Are you feeling stressed? Angry? Frustrated? A new study shows that punching someone in the face can not only give a healthy outlet to your anger but may also relieve stress. Most importantly, it’s totally harmless and even healthy. Worst case scenario, it may hurt the other person a bit, but it will definitely heal over time. They will get used to it after all!
Sounds stupid, doesn’t it?
Same is the case with profanity you use every day, which is as common as taking someone’s name. They help you release your anger, and come on, after all, what’s the big deal? Why does everyone have to be so sensitive? It’s just a word, after all. No one means it literally. It’s just used for fun. It’s friendly. And no one minds it! Grow up!
But no. It’s not okay. And YOU are the one who needs to ‘grow up’.
Using words and phrases with women-centric connotations suggests that men are the eternal doers and women the done-upon, who obviously have no choice in the matter. If some men are not using these words or adjectives, it is because of their kindness and goodness of their heart, though they could easily fill those roles if they wished. Don’t these men deserve an award or their name framed in the hall of fame for respecting consent and agency? No. It’s not praiseworthy or exemplary to respect people. It’s basic human decency.
So don’t you dare call someone these words or other more ‘cool’ variations of these. It’s not okay to dehumanize and objectify women in any role. These words do nothing, but blatantly demote the value of a female to that of a sexual object, which only helps to fulfill carnal and lecherous desires.
Using the male equivalent of these misogynistic terms isn’t the solution. What do we actually gain by it anyway? We will only further increase the gender divide and propagate sexism. Using ‘gender-neutral’ phrases doesn’t alter the sexist history of their origin. The solution is not using derogatory words and phrases which dehumanize a whole community and a group of people, who have a right to exist and be themselves. Women aren’t weak. ‘Hijras’ are humans. ‘Retarded’ people aren’t stupid; you are ableist.
No. It’s not okay. It’s not cool. It’s not fun. No bro, not this time. It’s not okay to call yourself educated and casually support the history of oppression and subjugation against women and many other communities and cultures. Grow up!