Article about use of the word BITCH

[Caligula]

Kate Figes in the Guardian today. I thought this was quite interesting and it's got some lovely gems from Hollywood divas of the 40's.

Who are you calling a bitch?

Bitch appears to be a lot more common in the US, where they lack other alternatives, like cow or bint or git, etc.

Ah yes, our creative use of language...

Hooray! I think the word is on its way to being reclaimed, what with things like "stitch n bitch" etc.

It's sad but true that male animal verbs like stallion are almost always complimentary and female ones are virtually all derogatory.

I've always been interested by the fact that there is no direct female equivalent of the word "wanker". You just don't hear women being called this.

You can call an obnoxious bloke a wanker, or a tosser, but what do you call a similarly obnoxious woman - apart from "bitch" or "cow", which are rather too misogynist?

Fabulous article thanks Caligula, I love Kate Figes Jean Harlow was a sad loss to Hollywood...

What does a wanker or tosser actually imply though?

Is it a male equivalent of a bitch? I don't think it has quite the same overtones.

I generally use the word wanker or tosser when I'm driving. If it's a woman, I'll probably use something like arse or silly bint.

Was amazed when a male friend of mine criticised Sex and the City saying 'but they're all so bitchy'.

I genuinely can't see it.

The characters are funny, outspoken and tactless, but rarely bitchy.

Maybe men see honesty in women as bitchiness. Maybe Kate Figes is right.

Depressing if true.

I think you're right, caligula, it isn't quite the same. So what do you call a woman who is exhibiting behaviour which, in a man, would lead to his being called a wanker?

that would be a queen bitch I recon, or the c. word

Bitch =

Babe
In
Total
Control
(of)
Herself

I know its naff, but that's what I always think when men & other women bandy that term around.

Good article!

this made me smile

I agree Caligula, I don't think "wanker" is a male equivalent of "bitch" at all. To me, "bitch" means either feisty or deliberately unkind. "Wanker" is totally different, it implies thoughtless, crass, egotistical behaviour (ie cutting me up at a junction or driving through a massive puddle at speed and splashing me and DS in his buggy). I would call a woman behaving in that way a wanker, I don't think it is sex-specific. I'd also happily call a man a bitch.