The 'c' word

[Terfing]

As in, the 4-letter word that refers to female genitalia.

I have started a thread in 'Site Stuff' asking them to ban the use of this word on Mumsnet. Personally, i find the word hugely offensive. It is shocking that one of the worst insults in the English language involves comparing someone to female genitalia. Even worse, I've seen it many times on the feminism boards.

What are other people's thoughts on this?

I don't like it but in some regions in the UK, it's regarded as inoffensive.

You mean cunt?

Cunt?

Meh. Not offensive to me.

I disagreed there and I'll disagree here! It's only the most terrible, offensive word ever if you believe female genitalia is worse than male. I say cock and dick as well. Why not cunt?

I don't like it, however I don't think it should be banned

In the US, where I'm from & am at the moment, the "c-word" is extremely offensive & women (or at least the ones I know & encounter) especially rarely use it. But in the UK the c-word - & its corollary "twat" - have been in widespread use for a long, long time, & people of both sexes seem inured to their negative, misogynistic connotations.

I'd never use the c-word myself, but I do often use "dick" & "prick" as pejoratives, so I think it would be hypocritical if I said we can use male genitalia as an insult, but not female...

As a general rule, I'm strongly against censorship of terms or ideas. I don't like a lot of what I see & hear in the West's coarse, vulgar 21st century culture, but IMO banning words & "thought crimes" is not the solution. Especially today when we women are being told that we must not utter or display words like "woman" & "vagina" because some men have now decided that women speaking about ourselves & our bodies is offensive to males who genuinely want to be female as well as to males who are sexually turned on by the idea of themselves as females.

I personally have felt extremely constrained & distressed by MN's policy that says we cannot name & "misgender" violent/creepy men who claim to be women, & we also cannot use certain accurate terms to describe a segment of the population out to deny girls & women our sex-based rights. This had made me feel gaslighted & very angry. So although I don't like the c-word, I'd prefer not see more banning - on MN or anywhere else.

I don't think there should be a ban on any word but I don't like the word at all, it's horrible and I've always disliked it. It's the worst swear word imo.

I think in FWR we really should analyze why it's the 'worst'.

It's only the most terrible, offensive word ever if you believe female genitalia is worse than male. That's not how I feel about the word at all. The word to me is using aggression and anger AT the female part not about it or describing it.

The word to me is using aggression and anger AT the female part not about it or describing it. So meaning aggression and anger towards women, that's how I see it anyway.

I would refer to someone as a prick or an arsehole, it's just another body part in the nether regions.

Perhaps we should all be more ladylike, and ban all bad words. 😅

Cunt? I'm not a fan, personally, but I can't see the reason for banning it.

I don't like calling women "bitches" but I wouldn't support a ban on that, either.

I work with someone who says it’s a term of endearment where they come from. Well not really endearment but where you may say ‘ok you bastards/bitches/gits’...

Its a nice powerful word. So id like to keep it. Much associated with women is weak and inferior.

Sometimes it's just the right word

Its a nice powerful word. I agree it is a powerful word but not in any positive way.

OP perhaps you should go and see the Vagina Monologues

In Spain it is used by everyone as a friendly term towards people you know a bit. It is not an insult at all. I still find it strange and wouldnt use it myself . But it is not offensive and it is generally when men use it as term of abuse that I don't want to hear it. Banning it is counterproductive as is the way we have to censor ourselves here around certain issues

The word itself isn't the problem, it's the usage.

It is misogynistic to use it as an insult as then it suggests that female genitalia are terrible and disgusting etc and no one would want to be compared to them

But to use it in a positive way is fine, "I love my cunt" etc

You've done what?

Do you know nothing of the history of MN, and the use and acceptance of the word cunt is a deliberate political act?

You can't ban words. You want to ban cunt, some out there want to ban the word 'woman' because it's offensive to them as it's not 'inclusive'. That's not acceptable and neither is banning the word cunt - for whatever reason.

I don't think any words should be banned.

I use "cunt" all the time, along with all the other genital-related swear words. But then, I'm one of the lessers. Don't copy me, kids!

No banning, OP. It's annoying enough our speech is controlled here as much as it is currently. No need to make it worse.

No banning but it isn't great to use bad language in general if you can help it.