You Suck (Not That There's Anything Wrong With That)

Lately I've been thinking a lot about feminist language and the importance of identifying common phrases that contribute to prejudice in our culture.

For instance, using "bitch" or "whore" as an insult is rightly called out by feminists as reinforcing misogynist stereotypes about women, and saying "that's gay" to mean "that's stupid" feeds into a culture of homophobia. This kind of language can be harmful even when modern usage has obscured the original meaning of the phrase - like "that's lame", an insult to the physically handicapped.

So what about the phrase "you suck"?

Think about it. This is generally accepted to be a reference to oral sex. So if we say "you suck" to imply that someone is weak or stupid, are we not saying that people who perform oral sex on men - i.e. women and homosexuals - are also weak and stupid? Aren't we reinforcing heteronormative stereotypes about dominance in sexual relationships? What if every time we say "My god, does Twilight suck" we're not only reinforcing stupid vampire puns but also teaching our impressionable youth that some forms of sex are better, more virtuous, more valid than others?

Hmmm.

Later, I will consider the possibility that "go f*** yourself" perpetuates unhealthy attitudes toward masturbation.