My Feminist Lexicon

In the last issue I wrote a short article on words, in which I stated the need to reclaim certain words that derogatorily describe female sexuality. It is such an important concept that I have decided to make it a regular feature of the 'zine.

Language is clear indicator of society's attitudes. By tracing the etymology of words, you begin to see the changes in a society's perspective. It is only relatively recently in human existence (since the establishment of the male-centered Judeo-Christian mindset) that women, and their sexuality, have begun to be perceived in a negative way; the roots and origins of some of these words should be an eye-opener.

CUNT: This word is derived from the name of an Oriental Goddess as Cunti or Kunda, the yoni of the universe. It has lead to some words such as country and kin. Also, cunning, kenning and ken. (More words meaning smart or savvy.) In very ancient writings, the word "cunt" was used respectfully for a powerful woman.

PUSSY: The sacred and feminine associations all things cat-like stem from ancient Egyptian religious beliefs. Cats, along with owls, bats and wolves, have always been associated with witches. (Who were, after all, powerful, smart women living outside of the patriarchy.) It became a common belief that the cat was a witch's "familiar"-in other words, it represented the Goddess in her religion, who was subverted by Christian beliefs into something evil.

BITCH: This word was once one of the most sacred titles of the Goddess Artemis-Diana, leader of the dogs of the hunt. The bitch-goddess of antiquity was known in all Indo-European cultures. But with the Christianization of Europeans, alot of pagan deities were turned into demons. Bitch came to be a derogatory term for a strong woman, one who didn't do what the men in charge wanted her to do. Also, the slang insult "son of a bitch" probably didn't refer to son of a dog, but to the spiritual son of the pagan Goddess. In Christian Europe, this meant a demon. of course.