(no subject)

[prog]

You know, I'm actually rather uncomfortable with the current popular usage among the Daily Show-watching set of using "[has] balls" and "[is a] pussy" as slang for possessing admirable bravado and contemptible cowardliness or passivity, respectively.

Since the people employing the phrase are the furthest thing from ripsnorting redstaters, I suppose that there's a sense of ironic fun to be had by stepping briefly into George Liquor's shoes for a moment, passing an indictment as one who believes that men primarily validate themselves by going in there and changing the world, and women do it by quietly submitting to authority.

It's a little shocking to hear it coming from you, and so we all laugh. But when I hear you say it over and over again, I do start to wonder.

Comments

[ex-colorwhe.livejournal.com]

the whole thing is complicated but i don't like it some of it. i'm more comfprtable with people of any sex being ascribed balls as courage than with people of any sex (though it's said far more often about men) being called pussy as wimp.

this is also why i never liked the word "wuss" as it is a combo of wimp and pussy.

[dictator555.livejournal.com]

Huh, I've never really thought about it that way. These were pretty common utterances I heard growing up, and I've been enjoying their revival and renaissance on the Daily Show. As a woman, I personally don't have any problem with them. The literal meanings and their sexist connotations are so far removed from reality for me that the words are completely inoffensive. Not just is it ironic in the it's-funny-because-it's-totally-not-true sense, but the literal meaning is just so faded. The words seem entirely washed of the sexist connotations and reborn as just kind of fun baby-swears.

But maybe that's just naive of me and I'm unwittingly supporting the misogynist patriarchy. Though I don't think I personally use them much, I'll try to refrain from doing so in your presence any more. :)

[cnoocy]

I've heard "has ovaries" and similar applied to courageous women. I think I've even heard "has gonads"!

'nads

[cthulhia]

I try to use gonads to suggest courage. I suppose I could train myself to say spineless for the other thing. But then the invertebrates get all pissed off.

[chocorisu.livejournal.com]

I hadn't really considered it that way--definitely food for thought.

I almost always refer to someone "having guts" if they have lots of courage: gender neutral, although now I think about it, I have no idea about the etymology. I suppose "spineless" is pretty good for the weak-willed too.

[aspartaimee.livejournal.com]

i think someone commented on this before, but i think the language is designed to get a laugh, like here's a "news" program that is faux serious and they are commenting on some serious issues but look he said "pussy!" but the point you make is valid, really. it's leftover language originally designed to differentiate men from the boys by equating one with the "weaker" sex.

i confess to saying pussy from time to time to indicate my disdain for actions or behavior i deem weak, although on the flip side i now prefer "grow a pair." i also say retarded for things that strike me as stupid. these are definitely potentially offensive to many people. i have somehow made peace with that.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it is obnoxious, though I don't so much mind the "takes balls" - or gonads, or ovaries, both of which do seem to be getting more popular - as much as I do the "pussy" insult, which I do find offensive (likewise "wuss"). Honestly, there are other insults out there that convey "coward." Insults/compliments based on genitalia also strike me as just incredibly juvenile, and I don't have a lot of patience for that, period.

[daerr.livejournal.com]

I'd noticed this... it does make me a bit uneasy whenever these sorts usages show up.

It's 'cause of stuff like this that some in the feminist blogosphere doesn't feel entirely welcome in the Democratic blogosphere (Daily Kos, et al.) Death of a thousand cuts and all, ya know.