Yes, this is still a racist, sexist, unequal world.

[Starboard Tack]

183. OK, I take your point about calling a woman a bitch with no qualifier

For example, introducing one's wife or girlfriend as one's bitch, is extremely degrading and inappropriate.
However, telling one's wife that she is being a bitch, in a certain moment, is neither degrading nor sexist.
Qualifiers can change the whole dynamic. Calling someone a "mean bitch" may de either insulting or complimentary, but not sexist.
Calling a woman "one tough bitch" is usually meant as a compliment and is not sexist.

Then we have the SOB. Is it sexist to use that expression? I think not.

Maybe I have a different perspective on this. I grew up in the UK, where words like "twat" and "cunt" are commonly used to describe members of both sexes, but do not have the same sexist stigma associated with them as in N. America. They are merely alternatives to arsehole, wanker and bugger, all of which could be interpreted as being either sexist or homophobic, but they are not.

The important thing is always intent. If one misinterprets the intent, is it the fault of the speaker or the listener? I agree that one should always be aware of the appropriateness of certain words with respect to time and place. I never use the words I exampled in the paragraph above, but I am not offended when I hear them used by Brits.