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3 - Son of a Bitch

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2024

Karen Stollznow
Affiliation:
Griffith University, Queensland
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Summary

As we’ve seen, bitch has been used against men for almost as long as it’s been used against women. Bitch is still thrown at men and women alike, but it’s used somewhat differently. Bitch can have positive connotations when a woman reclaims it, but when aimed at a man, bitch is rarely a compliment. While a bitch can be a strong woman, it usually means a weak man. But unlike powerful women who are hit with the word, men are targeted with bitch when they are considered to be powerless. Bitch likens a woman to a man, while it likens a man to a woman. It’s an emasculating insult that suggests he’s lacking in courage and strength. Bitch might also accuse him of being effeminate or gay. There are many different versions of the slur for a man – he’s a little bitch, someone’s bitch, a prison bitch, or he’s a son of a bitch.

Type
Chapter
Information
Bitch
The Journey of a Word
, pp. 69 - 97
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • Son of a Bitch
  • Karen Stollznow, Griffith University, Queensland
  • Book: Bitch
  • Online publication: 13 June 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009392358.004
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  • Son of a Bitch
  • Karen Stollznow, Griffith University, Queensland
  • Book: Bitch
  • Online publication: 13 June 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009392358.004
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Son of a Bitch
  • Karen Stollznow, Griffith University, Queensland
  • Book: Bitch
  • Online publication: 13 June 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009392358.004
Available formats
×