to think it’s a bit depressing that women still use these terms against other women?

[HazelMember]

I’ve noticed that the harshest, most misogynistic insults on mumsnet I hear are actually coming from women directed at other women. Words like cunt, bitch, cow, etc.

When men are criticised, the language often seems much milder or at least less specifically gendered.

Is it internalised misogyny? Habit? Just how people speak now?

I don’t use bitch or cow because it is implying female animals are horrible.
Quite like cunt for really special occasions.
I would use cock so as to be an equal ops swearer but it doesn’t quite hit the spot.

I guess wanker is ok, most people do it. Some more that others,

I don’t like using animal insults either. When someone say people are behaving like animals I just think, well no, they’re behaving like crappy humans.

Why is bastard out? It’s just a child born out of wedlock.

No-one uses that term now. Not been used in half a century! Horrible word for a child 'born out of wedlock!'

'Wedlock' is ancient too by the way!

It is gender neutral though and that’s the point of this thread so…..

I quite like fucker. Use that very frequently.

Bollocks is another strong one.

Guess you got your answer OP. It’s people who have never grown up and are acting out their childhood online!

I know. It is like being at school again with people getting excited about using bad words and getting a thrill out of it!

I always had wanker down as masculine on account of the hand gesture that usually goes with it

I've enjoyed the levity on this thread! Makes a change from the usual stresses of AIBU 🤭

🤣

Dublin. Mingebag is used in Corrie from time to time. 🤣

My husband is a slag.

😂

So not misogyny then, just childishness. There you go! The lady has decreed it!

I don't think people should use animals as insults at all. Animals are too good for that. The worst cow or bitch would be better than most humans. And I don't understand why women go along with the idea that a word for vagina is the filthiest thing you can call someone.

I think we use these words because they are entrenched in our language (so habit and maybe laziness) and almost everyone knows what behaviour they refer to. Yes, bitch and cow are the name for female dogs and cattle but I don't think we are going to get rid of gender based words any time soon and they aren't necessarily misogynistic. They only become that when used to describe women in general "all women" terms. When we say a specific woman is a bitch it is shorthand for a variety of unpleasant traits which only a boring old bat would run through as a list. [Why are bats always old?]

Do you have any suggestions for insults to replace those words?

Or do you think women should never use insulting words to describe each other regardless of how we behave?

I think they're all gender/sex-neutral terms used to describe attitudes and behaviours, not specific to gender/sex.

That was exactly my point. Thank you.

Do you have any suggestions for insults to replace those words?

Why do we have to insult people at all?

YANBU. It's mostly women that I see using "Karen" as a slur. Don't they realise it's a term used to put down all women.

Oh come on you can't be claiming that insults should just cease to exist now!?

Karen certainly doesn't put "all women" down what are you in about?

It's an insult that puts a certain type of woman down, the type most of us don't want to be!

Alot of language on here is horrific 💔💔💔

It's unbelievable tbh

Yep. Karens, may we neither know them or be them.

You don’t HAVE to insult anyone though.