Is it fair that it's socially acceptable to call a male a dick, or a dickhead, but it's not acceptable to call a female a cunt?

Variola13 · 2011-08-13T18:12:16+00:00

In Scotland everyone's a cunt :P it's just a true fact

HolyCounsel · 2011-08-13T16:37:13+00:00

Depends on where you say it. Here in Canada, the shock value ranking is usually "dick" < "fuck" < "cunt", and it almost always refers to a woman. I have seen plenty of media from the U.K. and Australia, however, where "cunt" is said by men to men and often with no offense intended.

swizzcheez · 2011-08-13T18:49:45+00:00

The difference is in whether the word is commonly applied as attribution or definition. Most swear words are used as attributes. "You're a dick," for instance, roughly translates into "You are behaving in a obnoxious, invasive, and/or brutish manner." It is usually implied that the person could one day stop behaving that way and that the person might very well transcend the attribute.

"Cunt," in the same way as "nigger," is historically applied definitively, in that the negative connotations of the word define the whole of the person. As such, the implication is that the person could never transcend the definition and as such provides a level of hopelessness to the recipient that other profanities do not assert.

So, is it fair? Not really, but I do understand the difference. Perhaps it's better to apply profane provocations to actions rather than people (e.g., "you're acting like a dick" versus "you're a dick").

2011-08-13T23:23:58+00:00

Actually, this is an issue that women may have more right to be annoyed over. In many countries, cunt is about the the most offensive word in the language, and dick is a pretty minor informal term. That disparity in itself (that female genitals should be so overwhelmingly offensive) I know offends a lot of women.

Personally I'd have no problem calling a woman a cunt or a dick if they acted like one, but they're more likely to act like a bitch. (guys are much better at being cunts and dicks than women on the whole).

rebelcanuck · 2011-08-13T15:49:55+00:00

of course not. bitch, cunt, there are all male equivalents, women have no right saying it's anything more than a swear word.

pcarvious · 2011-08-13T16:58:05+00:00

This critique is only applicable when it's used as an argument.

For instance: Sometimes feminist ideals claim oppression by the male dominated privileged group, by claiming that language can be used as a method by which to perpetuate stereotypes, thus roles, thus continue the culture of oppression.

Therefore, the argument goes, don't call us cunts, because it's not just an insult, it's basically hate speech.

I agree with matthabitat that we should be focusing on actual issues, but I also think that we need to keep that in mind when this line of reasoning is brought up against arguments that focus on said actual issues.

For instance, when an MRA mentions a disparity, then the WRA claims that it's not possible for a man to have a disparity because he has the power, the MRA asks why, and the WRA claims 'perpetuating culture'. Then you can bring this into play. Otherwise , I feel we ought to ignore it. It's simply an inconsistancy, and doesn't really further anything.

daoudalqasir · 2011-08-14T04:34:00+00:00

yes it is fair different words have different connotations even if they have similar meanings, there are bigger issues for mens rights to deal with.

Arxl · 2011-08-13T18:00:45+00:00

I call women dicks/dickheads all the time. It is more effective than cunt because most of the time it catches them off guard and they have trouble responding to it, but the normal response is "What did you just call me?" With a look of disbelief.

2011-08-13T18:05:44+00:00

For some reason every girl I've ever called cunt (girlfriend, mother, sister) has absolutely exploded. As in, way our of proportion. If I call them other things like bitch or asshole or whatever swear word you can come up with it doesn't provoke anything like the same magnitude of response. Why is cunt so special? I don't give a shit if people call me dick (no more than I'd give a shit if they called me fucking fucker).

a7244270 · 2011-08-13T18:19:20+00:00

Only in America. It's pretty common elsewhere.

mauibuakawi · 2011-08-13T18:58:42+00:00

Life is not supposed to be fair.

2011-08-13T19:03:39+00:00

I think the actual definitions and social shock values have nothing to do with the genders. It's like when you say "fuck" that, it has nothing to do with sex, or if you call someone a dick, you are not thinking of a penis, the word has a new entirely different meaning. Having Cunt be a "worse" words is perfectly fine in my opinion as when I call someone a cunt, I'm trying to make it have the most offensive shock value. If all swears were equal whats the point? It's like how twat is not nearly offensive as cunt. Dick and cunt are not the same swear, regardless of gender. It's why I can say damn, but not fuck on tv.

poopmachinery · 2011-08-14T02:58:05+00:00

Well the logic I have heard from feminists is that sexism is prejudice + power. I think this is reasonable. Calling someone a slur is not the same if it does not have the crushing weight of society's collective sexism behind it.

Since women are the sex currently in power, it is therefore only sexist to call someone a dick.

Niea · 2011-08-13T16:47:14+00:00

Cunt, dickhead, I use both with equal fervor. lol

octavian2 · 2011-08-13T17:10:37+00:00

Cunt still has a lot of potency. Feminists have tried to co-opt it but the word defies their best efforts. Use it but use it sparingly. It's one of the most powerful words a man possesses.

ki773n · 2011-08-13T17:34:35+00:00

[permanently deleted]

ManThoughts · 2011-08-13T14:17:35+00:00

Several years ago a feminist wrote a bestselling book reclaiming the word "cunt." As far as I am concerned, it should be acceptable for use now. But I wouldn't say it, nor would i use derogatory terms for penises.

2011-08-13T16:12:40+00:00

No. It's not fair.

chocoboat · 2011-08-13T19:04:26+00:00

I don't see much unfairness about it. Curse words are arbitrarily ranked in order of their "strength" or power to offend. It doesn't make much sense why using the slang name of certain body parts is relatively acceptable, but for other body parts it's outrageously rude. It's just how things are.

"Dick" is a pretty low-level insult and it's around the same level of calling a woman a "bitch".

"Cunt" is considered one of the strongest and rudest insults, which is why it's less socially acceptable to use it. Maybe a male equivalent would be "cocksucker"... just something that doesn't fit into everyday conversations as easily.

FreddyDeus · 2011-08-13T19:46:12+00:00

In the absence of a real issue, we'll invent one, again.

Social acceptibility is subjective. The social acceptibility of certain language used against an individual depends on the social circle around you.

It also depends on context.

It's also just as easy to refer to a man as a cunt as it is a woman.

Many people regard the word cunt as being far less acceptible than the words dick or cock, ragrdless of how it's used.

This is a non-issue. Stop dragging MensRights down with whiney, pathetic bullshit.

Variola13 · 2011-08-13T14:07:01+00:00

Is it not? Cunt is usually a word used by men on other men,that is when I have heard it used most, but no reason why it can't be used for a women. Unless of course you have been told off on the quiet for calling me a cunt and that is why you have posted this...

FYI Cunt doesn't bother me, words cannot offend you unless you let them :-)

2011-08-13T19:14:55+00:00

I think pussy pretty much equates to it. Genital reference, with specific negative personality trait attributed to it. Cunt is a bit more broad. But I agree it's stupid to have that be off the table for use.

dregle · 2011-08-13T19:39:38+00:00

I find it kind of silly that "cunt" is such a powerful insult while "dick" is hardly even that bad. I dont get why socially vaginas are seen as being inherently bad or gross or weak. What about "prick" vs. "pussy"

What I think rather than emphasizing how terrible either one is, people should learn to make these immature insults to matter less than they do. Insulting someone by calling them some kind of genital doesn't really make sense, and if it did genitals are awesome.

memymineown · 2011-08-13T20:43:07+00:00

I never understood why cunt was such a bad word. The way I learned it, cunt was between hell and shit on the naughty scale.

That is why I am totally blown away whenever someone says it is so offensive.

NovemberTrees · 2011-08-13T21:51:46+00:00

I honestly don't care. Insults are a dime a dozen.

KMFCM · 2011-08-14T01:01:24+00:00

quite unfair

what do you say to somebody you hate? whatever hurts the most

I kinda prefer "whore" though (and again, that can mean either gender)

iongantas · 2011-08-14T06:21:30+00:00

I apply the term cunt to people regardless of their gender, though sometimes I refer to females as Cuntellas.

kachapati · 2011-08-14T13:00:21+00:00

Maybe I just have a foul mouth but I've called a guy a cunt-tease. He later texted me that he took it as a compliment. I've also referred to my lady parts as my cunt. I'm not particularlly pc.

M4rti · 2011-08-14T16:04:21+00:00

Relevant and hilarious!

ghebert001 · 2011-08-15T01:53:46+00:00

I think it's because women believe that their self worth revolves around their vagina and calling them a cunt is sort of like pointing out the inconvenient truth (from their perspective, not mine) of how they view themselves and their worth. It's similar to how a fat person knows they are fat, but will get hurt, offended, etc. when you call them fat even though it is true that they are fat and they know it.

Truth is, neither should be acceptable, but men are thicker skinned than women for the most part. Acceptable or not, it is free speech and everyone should have that right regardless how much we may hate or disagree with what others might say.

2011-08-15T14:56:47+00:00

'Dick' stinks anyway, it has no impact. I think feminists will gladly stop using dick if you can stop using the c word. But I know you won't. </3

thecarolinelinnae · 2011-08-14T04:58:49+00:00

From a female perspective...it's because it implies something filthy; something to be ashamed of. Using the dirtiest word for our own genitalia possible to insult us is like pouring salt in an open wound.

It's just such a demeaning word in our language, the way dick and cock and prick just aren't. Or at least I don't perceive them to be; maybe I'm wrong.

To me, cunt is just about the most insulting thing you can say to a woman. That and calling her a cumdumpster. Actually I think I'd rather be called a cunt. Even calling a girl a whore or a slut isn't as bad as "cumdumpster". That just makes her worse than trash; a receptacle for trash. Implies that she's a slut, whore, dirty, worthless, not good for anything but sex. Yeah, cumdumpster is worse than cunt.

But I agree with others; use cunt sparingly as an insult and only when really called for. Some women deserve to be called a cunt...but only if you want to make her feel like shit about herself.

Out of curiosity, is there a male equivalent that is equally as offensive?

Disappearingpoet · 2011-08-13T17:14:05+00:00

Wait, am I not supposed to do that?

I use cunt regularly in my repertoire of epithets, I generally use it if I want something more offensive on the spectrum rather than less offensive, like I dunno, asshat. But if someone, guy or girl is acting well- cunty, then I will probably call them a cunt. If somebody is dickriding and acting like a cock jockey, then I'll probably call them on that too.

I think if you want 'offensive' language to be "fair" it should be used across the board, or totally prohibited. If you can't say cunt, you can't say dick. Obviously I go for the "use across the board" approach.

plugButt · 2011-08-13T17:33:29+00:00

You missed out cuntface :-P

matthabitat · 2011-08-13T16:37:34+00:00

Life isn't fair, don't be a pussy.

2011-08-13T17:07:00+00:00

I refer to women as cunts quite often, to other women, no less. Women DO understand that other women can be cunts and assholes and really don't mind when a man points this out as long as it's accurate.

pcarvious · 2011-08-13T17:39:02+00:00

Most of the time the word dick and dickhead are attached to something definite. Guy's being a jerk, well he's a dick. He's sleeping around? What a dick! Guys are able to rationalize why the word is thrown at them and pretty much own it in the process because it's always triggered by something.

Now if you want to have fun, think about how guys are called creepy. There's no rational behind it because it's very subjective. That's why it's such a hard word to fightback against.

Oh and calling a guy a dick give him the chance to explain his actions and perception of the situation if he is so inclined.

solinv · 2011-08-13T19:42:35+00:00

Yes, because theres an emotional component to it and men just can't understand because they're men and don't know what it's like to have emotions and be called a name. Plus when you call a specific woman a name you're actually being disparaging towards all women, but calling a man a name is just meaningless words.

/sarcasm

2011-08-13T20:49:12+00:00

Eh, I use them interchangeably with no regard to the gender of whomever I'm referring to.

"Prick" and "Arsehole" are also favourites and they're all used liberally whenever I'm in a bad mood, particularly while driving.

ottawadeveloper · 2011-08-13T17:34:37+00:00

this^{^.} Its called equality and its really lacking. Generally I am a nice person to everyone, regardless of gender but...

If a woman hits me, I hit her back, just like I would a man. If a woman calls me a bastard / dick, I feel free to call them a bitch / cunt if the deserve it. If a woman doesn't hit on me at least a little bit, I ain't going anywhere with her.

Youre_So_Pathetic · 2011-08-13T19:34:37+00:00

It probably has something to do with how you are objectifying women when you use terms like that.

Do you feel objectified when someone calls you a dick? Do people regularly reduce you to your base sexual components? Because men do that to women all the time. I know this because I am a man and I sometimes do this very thing even though I know it is wrong.

Title	Is it fair that it's socially acceptable to call a male a dick, or a dickhead, but it's not acceptable to call a female a cunt?
Author	[deleted]
Upvotes	65
Comments	156
Date	August 13, 2011 1:57 PM UTC (14 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/jhoji/is_it_fair_that_its_socially_acceptable_to_call_a/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/is-it-fair-that-its-socially-acceptable-to-call-a.1035943 https://theredarchive.com/post/1035943

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