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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Posters on this forum using phrases such as "bodies with vaginas" in a jokey way

32 replies

veryconcernedparent · 29/09/2021 12:35

I'm starting to feel uncomfortable with people here referring to "bodies with vaginas", "menstruators", "cervix-havers" and similar in a jocular way, as I feel that it normalises this sort of language. The more we hear and see it, the more normal it becomes, and this is precisely what we want to avoid.

I'm talking about saying things like "This body with a vagina has had enough" or addressing others as "cervix-havers", for instance.

I fully appreciate that people are doing it to express their incredulity and anger at such language (which I absolutely share) and to highlight the ridiculousness of it. But I think we should avoid repeating it in this way. I think the same goes for routinely referring to "ejaculators" and "penis-owners" and similar.

What do others think?

OP posts:
ArabellaScott · 29/09/2021 13:21

@OvaHere

I think black humour and piss taking are essential, especially when you've been in the trenches for a few years.

Political satire is important in a functioning democracy. We can see what happens in countries where it's forbidden.

yep
Thelnebriati · 29/09/2021 13:21

I think dark humour and sarcasm are perfectly acceptable in the face of such hostility and hatred.
There's a long history of dark humour being used by the political and social underclass. More power to its elbow.

OnlyTheLangOfTheTitberg · 29/09/2021 13:19

Wouldn’t it be lovely if we got to a place where no-one was policing women’s speech? Do you think I’ll see that in my lifetime?

OvaHere · 29/09/2021 13:18

I think black humour and piss taking are essential, especially when you've been in the trenches for a few years.

Political satire is important in a functioning democracy. We can see what happens in countries where it's forbidden.

WrapAroundYourDreams · 29/09/2021 13:13

I disagree because the intention is entirely the opposite- it is to illustrate just how absurd this language is. Anyone in doubt or who is unaware of the assault on women's rights needs to read/hear this language, to hear just how batshit things have become. We need to show our disgust and anger at every available opportunity and this is one way to do it.

Franca123 · 29/09/2021 12:43

I think it's a way for people to gently feel out whether others agree with them or not. I see it as a positive. Women are angry and they're signalling to others that they want to open the door to talking about that anger. I fully intend to use this language with my friends.

EmbarrassingAdmissions · 29/09/2021 12:41

Many of us have been in the trenches of this for some years (it's hard to get a sense of that as so many of us NC on a regular basis).

Some of us are so deeply angry that we do things like this to highlight the ridiculous and to retain some sense of equilibrium

Yes - some people who are new to the fray, don't understand the conversation, or who like to tone-police will find it problematic. Others might recognise their own coping strategies in times of stress.

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