Queen Latifah said it best in her song U.N.I.T.Y, ”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8cHxydDb7o“Who you calling a b---h? I’m not a b---h nor a hoe here we go”. We here this word being thrown around every single day whether it’s on TV, radio, or even right next to us on the bus. It’s obvious that this word is impossible to avoid. The word b---h has been taken from a simple meaning of a female dog to a negative interpretation of a woman or non masculine man .Almost every single rap or hip hop son you hear on the radio has the word b---h in it. Not saying other genres of music doesn’t use the word but hip hop and rap makes it a component in their music. No matter how many times I hear this word it makes the hairs on the back of my neck raise. I don’t find it okay at all no matter who uses the word.
As a woman I have to question other female’s use of the word. It’s no secret that some women disagree with the use of this word, and some don’t mind. Before I attack the men that use the word I want to discuss the females that use the word. B---h is use to put woman down in the most total negative way possible so I get a little confused when I hear a woman call another woman a b---h. Whether you’re just joking or referring to someone you call your friend it shouldn’t be acceptable. Wouldn’t that be contradicting yourself ? If you call another female a b---h it’s like saying it’s okay for a man to call a woman a b---h. The thing I don’t understand is why does a woman get mad when a man calls her a b---h but she is using the same word to call another woman a b---h? I really don’t get it. Female entertainers also publish the word in a light that it is ok to use the word. From Nicki Minaj to Rihanna referring to themselves as the baddest b---h in the game the perception of b---h doesn’t have a negative meaning to them, so it makes it okay. Yes everyone has the right to say what they want but especially in the lime light you effect so many people and young women shouldn’t you set a example of what should be excepted and what shouldn’t?
Society has proven that a negative meaning of word can be overruled and try to become a positive meaning, but in all reality it is still a negative meaning. Men have use the word b---h to degrade women in the most despicable way. Is their a difference if they said “ you a bad b---h” or “I love my b---h”? Regardless they are using the word to describe a woman. Why can’t they just say “you a bad woman” or “I love my woman”. Again I have to point to the direction of rap and hip hop. Kanye West has referred to his girlfriend and the mother of his child his perfect b---h in his song. Why couldn’t she just be his perfect woman? What I found appalling was her reaction http://thestir.cafemom.com/entertainment/141707/how_kim_kardashian_really_feels to the song she didn’t feel any offense to him calling her that. As a businesswoman with all her accomplishments under her belt I would think he would show more respect for her and she would correct him. In her response I have to question have us as women made it okay for men to call us a b---h? If we are at the point where we are okay with our significant other calling us that what does that say about ourselves?
So if society makes the word b---h an acceptable term in society what does that say about the word nigga or nigger? Just to intertwine the two words that shouldn’t be accepted in society that are accepted what does that say about us as people? The term nigga or nigger was used to degrade an African American person. Knowing the history behind the word why does African American people use it so fluently? Not so much on television shows you hear nigga being used but mostly from musicians again in rap or hip hop music. What is so outstanding in a negative way is that these rappers are black. In every song you hear “ my nigga this” my nigga that “ or “that’s my nigga” What????????!!! Im confused because as soon as a white person says the word nigga or nigger it is not okay but if we are calling ourselves nigga or nigger without any embarrassment we are making it okay for any other race to call an African American nigga. How can an African American be mad when another race calls them that word if they are referring to themselves as one? Oh its not okay because of their skin color is that it? But its okay if it is another African Amertican to call you the n word? It shouldn’t be okay at all no matter who you are. The meaning behind the word enough should be more than enough reason why we shouldn’t be calling each other nigga or nigger!
The reason I intertwine the word nigga or nigger with the word b---h because it just goes to show how society makes things okay when it is really not okay. It should be the same rule for everyone. It shouldn’t be okay for a woman or a man to call a woman a b---h. If we don’t stand for something we don’t stand for anything. Whether its in a rap lyric or seen on TV how do we put an end to this bashing of insults? These words are insults. My question here is does anyone truly believe that it is okay to use the word b---h in any shape or form?
I totally agree with you. I see it all the time, and it's so frustrating. Both words should be seen as insults, they shouldn't be terms of endearment or the casual terms that so many people have made them out to be. Women and men should have more pride in themselves than to refer to one another like that. The same goes with "ho" or "slut", and a few others that I can name. They're used just as frequently, between supposed "friends".
ReplyDeleteBoth of these words are always heard! You are completely correct that this word is heard everyday to the point that is very annoying, especially if it begins or heard of at a young age. This is commonly used between our youth and I can only imagine how far these words and insults can go if it is heard everywhere. Besides the fact that I personally feel strong about not cursing, these words are definitely past that limit especially if it is referring to another human being. People should really learn the meaning of these words and have some respect towards one another.
ReplyDeleteThere are strong arguments by many people that these terms can be co-opted to remove the negative connotations. For example, instead of allowing others to dictate the meaning of "the b- word," we can redefine it and use it as a reference to strong, powerful women. Similar arguments have been made about the "n- word"; instead of letting others disempower us with that racial slur, we will use it to show solidarity. I don't mean to imply that I agree with these reasons, but I do think they are arguments that should be considered and addressed. What do others think?
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you in the fact that these words have become commonly used. You can hear both of these words daily, especially in such a big city as New York City where there are so many people. When I began reading this blog post and reading about how you were questioning why women let this word be used by other women but not men, I was also thinking about the "n-word" because I feel the same way about that word. I agree with your argument about the "b-word" and the "n-word" being used frequently by the people of that race or gender, but when a person of a different race or gender says the word, they see it as offensive. I honestly don't see the word as a big deal anymore when I hear the word, but it does make me take a step back when I hear the word being used out loud in public. I believe part of the reason for this is because the place I grew up in is such a quiet and reserved place, so hearing it be used like a word that is not out of the ordinary and ok to use was a little hard to get used to.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question, I don't think it is ok to use this word in a way that insults or puts down women. I think that people have gotten too comfortable with using this word and people of all different races and genders and ages are using this word more now and I don't think it is ok to do.
It's really like taking back the power. Those two words, b*tch and n*igga, are so heavily used that if I'm referred to as or called either, I just shrug. I'll tell people "is that the best you can come up with?". I'm not fazed by either one and I'm sure it's because of it's widespread use. I feel that both terms are weakened and will eventually become powerless due to this overuse.
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