Reclaiming the word...
Well, it was bound to happen. In sharing the information about a local "Stitch and Bitch" meeting in regards to Knitting for Needs, we were told that Stitch and Bitch is was not to be...but Stitch and Knit would be used instead.
And I can understand, totally why there is concern. The word bitch is often used in many degrading and derogatory ways towards people in abusive situations. However, that being said, it is not being used in this way, in the least, with our knitting group. In fact, in using the word bitch (in this case, to bitch or talk about stuff in life that's annoying) in a different form, we are reclaiming it and making it new and our own.
One of the most interesting magazines I've read, Bitch Magazine, has an excellent reason as to why it is called Bitch Magazine:
For as long as we've been publishing Bitch (magazine), there's one question that gets asked over and over. And over. "Why did you choose that word as the name of your magazine?" While we're aware that our title is off-putting to some people, we think it's worth it. And here's why.
When it's being used as an insult, "bitch" is most often hurled at women who speak their minds, who have opinions and don't shy away from expressing them. If being an outspoken woman means being a bitch, we'll take that as a compliment, thanks.
Furthermore, if we take it as a compliment, it loses its power to hurt us. And if we can get people thinking about what they're saying when they use the word, that's even better.
And, last but certainly not least, "bitch" describes all at once who we are when we speak up, what it is we're too worked up over to be quiet about, and the act of making ourselves heard.
And I can understand, totally why there is concern. The word bitch is often used in many degrading and derogatory ways towards people in abusive situations. However, that being said, it is not being used in this way, in the least, with our knitting group. In fact, in using the word bitch (in this case, to bitch or talk about stuff in life that's annoying) in a different form, we are reclaiming it and making it new and our own.
One of the most interesting magazines I've read, Bitch Magazine, has an excellent reason as to why it is called Bitch Magazine:
For as long as we've been publishing Bitch (magazine), there's one question that gets asked over and over. And over. "Why did you choose that word as the name of your magazine?" While we're aware that our title is off-putting to some people, we think it's worth it. And here's why.
When it's being used as an insult, "bitch" is most often hurled at women who speak their minds, who have opinions and don't shy away from expressing them. If being an outspoken woman means being a bitch, we'll take that as a compliment, thanks.
Furthermore, if we take it as a compliment, it loses its power to hurt us. And if we can get people thinking about what they're saying when they use the word, that's even better.
And, last but certainly not least, "bitch" describes all at once who we are when we speak up, what it is we're too worked up over to be quiet about, and the act of making ourselves heard.
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