Please, I implore folks to please stop saying sexist epithets on DU

[Bread and Circus]

I've noticed that Gov. Palin has rankled a lot of feathers around here lately. I think part of it is the fear that they are going to steal another election and the other part is well earned resentment and frustration that she can spew such lies without batting an eye.

As such, I've noticed people using sexist epithets across different forums mainly amounting to "let's go after the b*tch". I'm not normally sensitive to stuff like this. I figure if men can be called dickheads and assholes with no one wincing then why aren't women fair game.

However, a light bulb went off in my head why such words are bad and earn a special place of critique and I'd like to share that inkling now. The issue is that words like nigger, cunt, bitch, boy (used in reference to black males), fag, and so forth are used in a way that's outside of the realm of a plain insult. They are words used to "put people in their place". There is a special power in them.

The other day, one of my older patients was in my office, and he also happens to be a life long family friend. He's pushing 87 and was in World War 2. We like to talk politics and so when Obama came up he started saying "boy" this and "boy" that. I could tell he sensed the world was changing and he was trying to hold on to whatever shred of orthodoxy he could. His only meager rebuttal to a reality in which he saw himself fading from was to put Obama in his place.

I can sense this now with the response to Palin. Be honest with yourselves and realize just because she may pose a political threat, it's not ok to use a lexicon that is born of the need to suppress classes of people.

It's wierd for me to be saying this because I'm about as un-PC as you can get and I think that the whole line of misogyny as used by the Clinton campaign and the current McCain campaign is far overblown. However, there's just no reason to give them ammunition.

[BlooInBloo]

1. I like Digby's take on her blog....

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/teen-marriages-by-tristero-from-times.html

They are ignorant, nasty prigs, ever so eager to preach their divine virtue to the rest of us sinners. Worse, they are greedy, sadistic, ignorant, nasty prigs, ever so eager to make the less advantaged suffer so that they may prosper. If McCain and Palin are permitted to continue the odious Bush legacy, both the number and burdens of poor young mothers will dramatically increase and their options will shrink. Innocent children will die so that Sarah Palin can call herself a pitbull with lipstick* and wealthy white supporters can snort and snuffle their approval.


*The phrase "pitbull with lipstick" means only one thing. So remember: Palin compared herself to a violent bitch, not Democrats, liberals, or progressives.

EDIT: Dammit - I keep forgetting: LEAVE TRIG ALONE!!!!!

[no limit]

2. At least we don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you c*nt.

;)

[SmokingJacket]

3. Extremely well-said, thank you.

I happen to love the word "bitch" and use it to refer to myself a lot, and even to men, but you're right. We're not doing ourselves any favors by resorting to using it for a political candidate.

[bluestateguy]

4. Sarah Palin is not a regular woman

She is a governor and a vice presidential candidate. She has more power than any of us do, or likely ever will. If she can't handle being called epithets, how is she going to be ready to face down Ahmadinejad? That said, I do believe that criticism of her should be limited to the issues. I won't call her those names, but if other people do, I am not going to lose sleep over it.

I would also add that during the primary, most of the sexist bile directed at Hillary came from Republicans and conservatives.

[TwilightGardener]

5. Eh, as the poster noted above, when you refer to yourself as a female dog, you

can't cry when someone else refers to you that way.

[Bread and Circus]

8. I'm not asking anyone to be nice to here, I'm asking we make our attacks intelligent and sharp.

[TwilightGardener]

9. That's asking too much.

:D

[Bread and Circus]

10. d'oh!

[snappyturtle]

6. Yep it's been that kind of thinking that has contributed to the endurance

of these last miserable eight years. There's a time and a place for most things and surely you must agree sp took off the gloves last night and set the tone of the future 'discussions'. I for one am tired of the Democratic Party taking the high road and turning the other cheek. Of course, we must not do as she did and only attack without giving us some policies and direction from her point of view. She as much as said, "Bring 'em on" and I think the lady should get what she asked for. imho

[cvoogt]

7. totally agree

It's not beneficial to anyone to use that language.
I would however point out that she called herself a pitbull with lipstick, so what's the word for a female dog again?
I just think that's funny, but on the other hand such language shouldn't be used in earnest.