Use of the word cunt as an insult towards a male

[kukeslala]

Hi

Have posted this on another thread, but very interested to read some more replies, so have decided to give myself my own thread.

I have been reading this board for a few days, and have noticed the word cunt being used to insult males.

I just dont get it?

Why use a word that describes a females vagina to insult a male.

Its not that it is classed as a swear word, its that its used to describe a female body part and then its being used in a derogatory way to insult someone- IYSWIM?

Is it being used to reclaim the word? Or just used without thinking?

Thanks

Not in my part of the UK. Nor any part I've lived in.

Odd.

'Bellend' is exclusively used by teenage boys I know.

Agree that cunt is probably considered the most shocking swearword. It's getting more commonly used though from what I see hear.

Don't forget twat which is of a theme.

I like a good swear personally, and liberally scatter my conversation with obscenity and blasphemy

JCMHerodina

What its not the most insulting? Interesting what is?

I have always been fond of "shower of bastards" especially in work-related contexts.

Unfortunately using the word bastard in problematical from a feminist perspective.

I should probably stick to blasphemy and "effing and blinding". But that feels so limiting.

I have been in workplaces where inanimate objects have been referred to as "that cunting xyz" so would not agree it is only aimed at men.

Oh in fact here on MN there was the famous "Cunting tescos" thread.
OP it's cunts all over this site TBH, not just FWR by a long chalk.

I call my dishwasher / car / washing machine a cunt when they're playing up. I'm reclaiming it a bit but it's still a very satisfying swear.

Mind you cocksucker is another favourite swearword, but actual cock-sucking isn't a bad thing.

There's always something though.
Cocksucker being used as an insult is super-patriarchal. Rolling homophobia and misogyny up in one - it seems to be an insult used in the US more and at men - so the homophobia wins out there I guess.

The US is maybe more specific at who they aim swearwords at? While in UK it seems to be more of a merry free-for all.

I think that Blackadder did a lot for a well turned insult in the UK.

I like to combine to improve the overall effect.

Actually hold on a minute!

OP no you are wrong I'm afraid.

It's not the worst swearword as I just remembered I actually pulled someone up on MN the other day for calling another MNer something that I thought was rather strong. I suspected she didn't know what it meant and I was right.

The word was nonce, it is definitely miles worse than cunt, and interestingly as cunt is associated with women (due to being their genitals) nonce is associated with men (starting as it did in men's prisons).

What do you make of that?

ku - no, was replying to the post just before mine.

Nicetabard
I know the word and its meanings (I think, Im going to double check), I have never heard it being used to insult someone.

Yes, it is what I thought.

It's a funny word. In the US, it is used as particularly hideous insult aimed almost exclusively at women.

I was discussing this with a friend the other day, who like me, is an American woman who has in the past lived in the UK. We were a bit surprised when we actually realized that we had never in our lives heard anyone utter the word aloud in the US.

I use cunt in the same way I use bollocks, usually. Nonce is really disgusting to me. Deeply insulting to call someone that.

Cunt' has a dual meaning- it means both a vagina, and a despicable person (usually male).

This does not mean that to call someone a cunt is to insult vaginas, just that the word is being used to mean the second definition; in the same way that nobody thinks that cricket is played with small, blind, flying rodents, or that anyone really believes that David Cameron's parents are unmarried.

'Cunt' is not a bad word- it's the best word for a bad thing.

I think you all think Im offended by swearing, Im not at all in fact am often told I swear to much- blah.
Because I swear to much, I would use the word cunt, to really get my point across, In away fuck doesn't even any more.

I was challenging my own thought processes, after reading this board for a few days.

Nonce is a disgusting word, and have never used it or heard it as an insult, I wouldn't find it appropriate at all to use this as an insult or in a joke.

Unfortunately I cant do this now, but would be really interested to see what people would say if I was to post, my husband has just called me a cunt, or something along those lines.

Would people be just offended by the husband swearing at wife, or would they also specifically be more offended by the word used.

As gender based insult words go my favourite is by far wanker which I feel is very male. Is there a female version? I do use it for all varieties of the human species but would love to expand my vocabulary.

Read this: Origins of Cunt

The female version of wanker is wanker. It means someone who masturbates ... which both men and women do ...

I like the 'origins of cunt' like but it's not serious, is it?

Cuneiform comes from 'wedge-shaped'.

I've stopped using cunt so much to insult, as it's gendered. 'Arsehole' is gender neutral, as is arsepart (thanks person on lemon drizzle thread).

I have objections to the word vagina as it means 'sheath for a sword' i.e. a place where penises go. That irritates me beyond belief, so I don't use it except at the dr (if necessary of course, not randomly ).

If your husband was calling you cunt or the equivalent, I'd be worried about the verbal abuse rather than the word if you see what I mean.

DroopyTulip

words I've heard finger fuck, frigging, wanklette, bean flicker, but also wank is also used for a female masturbating (but you do tend to think male first).
Never really heard them used as an insult though, only to discuss the act of masturbation.

Thanks Wren.

Thanks Sunny,

Never heard of arsepart-lol.

Hi kukesala I can't claim arsepart - it comes from 'citrus-titted arsepart' (something to do with lemon drizzle cake).

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1718384-To-pelt-my-cakes-at-this-mums-head-in-the-playground-this-afternoon-fume