The B**** Word

Disclaimer: I do not use the B word (bitch) in my general vocabulary but for the purposes of this message it has to be used.

Definition of bitch;
noun
1. A female canine animal, especially a dog.
2. Offensive
a. A woman considered to be spiteful or overbearing
b. A lewd woman (definition of lewd: a) preoccupied with sex and sexual desire; lustful b) Obscene; indecent. 2. Obsolete wicked)
c. A man considered to be weak or contemptible

verb, informal- express displeasure; grumble

For those who feel more comfortable with the Urban dictionary; you can look here to see words related to bitch.
Bitch- Modern-day servant; A person who performs tasks for another, usually degrading in status.

Why do I have to go through ALL of the above definitions? Simply to show how there's no positive definition for bitch. Now before you attack me, as a Human Rights student, I live and breathe Human Rights. I am very aware of 'one's freedom of speech and self expression' and I respect your right to that. For weeks now I have painfully resisted writing on this topic because I didn't want to offend anyone as I know so many people who casually throw around the B word like it's no big deal and may be it isn't to them. 

My analysis 

How can one use the same word to express LOVE and HATE? e.g I love my bitches, I hate that bitch, my bitches and I, my bitch is better than yours. Sometimes I want to ask people if they even give a slight thought to some of the things they say/put out. Please, go ahead and explain this to me. Is one trying to say 'my lewd woman is better than yours? My female canine animal and I? And isn't it dehumanizing likening people to dogs? Are the people you refer to as bitches counterfeit human beings? What is SO okay with likening someone to an animal? 

Why am I getting worked up about this? For one simple fact, 'In dehumanizing others, we exclude them from the circle of moral obligation. We can then kill, oppress, and enslave them with impunity. Taking the life of a dehumanized person becomes of no greater consequence than crushing an insect under one's boot.' (Dehumanization, Genocide, and the Psychology of Indifference) Link  You're probably thinking that your words cannot lead to such extreme consequences but yes, they can. Words have that sort of power.

Thing is, we say stuff without giving thought to it because we don't even have the time to think. Keep calling your friends bitches and soon they will become spiteful or overbearing because that's the sort of life you are speaking into them. Why can't you call your friends something positive? If you want to stick to using a word with the letter 'B' we can use BEAUTIFUL. What better word than that? 

Enjoy your telly, movies and music but know what's good for your inner being. The music, the movies and your fave celebrities will tell you that it is okay to go around calling everyone, friends, enemies, frenemies bitches, but those guys are SELLING products. Have your own mind and know what's life and what isn't. What's even more disturbing is the world knows that vulgarity and profanity sells. What does that say about us? There has got to be a generation that stands up against ridiculous trends.