awful. But I don't think I've ever used it towards a woman (however awful).

Strangely, if a woman uses it towards a man, I think the man must be pretty heinous for her to have done it, but if a man uses towards a woman, I can't help thinking it reflects badly on him.

Which could just be some common or garden double standards, but I wonder if I'm just subconsciously seeing how men and women use the word differently.

Either way, I don't think it's misogyny.

I have some hardcore feminist friends who are very hot on the subject of misogyny but they use the word cunt all the time. They clearly don't think it's misogynystic.

I hate it, but in DH's family and within his community it's a common word to describe people in the derogatory way. During arguments he would call me it and to him it's nothing, but from where I come from you just don't say it. I had to say to him, if he keeps calling me a c our daughter will think it's normal and expect her future partners to speak to her in that way. I think it's a violent word and I won't have DD thinking it was acceptable. He has agreed to stop calling me it, but he calls anyone who has done him wrong a c instead. I had to explain to my daughter about why it's a bad word. Essentially, in my view, it's reducing a woman to just her anatomy, as if that's her total worth, then reducing it further with violence and misogynist behaviour. As I said, in South London working class communities it's common parlance. It's often spat out as the final word. I hate it.

yea

Nothing to do with being narrow minded , just very unimpressed by people who think casual swearing somehow adds to their personality.

I don't object, I think that it's a bit rich to object to words for women's genitalia unless we do the same re men and dicks, knobs, bell-ends are used widely enough.

I particularly like it as an adjective 'that cunting radiator is leaking again!'

Calling it the worst swear word ever seems very melodramatic

It is considered the worst swear word.

It is a word used in anger or hate, no matter which sex it is directed at, saying the lowest of the low is a woman's vagina

I don’t agree, it’s not always spat out in disgust. I think some people say it casually, like calling someone a twat or dickhead.

I do wonder why most insults seem to be genital based though.

I absolutely loathe the word and, yes, I feel it is misogynistic. It is a word used in anger or hate, no matter which sex it is directed at, saying the lowest of the low is a woman's vagina.

I live in Yorkshire and I’ve never noticed it being applied to women more than men. Probably more men that women get called cunt.

Calling it the worst swear word ever seems very melodramatic but then I don't get that upset by swearing. I rarely swear myself but how much people swear and which words they use has more to do with what language those around them use rather than people using particular words being evil

*wouldn't be shocked, that should say

I'm glad I don't have friends like yours then. I'm just amazed at this determination to insist this is normal in Scotland

It’s pretty normal where I am, East London/Essex.
It’s not that everyone walks around saying it, but it just isn’t at all unusual to hear. You would be shocked to hear it.
I’d say it’s mostly men, but again, wouldn’t be shocked or surprised hearing a woman say it either.
Can be used quite endearingly, ‘you see this cunt here, he’s.... insert complement here’
Suppose it’s just what you’re used to, I wouldn’t think badly of anyone who said it

alexdgr8

it's absolutely abhorrent.
i wouldn't have anybody in my house who said it,
nor would i remain in any company where it was said, unless immediately retracted and apologised for. even then i would view someone who said it at all, very warily.
there is no excuse or necessity for such foul language.

I feel exactly the same as you.

It is an insult to women and considered the worst swear word there is, which is very offensive to me.

My friends are lovely. Obviously not for you, but then again we don't tend to warm to people who display narrowmindedness as a badge of honour, so I that's probably a good thing. No love lost...

Each to their own, eh?

I'm glad I don't have friends like yours then. I'm just amazed at this determination to insist this is normal in Scotland.

I'm not aware of anyone saying everyone in Scotland swears all the time.

But lots of my friends, for example, swear with abandon, but it's only the Scottish ones who use "cunt" to mean something like "mate".

The less it's heard, for fear of offence, the more shocking it is when you do hear it.

The Scots who use it loads and have subverted its meaning to include "mate" are arguably nearer to taking the misogyny out of the word that those who never use it.

There is no sense to it. For example why is "twat" considered a mild swear word when cunt is the most offensive word ever when they mean the same thing. It's just bizarre.

That's regional. For some (is it in the North of England? I forget), twat is considered just as strong as cunt, so be careful of your audience with this one!