my recent experience with "CUNT" (or The "C" Word)

[velcroqueen.livejournal.com]

ok. so the other day in my women's studies class, we were talking about the "C" word. My prof is very uncomfortable with the word cunt. She's stuck in this old school mentality that we shouldn't use "slang" for our vaginas, that it is degrading and defiling.

So, I raised my hand. I told the class that cunt is a great word, a powerful word. (and it's so fun to say!) There are so many negative-connotated words for our vaginas, so why not infuse some power and positivity in a few? Guys can go around saying cock and dick and no one thinks twice. If I say cunt in my women's studies class, my prof and 90% of my classmates gasp and almost fall off their chairs. ("It's such a dirty word," they say. )

I was surprised that so many women detest a word.

Comments

[syrxx.livejournal.com]

It is a difficult word to come to grips with. It didn't happen with me until I read Cunt. That really opened my eyes. Now I can say the word without feeling ickie about it. It isn't a dirty word anymore.

[nightspirit73.livejournal.com]

I don't care for either "C" word...cunt or cock. Not sure what makes it so tasteless to me...but I've always thought it to sound trashy. Most people I see (that use the word cunt) look like they just popped out of the tv while Jerry Springer was showing.

[syrxx.livejournal.com]

I can see that Springer comparison. Cock always makes me think of bad porn. Cunt I got to like after reading the book because before that my friends just used "down there" which gets embarrassing the older I get.

[nightspirit73.livejournal.com]

hehe@down there. You know what's worse..."flower".....puhlease!!!! Flower?!

[syrxx.livejournal.com]

Flower appeals to me artistically but it is not a term I would use. Too dainty and girly for me. What I like to use is "girlie bits". *grins* I get kinda silly so that fits my silly side.

[nightspirit73.livejournal.com]

Girlie bits is cute:oP There's also: pooter...hoohoodiddy....virginia (it was a beavis and butthead thing I believe) cooter (which I never use ,because to me, Cooter is the grease monkey guy on Dukes of Hazzard) Hmm....so many different names. My four year old calls hers "her little bottom".

[syrxx.livejournal.com]

*ugh* I think the same thing when I hear Cooter! Gross buckets! My mom used pootsake (which I have no idea where that came from) and my niece uses groin (my sis is pretty uptight).

[velcroqueen.livejournal.com]

that book did the same for me

[jaclyn.livejournal.com]

you rock!!

[velcroqueen.livejournal.com]

thanks!

[brandyshea.livejournal.com]

Ani DiFranco has a song called "Out of Habit" where she uses the word cunt ("my cunt is built like a wound that won't heal so now you don't have to ask cause you know how I feel...") because she wanted to do away with the bad connotations of the word.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

One of the reasons I use it is that it really is a strong and powerful word, and I don't want to use anyone who uses it trashily to take it away from me. It's my word, dammit, and no one's allowed to steal it for their own icky devices.

When someone uses it as an epithet, I sometimes say, "If you don't like that person, why would you call him/her something that refers to such a warm and welcoming and wonderful thing?"

Cunt is a beautiful word!

[nuwanda-1998.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean, about negative conotations (sp) attached to the word. Before I read the book Cunt I used it only when extremely pissed off at someone... calling them a stupid cunt and such.

Men generally use it describe an exceptionally nasty, disgusting woman.

I don't use it as a tool for insults anymore. I agree we need to stop using the slang terms for our female parts in a negative manner.

Re: Cunt is a beautiful word!

[velcroqueen.livejournal.com]

Yeah that book changed the way I viewed my body. It taught me to never be ashamed of any part of me. Very celebratory book. Have you read Woman by Natalie Angier?

[velcroqueen.livejournal.com]

that's awesome. I think I might try that next time.

[magn0lia.livejournal.com]

What does that lyric mean anyway? I'm always puzzled by it.

magn0lia,
who uses the word "cunt" pretty regularly, but only to mean a part of the body

[brandyshea.livejournal.com]

"Beautiful but boring, he visited me yesterday.
He noticed my fingers and asked me if I would play.
I didn't really care a lot,
but I couldn't think of a reason why not.
I said, "If you don't come any closer, I don't mind if you stay."
My thighs have been involved in many accidents
and now I can't get insured, and I don't need to be lured by you.
My cunt is built like a wound that won't heal.
And now you don't have to ask because you know how I feel.
You know how I feel."

I think including the whole verse makes it a bit clearer.

[velcroqueen.livejournal.com]

that's one of my favorite ani lyrics

[delicata77.livejournal.com]

I enjoy the word CUNT and I try to use it as much as possible and I usually get the response that 90% of your class gave. "I really like it"

[velcroqueen.livejournal.com]

well thanks. that makes me feel better. because I love the word!

[hercellardoor.livejournal.com]

bring the book to class and give them an education. it is uncomfortable at first for many people (was for me). I think the discomfort is more intense for every year of life. I still dont use it regularly in conversation. Although I no longer cringe at it when said by a woman in reference to her body.

[velcroqueen.livejournal.com]

I think I'm going to bring the book to class tomorrow. (It's so precious to me..Inga autographed it for me!)

[wedrinkbitter.livejournal.com]

OH. Such a great, guttural word. Both literally (for the sake of sex and sensuality) and as an epithet (for either gender). It's powerful for a reason, it's got kick in a way that a word like "porridge" just doesn't.

[mediawhore.livejournal.com]

I hate it when ANY word (well most of them) for it is considered wrong or dirty because it just suggest that it IS a wrong a dirty thing.

To me the words mean the same thing in a different way. Vagina is kinda technical, functional, formal. Pussy is cuter and fun. Cunt is powerful, strong, sexual.

I guess words mean different things to different people. If you don't like the word you don't have to use it, but don't suggest my cunt is dirty because you have a misconception of the word!!!

ps I don't mean YOU obviously, I'm just ranting. Good topic! :-)

[velcroqueen.livejournal.com]

yeah. i hear you. I love words (i.e.: cunt, etc.) because they can be so powerful..
thanks.

Cock

[casey1979.livejournal.com]

My great great aunt (who's still living) Refers to the vagina as a Cock. her and her sisters do. she says it's what everyone called it back then, but then somehow it got to where Cock was a penis.
that's odd.