Bitch Culture

706 Words2 Pages

Popularized words such as “bitch” have transitioned throughout time. Originating in the Anglo Saxon time period in the northern European area such as Germany, Norway, and Sweden(“bitch”,n1,etymology). The term was originally formulated to described a quadruped that exhibits “growling or snarling” characteristics. Today the term has been morphed to represent and demean women.The term “bitch” has evolved and, in my definition, is a derogatory term society uses to subvert women and is used incorrectly as a compliment among adolescents.
The word “bitch” has transitioned throughout time from describing a female dog to a female person(“bitch”,n1,1a). Even in previous time periods there were distinct roles in every functioning society. Throughout history it is seen where females were reduced to a lower class of citizenship than males, so the transition of the word is not a far fetched concept. The word having the ability to strip independent free thinking women of their dignity by reducing them to that of an animal would be a verbal form of oppressing a woman and keeping them “well trained” like an animal. It allows a woman’s character to be questioned and it ostracizes them from the others.
“Bitch” already began to redefine itself by the 1800’s. In 1856 it was used in Never Too Late by C. Reade to describe someone spoiling ones schemes(“bitch”v2,2). This allowed the term to jump from describing something such as a female dog or woman to the an act of ruining plans, event, or situation. A later transition came in the mid 1900’s to describe a persons complaints of a certain matter. The characteristics of spoiling or complaining is generally attributed to women or males with women-like qualities. This allows the concept of the word...

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... is seen in the media displayed as a good word to be addressed by and as a degrading

Works Cited
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West,Kanye.,JayZ. "That’s My Bitch." Online video clip.
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