Bitch (slang)
"Bitch" is a slang term originating from the old Germanic word "bicce," meaning "female dog." Historically, it has primarily been used as a sexist insult directed at women, often implying promiscuity or challenging traditional gender roles. The term's derogatory usage can be traced back to around 1400, and by the sixteenth century, it expanded to insult gay men and effeminate males. Additionally, the phrase "son of a bitch" has also been used to insult both a man and his mother, implying questions about legitimacy due to perceived loose morals.
In the late twentieth century, some women began to reclaim the term as a form of empowerment, aiming to diminish its negative connotations. This reappropriation was reflected in popular culture, with notable instances like Meredith Brooks' 1997 song "Bitch," which became a commercial success. Despite these efforts, the term remains controversial and retains its roots as a pejorative in many contexts, highlighting the ongoing complexities surrounding its usage in language and society.
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Bitch (slang)
Bitch is a slang term that has most often been used as a sexist insult applied to women. Its negative connotation is likely connected its use describing a female dog. However, in the late twentieth century, some women began embracing the term as a way to strip it of its power as an insult. At other times in history, the word has also been used as a homophobic slur towards gay men or effeminate males. Bitch is also used as a verb in the context of a complaint, such as someone "bitching" about high taxes. The origin of that usage is less clear.
Overview
The word bitch originated as the old Germanic word bicce, meaning “female dog.” This word was likely derived from the Old Norse bikkjuna, which referred to a female dog or other canine species such as wolves or foxes. The use of the word as an insult to women dates back to about the year 1400. It was often used in reference to women involved in prostitution and those seen as having loose morals. This usage is believed to have derived from comparing the women to the indiscriminate breeding habits of female dogs.
Initially, the word was only applied to women, but its usage was broadened during the next two centuries. By the sixteenth century, the term was sometimes applied to gay men, although not always in a negative sense. It was also used to insult men seen as effeminate or weak.
The phrase, “son of a bitch,” came to be used as an insult to both a male and his mother. During the centuries when inheritance was strongly connected to being a rightful male heir, calling someone a son of a bitch implied that a man’s mother had loose morals and that he himself might not be the son and heir of his father.
In the first decades of the twentieth century, use of the term increased when it came into common use as a derogatory term for a woman who did not fit into established gender norms and maintain what others saw as her “proper” place. It was often applied to the suffragettes fighting for women's right to vote. The word’s place in society was further cemented by its use in popular culture in books, song titles and lyrics. Some of this took a dark turn as some hip-hop and rap songs in the 1980s included lyrics labeling women who pursued their own interests as bitches. Some songs spoke of violence done to women and implied the violence was justified by the woman’s actions.
Beginning in the 1990s, some women began to fight back against this by embracing the word. A female-owned magazine adopted the word as its name, and other women wrote books and sang songs that used the word as a term of empowerment. One of those, a 1997 song entitled “Bitch” by singer Meredith Brooks, reached no. 2 on the Billboard singles charts in the United States. However, in many circles, the word remains controversial and has never completely shaken its origins as a negative term for a woman.
Bibliography
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Brabaw, Kasandra. “Bitch, Slut, Spinster, and 5 Other Words Women Have Reclaimed.” Refinery 29, 8 March 2018, www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/03/191064/slang-offensive-words-female-empowerment-international-womens-day. Accessed 1 June 2020.
Jones, Annie Liao. “How to Be Assertive Without Being Called a Bitch.” Fast Company, 2 May 2019, www.fastcompany.com/90342812/how-to-be-assertive-without-being-called-a-bitch. Accessed 1 June 2020.
Pardes, Arielle. “The Evolution of the Bitch.” Vice, 9 Sept. 2014, www.vice.com/en‗us/article/ppmx3m/the-evolution-of-the-bitch-905. Accessed 1 June 2020.
Peterson, Britt. “Meet the New Bitch.” Atlantic, April 2015, www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/04/meet-the-new-bitch/386246/. Accessed 1 June 2020.
Rinaldi, Karen. “The Harmless-Sounding Phrase That Is Terrible for All Women.” Time, 16 March 2017, time.com/4702985/sexist-language-that-hurts-women/. Accessed 1 June 2020.
Stamper, Kory. “Behind the Secret Struggle to Define the Word ‘B*tch.” Big Think, 7 April 2017, bigthink.com/videos/kory-stamper-bitch-how-merriam-webster-defines-an-evolving-word. Accessed 1 June 2020.
Taylor-Coleman, Jasmine. “What’s So Bad About Being Called a Bitch?” BBC News, 29 June 2016, www.bbc.com/news/magazine-36627061. Accessed 1 June 2020.