This jury decision validates the perception of many women here regarding institutionalized misogyny.

[Zorra]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Whisp (a host of the Feminists group).

3 members of the jury believe that it is perfectly acceptable to refer to a woman as a bitch. One of them found it so acceptable that they even used the very dismissive sarcastic comment "Groan". This is extremely disturbing. If this was freerepublic, I would expect it. But this is Democratic Underground, a forum whose membership includes some of the most enlightened and evolved progressives in the entire world.

Now I ask you all, why is it OK to use the the sexist slur "bitch" as a negative descriptor for a a woman, but not OK to use the negative descriptor "nigger" for a black person?

I'll tell you why, in plain English. It is because misogyny is so deeply rooted in our culture, so institutionalized, so acceptable within the collective consciousness of this culture, that many people can't even understand when they are being misogynists. Or, accepting of misogyny.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/124090061

[Scuba]

1. Agree. The "B" word is beneath DU.

[pnwmom]

2. I agree. Neither that word nor the C word should be acceptable here. They demean all women,

not just the specific woman referred to.

[yellerpup]

4. Feminist description of the "C" word.

Cuneform writing using Delta shaped symbols (the shape of a woman's public patch) was invented shortly after the invention of agriculture, Women stayed home and raised crops and children while the men were still out hunting. So, after women invented agriculture (and plant based medicine), they needed a type of record keeping to keep track of who had how many bushels of grain in the communal silo. Each woman had a unique, Delta-shaped stamp that they used on the clay tablets to keep score of how much grain went in and how much grain came out. As trade expanded the symbols evolved into a system of written communication. When men came home from the hunt and discovered that in their absence, the women had prospered beyond their wildest imagination (and were in control of all the wealth) they began trying to figure out how to take control of it for themselves. That began with defeating women. Since women had always relied on the hunters for protection, they didn't know how to war so they lost. The hunters coopted all treasure (food) and denigrated the creators of the society's wealth, thereby creating the war of the sexes which has never ended. Maybe that's a little too easy, but that's how i think of the C word. I know when it's used against me that it is meant only as the crudest and lowest of insults a woman can receive. That's the insulter's problem. There is nothing about a c**t to be ashamed of.
Cune-form merely means "c**t-shaped".

Of course, when you are called a 'c**t" in this day and age it is meant as an insult and should be immediately addressed. Somehow, just knowing the origin helps me fight back a little better.

[SoutherDem]

3. I agree

I often ask myself why certain words are acceptable while others aren't. In all fairness I also at times wonder why a word troubles so many people.

Also, there are some words which context and the user changes the acceptability. If a white person uses the "N"word it is wrong, if a black person uses it it is ok. If a straight person uses the "F" word (french for bassoon) describing a gay person it is wrong, if a gay person uses it it is ok.

My opinion is if it is wrong for one it should be wrong for all.

If I were on the jury, I would have voted to hide.

[dkf]

5. It's never the word that is the problem, it's the contemptuous undertone.

Look at what they are doing to "Trayvon".

People are deluding themselves if they think changing language is the big deal, it's the attitude and respect that is the real issue.

[unc70]

6. But the word has no connection with female dogs

I would not act so niggardly to niggle the point, nor to offer any biting commentary.

[Whisp]

7. please take this to H&M

thanks for understanding.