To be enormously offended by the C-word

[AmericasfavoritefightingFrenchman]

So today a man called me a c* during an argument, and I was assured by everyone around, including three women, that this is no longer an insulting word, not shocking or taboo, and that I was unreasonable to be enormously offended.

This idea is shocking to me. Surely it’s very offensive and deeply misogynistic? I was definitely offended, and hurt that the women I was with thought it was no big deal.

Or am I unreasonable? Is it so unoffensive these days as to be a casual, unremarkable part of conversation?

*unt

I used to think of it as the most disgusting word.
It’s so frequently heard now, sadly, that I think we are becoming too accustomed to it so it’s no longer as shocking.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/21/c-word-everywhere-tommy-robinson-game-of-thrones

100% agree with you, deeply offensive, heard far too often nowadays and puts my teeth on edge when people say it.

It’s always going to be a personal thing as to whether you find it offensive. I find it strange that people are offended at being called a vagina, but I’m not really phased by swearing in general, and you’re allowed to find things upsetting.

I only ever hear it on mumsnet, it's horrible.

I don't mind hearing it in passing, but I'd not like someone calling me it tbh. Especially if it's said aggressively.

I'm fairly sweary by nature, although I've had to rein it in since having DCs and working in schools. So people saying it in a non aggressive way doesn't especially bother me. There's a time and place though obviously

I feel it's used to shock people to gain immediate verbal dominance. It's deeply offence.

I don't find any words offend me now. It's probably because I'm desensitised through work.

I'm not offended by it as a word in the slightest. It's quite an aggressive word used in anger in an argument though and pretty misogynistic said by a man to a woman...

Cross posted with this which I totally agree with

I have been called more insulting words in my life than I care to remember. However. "C**t" is the worst word and the most offensive. Stick to your guns and be offended and insulted. It's a horrible word and I'm right with you.

I don’t get the fuss over it. I don’t see it as any difference to ‘twat’ for example.

I often think swearing is one of those ‘depends on the context’. And I would react differently to each situation.

Your friends shouldn’t be telling you to not be offended. That’s your choice. They choose not to be and that’s fine too.

I've a potty mouth, OH swears at times. I won't use that word, wouldn't tolerate anyone using it. I've always thought it deeply offensive to women

This.

Many women (almost exclusively on here) insist that it’s horrifically offensive but seem entirely incapable of explaining why they think it’s any worse than other words.

I never heard it used amongst my friends and colleagues in every day life. But then they don't use foul language as a matter of course. I see it on MN a lot. Maybe it's just pockets of areas where speaking like that is acceptable.
I do hear young people speak like that but if you look at them, they 90% of the time apologise so they know better and aren't being brought up to speak like that. They just think it's clever because their brains aren't fully formed.

I feel there’s a difference between typing it, say here, about someone, and saying it directly to someone in real life. I don’t ever use it myself but I don’t get offended reading it. If someone said it to me, I would be horrified I think.

I'm not offended by it, no...to me it's no different to twat, dick etc. I even use it, not all the time and not directed at anyone in anger. It's just a word. I don't find any word offensive to be honest, I've been called every insult under the sun so maybe I'm desensitised

@WildFlowerBees I think you’re on to something. I think that’s how it was used towards me. Though it was followed up with ‘shut your mouth you stupid little woman’ so that was also a pretty big hint as to his intentions.

I always assume people who use it are a bit thick and intend to intimidate you because they can’t put together a coherent argument.

DH and I use it like any other word. He affectionately refers to the cat as a "daft cunt". But we're quite a sweary household.

It's less offensive in Scotland. It is just an arbitrary group of letters though - I understand there are racist words that can really offend because of the history and intent behind them but I honestly don't see how the C word can be so incredibly offensive to people. To me it really is just a word, though not one I use personally.

You've been horrifically verbally abused by a man.
Think your focus on the language he chose is a bit weird tbh.
Are you OK? Who was it?

It is so disrespectful to every woman.

Ever called someone a dick? Dick, twat, prick and fanny seem to be used a lot on mumsnet. Cunt is no different