...... 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?

We must be mixing in different social strata. are you from Edinburgh?
No West of Scotland and farmer country. The men might use it amongst themselves but not in front of women much. And I'm as far from a delicate flower as you can imagine.

I love the word cunt. I use it often and loudly! I think that by creating 'feminist' issues out of non issues, it cheapens the legitimate issues.

People use the word cunt because it's a way to convey emotion. It's one of those words that just fit certain situations. Never once have I though that persons looks like female genitalia. Stop looking for issues that are redundant. No wonder feminism isn't being taking seriously.

'It's a bit like the threads where someone says that all their black friends just love being referred to in a friendly manner as Sambo...'

What is with you desperately trying to conflate racist terms with commonly used swear words? No one says 'sambo', the expression you are just bursting to say is the n word. Why do you enjoy typing out these racist terms?

And like the mistake I made downthread when I extrapolated from the gay people in my circle of friends not using the term queer to most gay peope not using it.......

It’s funny how “Berk” is akin to “Wally” however it in full is “Berkshire Hunt”, rhyming slang for cunt.

Historically cunt was not a particularly strong word with many examples of street name usage, Gropecunt Lane off Cheapside in the city being one.

Personally I think the twat/cunt smorgasbord of “Twunt” has a lot to offer......

The thing is Bert, you are using offensive language continually as 'examples', whilst complaining about offensive language. It's like you enjoy making a bit of a tit of yourself really.

themusali

Twunt is my absolute favourite

"Historically cunt was not a particularly strong word "

That's interesting. Do you know when it became "the worst ever swear"? Shakespeare doesn't use it, does he-although he does use quim descriptively. Lovely word!

Why is using a word for a woman's anatomy an insult I have always wondered? That implies that a cunt is something disgusting and repellent. I cannot understand why anyone would use it, male or female , as an insult. Likewise prick, knobhead etc. I hate these terms and never use them. To call a man a cunt just seems... odd.

I worked with a older chap years ago who refused to use the word as it was disrespectful.

He used to refer to a “Woman’s Willy” instead!!!

"That implies that a cunt is something disgusting and repellent."

It's all part of the 'madonna/whore" thing, isn't it? Some women are sacred and some are vile. And for men there was nothing worse than being called a woman-even worse a scary,dark and dangerous cunt!

I'm a feminist, and whilst I certainly don't use it anatomically, I have no problem with it being used as a swear word. It's the worst of the 'swears' so I tend to connect it with the worst of behaviours. I think I'm actually more concerned that there are people actively describing themselves as non or anti-feminist on here to be honest.

I will have to think of other things to call my ex partner which will be fun no doubt

Cockwomble seems like a good one. I'd never heard of it until I saw it being used in the Run Mummy Run FB group though it tends to be abbreviated to cw on there in case the "cock" part offends anyone, I assume.

"I'm Scottish and I rarely hear this word. Sorry to be po-faced but it's true."

Alright then, maybe it's just a Glasgow thing. Lived there for 4 years and heard it used like that frequently.

"I'm a feminist, and whilst I certainly don't use it anatomically, I have no problem with it being used as a swear word"

Ca you say why? I'm the other way round.

Incidentally, cockwomble sounds vaguely affectionate to me. Or at least annoyed rather than furious.....

Sorry - haven't read the thread but me and DH were discussing something similar to this the other day... We can't understand why someone is is weak is referred to as a pussy and when you want someone to be braver, they are told to man up or grow some balls.
I just gave birth a few days ago and we agreed that a 'pussy' is able to take an absolute beating but balls are weak and feeble
So surely it should be the other way around?

"So surely it should be the other way around?"

I hate "grow a pair" and "balls of steel" too!

We can't understand why someone is is weak is referred to as a pussy and when you want someone to be braver, they are told to man up or grow some balls.

Because historically women have been perceived as weaker & men stronger......

When I call someone a cunt I'm not calling them a vagina, like when I call someone a dick I'm not calling them a penis. These words have meanings outside of their anatomical origins. I don't find any conflict between my feminism and my use of these words.

'These words have meanings outside of their anatomical origins. I don't find any conflict between my feminism and my use of these words.'

Yes I'm baffled why anyone would have such a literal meaning for swear words. Op when you are told to fuck off do you think someone's telling you to go and have sex?

And for men there was nothing worse than being called a woman-even worse a scary,dark and dangerous cunt!
That's why I don't mind using the word cunt. Scary, dark, dangerous, powerful, taboo.... we should reclaim it!

"I'm a feminist, and whilst I certainly don't use it anatomically, I have no problem with it being used as a swear word"

Ca you say why? I'm the other way round.

Would you honestly go to your GP and say, "I've got an itchy cunt, I think I may have thrush"?

Or to a school teacher, "My daughter was kicked in the cunt at play time"?

My hideous abusive ex used to text me this word on a regular basis. As a result I am kind of desensitised to how he meant it.
I'd like it to become more mainstream. Take the factor away from it. I use bellend quite frequently. If I'd sunk to his levels on the abusive texting 'you are nothing but a bellend' do you think he'd have been shocked? No. Time to reclaim the cunt.

I'm a feminist and I regularly use the word 'cunt'. I also don't use it anatomically but I'm fine with describing people, male or female, as cunts if they've annoyed me.

Perhaps I'm not the right kind of feminist.

Where I lived in Scotland it was used as a term of endearment. Likewise, my Australian friend refers to all of her friends as cunts.