So I got a little curious.
Somehow, I got it in my mind that everyone perceived cunt the way I did: as a (formerly) hateful word that shouldn’t be used. Period. It didn’t even cross my mind that some people, especially women, wouldn’t be offended if some asshole called them a cunt.
Therefore, I chose the most technologically effective way to survey people in the 21st century. I posted a status update and asked people to tell me their genuine opinions about the word “cunt.”
One 30-something mother of two and Education major responded: “For me, it is the ULTIMATE unspeakable…like Voldemort! It is the word-that-shall-not-be-said and the ONLY ONE I truly feel this strong about.”
Which is an answer I, to say the least, loved. Firstly because of the Harry Potter reference. Secondly, because she recognized how vile a word “cunt” used to be. You don’t fuck around with it because it can hurt people. It’s that simple.
A 20-something male student said: “I think it’s one of those word that you have to choose extremely wisely when it use. (obviously very offensive to some people and should generally not be said, although I do think women over exaggerate its offensiveness, which is the only real reason it shouldn’t be said). However, it can at times be so appropriate, when some people are just so unspeakably awful, etc. It’s just a word after all.”
In other words, cunt should be used sparingly because it’s so powerful but it can be appropriate. That seemed like a contradiction to me… Other people, more or less, said what he said: it’s a powerful and hateful word…so only use when appropriate!
When is it ever appropriate to slander a woman’s body?
Read More Reclaiming “Cunt” – Pt. II « Everything is Problematic
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