Do you remember the first time you swore? Probably not because it’s not that important to most people but I do. The first time I swore was in the third grade and I messed up and got out during a game of four square and in my agony at the defeat I exclaimed “shit!” (much to the shock and awe of the had-not-yet-sworn innocent children around me). That first time I said “shit,” it was a big deal; but now shit is the probably the least sweary swear word in my repertoire. Because after that first time, I used it all the time and eventually everyone had started swearing. You start off with “shit” and “damn” and “hell” and eventually graduate onto the illustrious, oh-so-useful and oh-so-satisfying “fuck.” Seriously, say “fuck” right now, just say “fuck.” Feels good right? Fuck yeah it does! My point is that the more we use these words, the less powerful they are. I like saying “fuck” but it doesn’t have the same weight anymore because I say it all the fucking time. Now it’s down on the level of “damn” and “shit” as far as power or effect goes. We need to get to that same place with “cunt.”
For the most part, “bitch” is pretty commonplace. We call each other “bitch” all the time and it’s not even really an insult. Usually, if I’m calling you a bitch you’re my friend and it’s a term of endearment. Bitch used to be pretty universally recognized as a negative term and then went through the process of reclamation (source: Bitch: A History). “Cunt” is one of the few words that still retains it’s “did she really just say that?” status. Well you know what, she really did just say that! Cunt cunt cunt cunt cunt cunt cunt cunt cunt cunt cunt cunt cunt. Cunt. Yeah. Notice how at the end it basically doesn’t sound like a word anymore? It’s because the more you use a word, the less power it has. Why else do you think Voldemort didn’t want you to say his name? Dumbledore even tells Harry, “Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself” (Sorcerer’s Stone, Chapter 17). The taboo on the word “cunt” is what makes it a bad word. And “cunt’ should not be a bad word. It shouldn’t be offensive to call someone by their genitalia. By telling us that “cunt,” is the most offensive thing you can call a woman, you’re saying that women should be ashamed of their sex and their sexuality. Well fuck that! When you think about the word “dick” it’s a mildly insulting term for a guy who is kind of jerk. Maybe he cut you off in traffic, or took the last bag of Peachy-O’s at the store, or drank your last beer from your stock of Summer Shandy and it’s late October and so you’re not going to get anymore of that shit (okay that last guy is not a dick, he is the worst human being ever). But ultimately the term “dick” isn’t that offensive. So why is calling a girl a “cunt” (AKA calling her a “vagina”) considered one of the worst insults you could call a woman? It shouldn’t be! And the only way we can change that is by accepting “cunt” the way we accepted “bitch” and the way the gay community reclaimed “queer.” So, my solution is, let’s all adopt the word cunt as a term of endearment – “You bought me a bottle of Jack Daniels just because you love me and you know it’s my favorite? Thanks cunt!” or “Oh my gosh you got into the grad program at Northwestern? I’m so jealous you lucky cunt!” Let’s use it to describe awesome things – “Montee Ball just gave you season tickets to the student section fo free? That’s cunterific!”
Okay that last one might be a stretch but we need to reclaim “cunt.” It needs to become only a mildly offensive and over-used word like “dick.” Ideally it would become like the word “bitch” where the majority of the time, women use it in a non-offensive way with their friends. And when “bitch” is used offensively, it’s really not that bad; it’s like being called a “meany-face” in all honesty. Because a word that is a synonym for the female genitalia should not be the worst thing you can call a woman. Saying that calling a woman a “cunt” is the worst insult you can give her is saying that women should be ashamed of their vaginas and their sexuality and I like my vagina. So go ahead, call me a cunt. I’m okay with it. Cunt.
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