The Dirty Words Feminists Use
“You’ve got balls.”
“Grow a pair of nuts”
“How ballsy.”
Why are words associated with the male genitalia part of our everyday vernacular? Why aren’t ovaries given the praise they deserve?
Let’s truly dissect the insides of phrases, such as “stop being a pussy and grow some balls.” Let’s question why words related to the female genitalia are often paired with a message of inferiority (with the exception of one caustic four-letter word beginning with a C and ending with a T).
In fact, the female reproductive system is far more compelling than male gonads and demands more attention and appreciation.
But we demean the beauty and power of the “pussy” when we compare it to someone who lacks courage or strength.
A culture obsessed with cartoons, funny YouTube videos and mindless comedies often overlooks the fact that men are incapable of tolerating the painful sensation of getting hit in the sack. It’s a prevalent act of men suffering this trauma, followed by a hilarious look of shock and a pitiful tumble to the ground where they helplessly rest in a fetal position.
Excuse me if I question why these sensitive little testicles are supposed to convey stoicism and badassery. They don’t.
If you ask, “who here is a feminist?” I’m sure countless people will raise their hands (with the peculiar exception of Lana Del Rey — C’mon woman, get on board!) Many women and men in the entertainment industry support the movement. It’s growing, and discussions about feminist concerns almost seem ubiquitous. Still, I shudder at the dissonance of hearing feminists use phrases such as, “Don’t be a pussy.”
Stop saying this.
Here are a couple examples of the word, “pussy,” being used to connote weakness on TV:
In Season 3 of the Netflix series Orange is the New Black (Episode: Don’t Make Me Come Back There), “Big Boo” and “Pennsatucky” plot revenge against a sadistic guard who sexually manipulated Doggett (Pennsatucky). When Doggett expresses her reluctance about going through with their plan, Boo responds:
“Are you pussying out on me right now?”
To “pussy out” in this case means to chicken out and allow fear to control you (no offense to chickens).
AMC’s The Walking Dead is home to one of TV’s toughest female leads (Michonne), and unfortunately, some of the biggest misogynists.
In Season 3 Episode 7 Merle Dixon expresses to his captive, Glenn, that “There ain’t a pair of nuts between the pussy lot of you.” When you clean up Merle’s broken English, his message is clear: Glenn’s group consists of feeble individuals (pussies) who lack strength (nuts).
Now, below are two instances where having balls or being ballsy translates to something more positive:
NBC recently released a new series, Heartbeat, based on a true story. The protagonist? A tenacious heart surgeon. In the promo, she exudes strength, confidence, and sass. I cringed when this presumed feminist says this at the end of the promotional video:
“High-risk, high-reward, and the chance to change the world. If you have the balls.” Apparently, testicles provide surgeons the ability to save lives.
DAZED, a fashion and culture magazine based in London recently featured news about Soko, the queer French artist/Kristen Stewart’s recent love interest.
According to DAZE, “The singer’s new project, Sextagram, is a collection of ‘gross,’ ‘cute’ and ‘ballsy’ sexts from strangers.” Ballsy — as in edgy, cool and fearless?
Realistically, there are feminists who won’t find it necessary to stop using these words in these contexts. At least be aware of the subtext.
We’re constantly consuming media. It’s important not to eat the subtle pieces of bullshit resting in the cracks of the patriarchy.