Is the word ‘cunt’ misogynistic in the U.K.?

[QueenArseClangers]

Just that really. I’ve noticed it being a sentiment more common in the US than over here.

Yes, I'd say so. It's an insult particular to women.

Yes

It's officially the worst of all swears.
Usage is increasing I think.
Probably is a bit misogynistic, and I used to absolutely hate it, but I rather like an occasional well timed / placed c**t these days.

People seem to hate the word here. I don't think it's much different than dick.

Ooh, I don't think it is aimed at women. I hear it more aimed at men. I would never use it at a woman.

In the US it is misogynistic because it is applied almost exclusively to women, like a stronger form of "bitch".

In the UK and Australia it is applied to both sexes and isn't generally considered misogynistic... although of course, it can be argued that it is so, in that it literally means vagina and is treated as the most offensive/strong swearword (much stronger than prick, dick, cock). Nevertheless that is a different argument from the American one.

I think so. It's telling that the single worst and most abusive obscenity refers to women's genitals. I'd always prefer another, personally. Having said that, I do know plenty of people who aren't especially sexist who use it. So much language is sexist, when you pause - hysterical being the most obvious example.

I don’t think it’s misogynistic in that it would be used more towards women than towards men - I think it is used equally for either. Whether it’s misogynistic to use words for female genitalia to be offensive I’m a bit more on the fence about. It’s certainly common to use words for male anatomy as a slur, but for some reason cunt is considered more offensive.

I think it’s very generational personally.

So perhaps in the past it was misogynistic but to younger generations it’s just another swear word.

Unless you are from Glasgow
in which case it can be used simultaneously for - your worst enemy, your best friend, as a collective noun, and possibly punctuation

Yeah, not in Scotland, it’s the word used to describe the people you really like, and the word used to describe the people you really don’t.

Absolutely not.
If I had to choose, I'd rather be called a cunt than a bitch or a cow.
I love the sound of the word actually.
Though I am Scottish, in my area there's more chance of you being called a 'good cunt' than a cunt cunt. Though I realise not all Scottish people agree, as I've noticed before on MN.
You have to own the word.

My fav word

Completely agree wellbehavedwomen.

Loads of words for penis. Mildly offensive at most. Relatively few words for vulva of vagina. Generally offensive to use. Other than the twee stuff.

Gets used against both sexes, but as for why are slang terms for women's bits more offensive than slang terms for men's bits? Misogyny.

Chipperfish
Not just Glasgow. It’s a bit of an odd British thing that many people call a stranger ‘mate’, but call their mate a ‘cunt’.

All my best friends are cunts

I find bitch more offensive and misogynistic- it can only be used about women. I have used cunt to describe men.

Think it's considered different in the US - a much more offensive word.

In Scotland it pretty much means mate.

Excellent blog by linguist Debbie Cameron on the word "cunt"

@AltogetherAndrews

Yeah, not in Scotland, it’s the word used to describe the people you really like, and the word used to describe the people you really don’t.

It's why I love it so much.

I use cunt all the time, I don’t think of it as misogynistic.

Here’s Germaine Greer on the subject:

Its not who it is used against, but the fact that a part of a biological female's anatomy is considered to be the worst thing someone should be.

Calling men a bit of a dick is just jokey.

Too many people still rely on saying something or someone is a because they think it is the ulitimate insult.

Should never ever be used.

It's an indiction of the "men in our heads" ie that we grew up in and are still living in a world dominated by male values.

In Scotland it pretty much means mateIn Scotland it pretty much means mate

It certainly does not.

Yeah, not in Scotland, it’s the word used to describe the people you really like, and the word used to describe the people you really don’t?

No it isn't.

Unless you are from Glasgow
in which case it can be used simultaneously for - your worst enemy, your best friend, as a collective noun, and possibly punctuation

Claptrap.

You are speaking for yourselves. I'm so bored with this nonsense that everyone in Scotland goes around swearing all the time.

I've only heard men and women use it to describe men

I like the word and use it where appropriate.

No idea why some swear words (or e we less for that matter) are considered offensive when other words aren't.

There is no sense to it. For example why is "twat" considered a mild swear word when cunt is the most offensive word ever when they mean the same thing. It's just bizarre.

Equally I can say "I have a bloody hand" in any setting, yet if I say "that's bloody awful" that is swearing and no ok in some settings.

All seems rather arbitrary to me.