An analysis on the reclamation of the word bitch, and if it’s doing more harm than good.

In class we spoke about the British mental health movement, the “Mad Pride Movement”. In which participants reclaimed the word “mad”, a word commonly used against people with mental illness, to take back control and empower themselves. In relatively recent times the same could be said about the word “bitch”, an insult commonly thrown at women. Its increased usage being perceived as taking power away from the word and reappropriating it as something endearing or empowering. But is this true? Can bitch truly be reclaimed? Is it really empowering?

Firstly, we all know the history of the word “bitch”. It is the term for a female dog, but most commonly a term used for an argumentative, slutty, stuck up, weak, or normal woman. Bitch is thrown at everyone, regardless of age, race, or gender. It’s within the group of insults making reference towards women or women’s parts, such as “pussy” or “whore”. The word has probably been thrown at you, and it’s probably stung. For a while it was common knowledge this was a disrespectful and belittling word, a word mostly hurled at women to keep them down.

But in the 2010’s onward it seemed like the word bitch had a resurgence, as it was being used more in popular media and especially music. There were two trains of thought on the matter, that it was empowering or it was demeaning. I don’t necessarily think there is one completely correct answer, because I do believe its usage has been used in lighthearted ways depending on context and tone. But like many slurs, “bitch” should be used by those who have been hurt the most by it: women. A woman calling another woman a bitch in jest feels much different than a man calling a woman one as a joke. 

That being said, I do find the overwhelming use of the word borderline disturbing. I’ve seen so many instances of bitch being used as another word for women in general, as if they are interchangeable. Whether it be from sexist youtubers, feminist tik-tokers or popular songs. I feel the music industry in particular is the largest offender, as it’s filled with casual and outright misogyny both lyrically and through the mistreatment of their female artists. Music may be art, but art bleeds into reality and doesn’t live in a void. I don’t think it’s irrational to say a person listening to a musician who constantly bashes women won’t have that same energy carry over into their day to day treatment of women as well. 

My opinion on bitch is complicated, part of me thinks that it does have the ability to empower while the other thinks the constant use of the word has disillusioned people into thinking it’s entirely endearing. When that isn’t the case, it’s not like women aren’t called bitches with negative connotations across the world, by both men and women alike. I find it so strange that both feminists and misogynists use this word, but perhaps that’s the difficulty of reclaiming slurs. Personally I don’t like being called a bitch even in jest, because I’ve been called it so many times as an insult. Sure, I can see potential behind the word, I just think it should be used more responsibly by those with influence, and not at all by those who haven’t been affected by it.