You’re thinking, “Did she just call me a ‘bitch’?” Well… it certainly takes one to know one! Just kidding. But hold on and follow me through this evolutionary journey of the word “BITCH”.
As we all probably know, the original meaning of the word is “female dog”. Back in the 15th century, it became a term used to degrade or insult women. Growing up in my teens, I recall guys referring to not-so-attractive girls as dogs. So, to me, back then, being called a bitch, I thought it was a derogatory term describing a woman’s physical beauty. Little did I know it was also a descriptor for a promiscuous, sensual woman. I guess that’s better than being called a whore… Still, it was very confusing.
The first introduction to the word for me was when I heard my mother call my father “a son of a bitch.” Or was it when I heard my dad call my mother a “bitch”? Regardless of when I heard it first, it made quite an impact. As a little girl, I wasn’t quite sure what it meant, but I knew it couldn’t be good based on the anger in their voices. I vaguely remember comparing my mother and my grandmother in my head, trying to come up with a definition that made sense. The two did not seem remotely alike in my opinion.
As I got older, I learned that to be a bitch or be called one pretty much meant you were one miserable female. You were a backstabber, a cheater, a conniver, moody, mean, rude, crude, and every other bad adjective you could think of. The word bitch covered any offense you could possibly commit as a woman as I never heard a man called a bitch back then.
The word kind of became a phenomenon. In high school, I couldn’t believe my ears when I first heard the song The Bitch is Back by Elton John? It was censored on many stations but with it’s edgy lyrics and snazzy chorus, this song was a hit in 1974, reaching number 4 on the Billboard charts. It’s playing loud in my head now as I’m reminiscing about it. Bitch, Bitch… the bitch is back…can you hear it? If not take a listen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rig3tgyYiAM That Elton sure knows how to Bitch!
The feminist movement was in full swing when I was in high school, but the word “bitch” remained negative in its connotation. It wasn’t only negative as a noun; it was quite offensive as a verb. If you were a bitch that was bitchin, that was a double whammy. A wretched female complaining about god knows what. God, everyone I knew was a bitch at some point in their lives.
As I said, the word was getting a lot of attention. Redefining the word was just starting to precipitate. Something that we in current times appear to be doing to our entire vocabulary. I bet you didn’t know that in the late 60s, a feminist by the name of Jo Freeman (aka Joreen) decided to tackle the bitch dilemma. The feminists really tried back then to own this word and make it desirable. Read her “Bitch Manifesto” here, it’s quite a literary achievement. Not sure if I agree with all of it, but there is some validity to portions of it.
I find it particularly amusing when the word “bitch” is used by males when referring to other males. Once again, it is derogatory in nature and an attempt to show dominance over a weaker individual. Men referring to other men as bitches is, I think, the ultimate insult for both men and women. How dare they use “OUR” word.
What about the term “Resting Bitch Face” aka “Bitchy Resting Face”? This term debuted in 2009 in the Urban Dictionary. The meaning: a person, especially a girl, whose regular facial expression makes them look unapproachable or unfriendly. It’s astonishing how widely this term has been used. Moreover, some studies have attempted to scientifically prove its existence. However, it is important to note that this term can be biased, as women are often told to smile more. Consequently, if a woman is caught not smiling, she may be accused of having a resting bitch face. Therefore, bitches camouflage your bitchiness by always smiling. 🤮
Feminists tried to make the word more favorable, but it doesn’t seem like it took off. Until recently, that is… From what I have learned, it’s called the reappropriation of the word. As I said previously, we seem to be obsessed with this lately. Currently, the word denotes a woman who is strong, cunning, and accomplished. Now that is a 360. I have to say… I like the reappropriation of the word “bitch”…As much as they have tried to reappropriate it I cannot find anything but a negative description in any of the dictionaries on line as of yet…
Let’s face it we love to use this word. And we love that we can use it in so many different ways. There must be a name for a word that can change whenever it wants… oh wait! I got it it’s “word fluid”! Hey if this takes off remember your heard it here first!
Further evidence of our obsession with this word is how often it is used in music. If you google how many times is the word bitch used in songs you come up with .. wait… wait for it…kind of hard to believe… 638,469 times https://www.lyrics.com/lyrics/Bitch! And 47 artists use the word in their names. It’s not a reach to say we are enamored with this word.
I have to be totally honest. Doing this piece on the word bitch makes me think I should have chosen Bad Bitching Balog for my Blog’s website name. I probably would be attracting way more followers! Let’s see what my bitch Natalie has to say about this subject. Love you all my bitches!
Natalie
Bitch. It’s a word that is pretty prevalent. It’s in (most of) our vocabulary, our music, our humor. It also seems to be exclusively feminine. It took me quite some time to think of the male equivalent to bitch. I guess the closest thing would be calling a man an asshole or a dick.
Bitch takes on a different meaning between the genders. When “bitch” is being used towards men, it is meant to imply they are acting with assumingly traditional feminine traits (weak, submissive, etc.). Funny how when applied to a woman, “bitch” typically means the opposite. A woman who is a bitch is high-strung, demanding, “bossy,” and mean. Pretty much any trait that paints someone out to be undesirable company. Bitches are bossy, domineering, premeditated… Doesn’t that also make them leaders, assertive, strategic? Or is that language for men as “bitches” is for women?
Today, I don’t think bitches holds as much weight as it once did. I feel my sentiment from the first paragraph in this blog has been shared by many. There’s plenty of feminist authors who have delved into the concept. It seems sometimes “bitches” simply means women. How many lyrics refer to women as “bitches” or call a significant other “my bitch”? I don’t think this use of bitch is supposed to portray the same harsh woman from our first definition. However, I’ll say there is still something “eye roll worthy” to me about men who a little too frequently call women bitches.
Women are no strangers to using the term either. As much as I’m sure we all like to think of ourselves as “girls’ girls,” it seems like the first attacks we throw at other women we don’t like are the same ones we crucify men over using: bitch, slut, whore… It might be just me, but it does seem to sting a little bit more coming from a woman. A man complaining about bitches or bitching? Typical. But those insults coming from another woman tend to warrant a double take.
Women have also transformed the word bitch to use it as a term of endearment. “My bitch/es” is the same as saying “my girls/my friends.” Countless times have I been with my friends, all of us using bitch with each other while smiling and laughing, with no offense taken. Birthday, Bachelorette, you name it, any merchandise marketed towards women today likely has some kitschy saying including the word “bitch”. Far from the insult it once was. In some instances, it’s even favorable to be called a bitch.
I can’t imagine the mental gymnastics of explaining to my grandmother that looking like or being “a Bad Bitch” is actually a compliment and not derogatory. “Yes Bitch!” is an enthusiastic approval today. In respect to “basic bitches,” bitch is a secondary insult compared to being called “basic.” Outlined here is why you’d much rather be a BAD bitch than a basic one for anyone who is still confused. I myself according to the prerequisites, am one BAD Bitch! Let’s hope my Balog Bitch concurs!
DEB and NAT
Us Bad Bitches thank all you BITCHES for joining our bitch session!
When growing up in my time ladies a Bitch was not a very nice person personality or sexually. Using this word was not complimentary in the least! Very informative peice!
same with the C word. Also, the B word was when women were strong in the corporate world. Instead of wow she is a boss.Hence Boss Bitch!! Love Deborah!!! this article