To think pussy is a rude word?

[MarkRuffaloCrumble]

If someone said that another person was being “a bit of a pussy” AIBU to think it’s rude, or would you take it as meaning “meek like a pussy cat”?

YABU it means cat
YANBU its rude/it means vagina

[tilder]

IME it's just used in a derogatory and misogynistic way.

Bellend etc are not comparable as the term is derogatory about the individual only. Pussy is derogatory to the individual and the female sex.

[abstractzebra]

If someone says pussy, I think vagina, in the same way as if someone says lunchbox, I think of Linford Christie

When I used to work in the canning industry, there was a can fault called a dropped down flange.
Oh how we laughed (every single time for over 30 years)

[Babygotblueyes]

I cant believe people saying this comes from the Latin. Pussy became an insult when it started to be used more often as slang for vagina, and indicates that someone is weak like a woman. It is said to men to shame them for being like a female.

[MarkRuffaloCrumble]

yes, there are just some words that you can’t ever hear without thinking of their other meaning aren’t there!

[AnnieSnap]

Pussy is used as an insult to boys and men (it’s American) by implying that they are weak like a female. So yes, it’s offensive!

[DudeistPriest]

Slight off topic but it sometimes annoys me the way words and names keep getting appropriated to have rude meanings so you can't use them any more. Can't people just use the proper word or make one up?

[MarkRuffaloCrumble]

I think that’s why I struggle with it Babygotblueeyes. I don’t find it personally offensive as it’s not being used towards or about me, but it does feel like it’s sexist. Hearing (presumably) female MNers saying that they don’t take it to mean vagina is eye opening as I presumed it would be a much higher percentage saying it’s not about a cat!

[MarkRuffaloCrumble]

implying that they are weak like a female hmmm maybe it’s that overlap between the feline and the feminine at play here?

[thosetalesofunexpected]

Weird that this word is used in a negative way like that !
.

As Pussy are Life enhancing very Resilient and unique etc !😁

[Babygotblueyes]

@MarkRuffaloCrumble

implying that they are weak like a female hmmm maybe it’s that overlap between the feline and the feminine at play here?

Yes, there is that strong association of feline with female - which is interesting really when you think of the fact that dogs are usually obedient and eager to please while cats are more independent and dont really care what you think or want. You would think it would be the other way around.

I lived in america for a long time which is where I first heard people called a pussy. Always men, and always implying they were womanish in some way (and that was bad). I think it is similar to 'big girls blouse' again implying anything connected with a woman is inferior.

The best quote about the term is from Betty White - she said she never understood why people used pussy to mean fragile, weak and delicate, because 'those tings can take a pounding and keep going'. Whereas balls........

[MarkRuffaloCrumble]

As Pussy are Life enhancing very Resilient and unique etc. Which ones though tales - the kitty cat kind or the other kind?!

[Babygotblueyes]

things, not tings

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

My MIL sent an email to me at work asking how pussy was (our cat had been in for a dental) and it was trapped by the IT filters and investigated. It was clear it was definitely about a cat from the context, but it’s obviously been flagged as an offensive word.

[MarkRuffaloCrumble]

Yes I love that Betty White quote!

[MarkRuffaloCrumble]

Well that’s conclusive proof Judy - he works in IT so I shall send him an email and see what happens to it

[KindergartenKop]

I think the Mrs Slocombe thing is funny because she's an older lady and it's assumed that she's talking about her cat but the youngish audience in the 70s associate the word with female genitalia. A classic double entendre.

[KizzyWayfarer]

I associate the use of pussy as an insult with misogynistic, probably homophobic American men who also throw around terms like ‘cuck’ (cuckold) and worse.

[saltinesandcoffeecups]

Pussy -could mean cat, but not usually and most certainly a double entendre or joke if used -not crude usually but could get there

Pussy whipped- is equivalent of hen-pecked or dominated by the woman in the relationship - crude

Pussyfoot- shy timid etc. could be crude but could also be attributed to the way cats sort of delicately walk through obstacles. -maybe crude/maybe not depending on context

These are the ones I could think of off the top of my head.

Then there is wussy or wuss - which would be the more polite version of pussy used as a way to indicate someone is being shy, timid, weak. I call my husband wussy-boy if he starts whining for instance.

[FrankButchersDickieBow]

It annoys me. Women have 'pussys' 🤮, but it is seen as being weak. Annoying on several levels.

[Blueberries0112]

WAP
Song by Cardi B

Comes to mind

[ceilingsand]

It tends to mean vagina these days, but that is unreasonable in itself.

[jcyclops]

Doesn't the sexual meaning of "pussy" actually refer to vulva and not vagina?

[Ohyesiam]

Anyone who used pussy as a n insult meaning weak is just dumb. They can push out humans for god sake, you don’t her much tougher than that.

[AnnieSnap]

@ceilingsand

It tends to mean vagina these days, but that is unreasonable in itself.

Surely it means vulva, not vagina?!

[MarkRuffaloCrumble]

Anyone who used pussy as a n insult meaning weak is just dumb. They can push out humans for god sake, you don’t her much tougher than that.

Good point - I may start using it as a compliment

Surely it means vulva, not vagina?!

Yes I guess so. Most people use those two interchangeably these days too, even though technically you're right of course.