...... to think it is profoundly anti feminist to use the word "cunt"...

[BertrandRussell]

....to describe, for example, an abusive violent man? I find the idea that, when looking for a word to describe awful, awful behaviour, we use a word for women's genitals horribly misogynistic.

Or am I just stuck in the 70s?

But bastard is different because being one is no longer a shameful thing-in most parta of our society at least.

And I really don't think you can say that cunt has just as if by magic changed it's meaning to unpleasant person without considering it's origins!

And I think the reason is misogyny.

Ok, but for what reasons and with what evidence?

Wouldn't it be a far better cause to stop using the word 'cunt' for female genitalia rather than imagining the word is part of the patriarchy's need to bring us down?

If somebody is acting like a cunt or twat I'll call them one.
It's not anti feminist as I'll equally use Dick, or knob.
Wanker and tosser are for less awful behaviour

HTH

But having a 'cunt' is also no longer a sign of being at the bottom of the food chain, so societally bastard and cunt are pretty even.

Granted there is further to be done in the name of equality but I know that no one is referring to me as a dozy stupid only-good-for-one-thing woman if they deign to call me a cunt.

'And no, sorry. I won't say 'the n word'
Good for you. Carry on though and you'll get deleted again then maybe one day banned?

I'm a straight woman. I would never say queer. And most gay people wouldn't either in my experience.

You do realise that you're telling a queer woman that queer people do not use the word queer?

Some do some don't. I do.

YABU. It's no more anti-feminist to call someone a cunt than it is misandrist to call someone a dick, prick, bell-end. And, as a synonym for vagina, it's far more feminist to use the word cunt than vagina given the etymology of the two words (see Germaine Greer explain in an episode of Balderdash and Piffle: . Vagina implies it's (and by proxy, women's) sole purpose is to take cock. Cunt proudly stands on its own.

That said, I've never understood why people find cunt more offensive than other insults or swear words. I am an equal opportunities swearer and I use it merrily, though I am Irish and we tend to be much more liberal when it comes to swearing than the English. In Scotland, it's often used semi-affectionately! (E.g., any cunt coming for a bevvy tonight?)

"Wouldn't it be a far better cause to stop using the word 'cunt' for female genitalia rather than imagining the word is part of the patriarchy's need to bring us down?"

I don't think I understand this, I'm afraid!

I would have thought it goes without saying that if as a society, when we decided collectively how to order our swear words, the absolute worst is the word for women's genitals it shows a complete distain for women. None of the words for men's genitals are anything like as bad. The BBFC reflects this as an interesting arbiter of social mores!

"You do realise that you're telling a queer woman that queer people do not use the word queer?"

Sorry- i didn't mean to do that. I did say in my experience. The gay people I know don't use it. And I think it would be presumptuous of a straight person to use it. So only very limited reclamation!

'But bastard is different because being one is no longer a shameful thing-in most parta of our society at least.' well yes, of course it isn't a shameful thing nowadays.

It doesn't really matter what the definition of the actual word is. As has been pointed out language has evolved, so while for example bugger is to anally penetrate, it is used as a 'daft' or 'silly' insult. You're getting too hung up on dictionary definitions and trying too had to make it a feminist thing.

"And, as a synonym for vagina, it's far more feminist to use the word cunt than vagina given the etymology of the two words (see Germaine Greer explain in an episode of Balderdash and Piffle: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY-5a0vRzYg). Vagina implies it's (and by proxy, women's) sole purpose is to take cock. Cunt proudly stands on its own."

I agree with that. Although giggling childishly at cunts standing on their own.

its, not it's!

I don't think I understand this, I'm afraid!

Perhaps because you cannot separate 'cunt' as a slang for vagina/vulva and also being a swear word. They can be different things, as the English language proves again and again. I don't think anyone actually imagines women's genitalia when using the word as an insult, just as no one thinks of the food dish when using the term 'faggot' in a vulgar manner.

The more it’s used the less power to shock it will have. I’m all for it being reclaimed and diluted by repetition.

"Perhaps because you cannot separate 'cunt' as a slang for vagina/vulva and also being a swear word. They can be different things, as the English language proves again and again. I don't think anyone actually imagines women's genitalia when using the word as an insult, just as no one thinks of the food dish when using the term 'faggot' in a vulgar manner."

So why is cunt a swear word if it isn't because it's a word for women's genitals? Is it just an interesting coincidence?
Oh, and faggot as an insult has nothing to do with food.

Oh, and faggot as an insult has nothing to do with food.

Never said it was, but still waiting on your evidence that 'cunt' is offensive purely based on the fact it's related to women.

"Never said it was, but still waiting on your evidence that 'cunt' is offensive purely based on the fact it's related to women."

1. Yes, you did. 2)Men don't have cunts. QED.

I despise the word. I've become a bit desensitised to it since coming on MN, but it's the one swear word that I never use - and I fucking love to swear

I'm profoundly anti-feminist but don't (very, very rarely) use it.

I have no idea why it's so fashionable on MN.

I mentioned 'faggot' as a word that is has both vulgar and non-vulgar meaning as a point that a word can have both bases even though they look and sound the same.

As for 'Men don't have cunts', I fail to see how this is an explanation of how you have come to the conclusion that this means the insult 'cunt' is related to misogyny. I don't have a penis or am a person called Richard, yet I have been known to call people dicks/dickheads. Some historical evidence of cunt as an insult directly stemming from the slag for female genitalia would be useful. Otherwise it's just opinion, and considering the complexity of the evolution of English, it's a rather weak argument.

You mustn’t know many gay people then.

The C word (I don’t like it but not due to feminism) is not comparable to the N word at all.

Some historical evidence of cunt as an insult directly stemming from the slag for female genitalia would be useful.

Here you are:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/cunt

"Some historical evidence of cunt as an insult directly stemming from the slag for female genitalia would be useful."

So are you saying that you think there is an entirely separate meaning for the word cunt that is "a very unpleasant person" which evolved etymologically independent from the meaning for the word cunt which is a woman's genitals? I honestly think that is a theory so bizarre that it is up to you to provide evidence for it!

YANBU

I've never called anyone the C word. I find it offensive. Calling someone a dick is not the same. The C word has connotations of being smelly and offensive.

StepAwayFromCake

There is speculation in that link, but no definitive suggestion. There's no hard evidence that 'cunt' and 'cunnilingus' are related, since the word is from a Germanic source. Certainly still no direct link between 'cunt' as in females and 'cunt' as in despicable person.