AIBU to start a thread discussing the word Cunt?

[FeegleFion]

I know before I start, that there will be a lot of you who really disagree with using the word Cunt.

I want to start a discussion about it, as I personally, feel that using the word in a positive manner is to be encouraged.

I am from Glasgow and I use/ have always used the word as a term of affection "You're a good wee cunt you".

I wanted to start this thread because I have just come across the following on a Women's Rights forum and I really hope to change negative opinion and association:

CUNT

Considered to be the most vile, obscene and vulgar 'swear word' in the English language, the word 'Cunt' in the vernacular means vagina.
As if that is not indication enough why it is considered so vile in the vagina-hating Patriarchy, the word itself was originally a term of respect and reverence for a powerful, spiritually enlightened woman.

'Cunt' derives from 'Kunda' or 'Cunti', the Oriental Great Goddess.
She was the Great Yoni of the Universe, where all life came from and to where all life returned for renewal.

From this same word came the words country, kin and kind.

So, for your delectation, rumination and reasoned discussion, I give you, the word Cunt discuss.

[Sheshelob]

The thing I like about this thread, other than crotch cobbler and the constant use of the word cunt, is that some of the older commenters are whacking down their long-term feminist credentials as if that some how trumps the conversation. Like, "I was at Greenham, yo."



I will defend my use of the word cunt because I think the more it is used, the less powerful it becomes. There are racist and homophobic terms that I will never say or write down quite shocked that someone did as a white, straight woman, which I don't rank cunt even close to in offensiveness.

Is cunt "hate speech"? I, for one, think not.

[Sheshelob]

And can I just add that neither penises nor vaginas re going o win any beauty contests. Except in California, perhaps.

[IgnatiusSprat]

Speak for your own vagina, Sheshelob. Mine's bloody gorgeous.

[Sheshelob]

After a 3c degree tear, she has started to look like Peter Ustinov in a wind tunnel.

[FeegleFion]

Yes Worra haha, mine cunt is mine own but that wasn't the actual point I was making and my cunt is much nicer to look at than either my arse or my ear

[FeegleFion]

SheShelob Exactly, the more the word is used the less taboo it will be

[IgnatiusSprat]

Jaysus Feegle you must have fucking ugly ears

[Sheshelob]

Ig

[youmeatsix]

Feegle. In Glasgow its used as a term of affection. "A wright ya cunt" is a greeting between pals. it really isnt, good grief! born and raised in Glasgow, i have never ever once heard it used as a term of affection

[WorraLiberty]

But to say 'cunts are beautiful things', is as pointless as saying arses and ears are beautiful things.

Having seen the TV show Embarrassing Bodies, I can assure you that not all cunts, ears or arse holes are beautiful

The same as all penises and testicles aren't.

[snowynight]

Sheshelob - i "was" at Greenham, funnily enough (yo).

[curlew]

I suppose it depends what bit of Glasgow. And how imaginative you are.

[snowynight]

was

d'oh

[curlew]

"The thing I like about this thread, other than crotch cobbler and the constant use of the word cunt, is that some of the older commenters are whacking down their long-term feminist credentials as if that some how trumps the conversation. Like, "I was at Greenham, yo."

I don't think that's what I'm doing- I hope I'm not. What I am trying to do is explain why the word is so very offensive to me, and why I don't think it can ever be reclaimed. I think it's interesting that people have been trying to reclaim it for more than 25 years to my certain knowledge with very little success...........

[thegreylady]

Didn't get round to hiding thread so back now we are talking etymology. I believe the origin lies in the Welsh cwm (quim) meaning valley because of its appearance. My dh1 used the word quim which I minded less because it has never been used as an obscenity.

[Lovecat]

In common with many, I used to think cunt was an appalling word. The worst swear. Then I started thinking about why that was - and the only reason I can see is because it refers to part of a woman's body. So why is a specifically female body part considered more offensive than something specifically male? It's just a part of a human body, after all. I think by accepting cunt as such an offensive word, we as women are perpetuating a negative stereotype and taboo.

I went through a stage of saying 'don't say cunt as an insult because cunts are lovely things' but then you get looked at a bit like you're about to whip out a mirror and start a bit of yoni worship... (interesting though that for a lot of women the idea of looking at this part of their own bodies is somehow a bit weird and yuck...)

So I ended up using it both as descriptive of a part of my body, and, since discovering MN, occasionally as an insult. I do think that it's a word that needs to be robbed of it's "power", normalised, even, although I can understand that to the older generation (if I can say that at 46!) it will probably remain a taboo word.

I'm probably desensitised to it now thanks to MN, I do find myself thinking it a lot more and have to watch that I don't say it in front of my mother, for example! However the MN classic 'Atrocious Cunt' is a fabulous insult and it makes me smile every time I see it :o

[FeegleFion]

Ig I'm sure you rally didn't mean to be so rude about my ears!

I just have a very beautiful cunt

Youme I assure you, it's used. Also, may I point you to the fact that I wasn't the original poster of that particular comment you are quoting?

curlew no, you are coming across brilliantly. Your opinion is extremely valued.

[FeegleFion]

Lovecat thank you, excellent contribution.

In fact, thanks everyone, whatever your opinion, if you've taken the time to actually open this up for discussion.

It's a shame a few people have taken the 'insult then hide thread' or 'I declare, clutch pearls, hide thread' approach, but it's only to be expected.

Also, thanks for not hiding the thread GreyLady the thread is not here to be goady, I promise.

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

I really do not understand the hysterics over this word. To me, it's just a word to use when "bitch" isn't heavy enough. It's a great word because it's so guttural, and it combines well with other short, guttural words like in "dumb ugly cunt." Or "cunt punt."

I actually met a Scottish woman who said that it's the worst word she'd ever, ever heard. I told her that for Americans, that would be "nigger." (Only, I said it as "the n-word" as I can't stand to say that word.) She replied "Oh, no! Cunt is much, much worse than nigger!"

At first, I thought she was just a dreadfully ignorant and possibly racist fool, but I suppose the word "nigger" doesn't have the same emotional impact in Scotland as it does in the United States.

Either that, or she just really, really, really hates the word "cunt."

I have to admit: whenever I hear a women object to it, I inwardly roll my eyes and think "what a silly cunt."

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

Also, I don't want to "reclaim" the word and try to make it something positive. Fuck that. I need a word for people who are at least a couple of degrees more hateful than bitches/assholes.

For that matter, I'm not sold on the idea that our "yonis" are so fucking beautiful, either. I'm kind of of the opinion that they're funny looking and a bit smelly. Just like male genitalia. For fuck's sake. I don't need to embrace everything feminine and declare it sacred.

[curlew]

Could you point me to the hysterics?

Historically, that is a very charged word to use about women feeling strongly about anything!

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

They hysterics are everywhere. Women, shrieking and moaning and generally being irrational because their uteri are out of order.

Now, calm down and don't get your knickers in a twist, girl.

[FeegleFion]

You use it how you like Katy your opinion is fine.

disagree with you on a few points.

I'd rather be called a cunt than a bitch, my cunt isn't smelly and it's not at all ugly

And for me, the N word is not in my personal vocabulary for use.

[curlew]

Katy, you are talking bullocks- you do realise that, don't you?

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

Curlew, are you on your period or something? You seem really emotional.