CUNT

– Reclaiming the C-Word and reclaiming our bodies. #reclaimmycunt

Cunt kʌnt/ noun: vulgar slang - a woman's genitals. Half of the planets' population owns one, and EVERYONE has either come out of one, been inside one, or wouldn’t be here without one. The C-Word is the most glorified and morbid ‘Swear word’.

Why? The same expressions are historically present in referring to a multitude of repressed and marginalised groups. Similar situation have arisen in the past, primarily in the context of racial discrimination. Specifically the use of the N-word as a racial slur. The African- American community has now reclaimed a word that had one such offensive and demeaning implications, to a term that is widely used as a greeting and a part of everyday language, exclusively to them. Another example is the LGBTQI+ community reclaiming ‘Fag/butch’ as their own, which were also once shameful and derogatory labels. This is proof that us women can desensitise the word and reclaim ‘Cunt’ from being such a distasteful and degrading word! We own that word. It belongs to us and should not hold such glorified power and taboo. The C-word is a highly sensationalised and provocative word because of an undeniable reality, we live in a culture that loves to demonise and degrade women’s bodies.

By giving ‘Cunt’ such power, we continue the suppression of women because those biologically born as female own one; this then make is seem shameful to own something that is such a derogatory and degrading word.

The only reason it is such a demonised and distasteful word is because we see it as exactly that. Only to be reinforced by this being a true expression of the patriarchy in western society. Where even the privileged females are still being trapped in suppression in the English language by a word that refers to their OWN body part. Cunt is what we consider to be an unspeakable, disgusting word; not to be uttered by anyone for fear of seeming common and uneducated are in reference to the bodies of half the population.

When we think about words that run in the same vein as the c-word, we see a pervasive and troubling trend. The majority of swear and cuss words are merely derogatory ways of referring to the female form. These words include bitch, slut, whore, pussy, skank, twat and slag. All of which 100% are in reference to women. I also want to draw attention to the fact if a person is to call someone a ‘Dick’, in reference to a male, there is much less offence taken as opposed to calling someone a ‘Cunt.’ This word is still holding to females of the world from owning their own bodies as they are ashamed to own it, because of one word. The earliest known use of Cunt, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, was as a placename for the London street Gropecunt Lane, c 1230. The word appears to have not been strongly taboo in the middle Ages, but became taboo towards the end of the eighteenth century, but the use of the word as a term of abuse is relatively recent, dating from the late nineteenth century. Four little letters, still forcing women into the title of the lesser sex. I refuse to let one word in the English language to define my self-worth, my resilience and certainly not objectify my OWN body. It truly is up to us to claim our own body parts back as our own and own the words that describe our anatomy.

How? Use the word in the declaration of your empowerment as a woman. You are strong, independent and the proud owner of your cunt. You will not let a four letter word define you because you are worth so much more than four letters. YOUR ANATOMY IS NOT AN OFFENSIVE WORD. YOUR ANATOMY IS NOT AN OFFENCE.

Use the word in the most intelligent form possible. Talk about it, discuss and just get used to saying it. BE PROUD OF YOUR CUNT. If we desensitise the word itself, it loses it's glorified power to be deeply offensive. Don’t let yourself be caged, be proud of your sexuality and your sexual organs.

#YESALLWOMEN #RECLAMMYCUNT Note: I 100% acknowledge the trans and gender fluid people of the planet and I encourage you to be confident about your cunt too. If anyone was offended with the language used in this, please understand that that’s my job to make you more desensitised to this “vulgar” (haha) word. kerb if you identify as male I highly recommend you diminish your usage of ‘Cunt’. As you would for any other reclaimed word. Be loud and stay proud. #RECLAIMMYCUNT