I’m Still a Lady

*This was an assignment for my Women’s Studies class and figured I’d share it.

I’m proud of my age
The number that gauges experience
I’m proud of my voice
The noise that exposes my worldliness
I’m proud of my DIY
The scraps thrown together when my voice fails

I’m proud to be assertive
The strength and ability to refuse
I’m proud to insult
The man who doesn’t understand ‘no’
And to practice the lines:
“Vete la meirda,” and “¿Entiendes?”
when the language barrier becomes a cage

I’m proud to be a feminist
And enlighten people that we’re not man-hating lesbians
I’m proud to wear a “boy’s haircut”
One that originated as a symbol of bravery and strength
I’m proud to “wear the pants”
Alongside with every other strong leader

Bitch

bitch (bich) n.
1. A female canine animal, esp. a dog.
2. Offensive. A woman considered to be lewd.
3. Slang. A complaint.
4. Slang. Something very unpleasant or difficult.

Thank you American Heritage College Dictionary for those plain definitions. We all know the term “bitch,” have heard it fly out of a person’s mouth, and maybe we’ve said it just once, or it’s part of our every day vocabulary. I don’t think many people read beyond the simplistic meaning of the word, so allow me to fill you in on one individual’s interpretation — mine.

Take the first definition: “a female canine animal, esp. a dog” and put that into context In the animal kingdom, animals have sexual intercourse for the sole purpose of reproducing (unless you speak of a human or dolphin). I ask you to now insert into your mind the image of two animals (dogs, for example) having sex. Who’s on top? The male. Who’s on the bottom? The female. A female canine/dog, or bitch, would be on the bottom, powerless, and, in informal terms, “taking it.”

Let’s apply this to the widely known and said slang term: bitch. When a person spews the word “bitch” out at someone, it’s considered an insult. In other words, the person is being called a powerless, reproducing machine, with really no other use than to survive, create, and in some countries, appear on the dinner table.

Many of today’s societies imposes the idea that a masculine female is okay (not exactly acceptable, but simply okay), but for a male to be feminine is looked down upon and negative. The word “bitch” supports the following ideas:
1. Females are meant to be second;
2. Bitches are weak, or feminine, or female.

And the connotation in the usage is a negative one. Calling a female a bitch can be seen as “putting her in her place” and calling a male a “bitch” says, “You’re not strong; you’re not macho; you’re looked down upon; you’re just as bad/worthless as any female roaming the earth.”

Many people like to see themselves as unique and different. Consider this: start a new trend, be a part of the minority, and use your mind. Step away from the ordinary, and stand out as an individual – refrain from using “bitch.”