Bitch
Bitch originated as a noun which referred to a female dog, and is still often used with this meaning by breeders, dog aficionados, etc.
The word, however, has since come to be used as an insult, primarily against women, which implies that the target is strident, judgmental, uptight or mean. The insult can be used specifically against women or more generally. The word is most commonly encountered in this context, and is generally considered mildly offensive. The adjective "bitchy" and the verb "to bitch" are further developments of the word "bitch" used in a colloquial, offensive context.
"Bitch" as an insult against women
Used as an insulting noun, bitch most commonly refers to a woman who is strident, judgmental, or uptight. The Spin Doctors song, "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong" (1991), uses the word "bitch" in this way:
- Been a whole lot easier since the bitch is gone
- Little Miss, Little Miss, Little Miss Can't-Be-Wrong
Used in this way, by a man to describe a woman, the word "bitch" can be highly offensive and sexist.
The offensive use of "bitch" presumably originated as a gender-specific insult, used to call a woman a dog.
Women reclaiming "bitch"
Some women, especially in the 1990s, began trying to "reclaim" the word, using it to celebrate the strong qualities traditionally denegrated by the use of the term. A good example of this is the 1998 song "Bitch" by Meredith Brooks, in which Brooks celebrates being a "bitch" as one of many aspects of herself:
- I'm a bitch, I'm a lover
- I'm a child, I'm a mother
- I'm a sinner, I'm a saint
- I do not feel ashamed
In this memorable chorus, Brooks sets up a contrast between "bitch" (associated with childishness and sin) and "lover" (associated with "mother" and "Saint"). Lover, mother and saint are all identities that depend on others: a good lover loves her partner, a good mother loves her children; a Saint loves her community. In contrast, a "bitch" is self absorbed, a "child" needs care (rather than providing it), and a "sinner" goes against religion and community (rather than working for communal good). The opposition emphasizes the extent to which the qualities associated with a "bitch" (judgmental, strident, mean) are the opposites of the qualities associated with "mother" (tolerant, soft, kind). Many feminists have pointed out that women are often identified by their relationships with others whereas men are allowed a more independent identity. By beginning the chorus with "I'm a bitch" and ending it with "I do not feel ashamed", Brooks refuses to feel ashamed of her selfishness, vulnerability and independence, insisting that they can and do coexist with more stereotypically feminine qualities.
"Bitch" and sexual availability
Bitch can imply that someone is sexually available. In this context, the person using bitch implies their dominance and the other's subservience through the use of the word. In the context of prison sexuality, a bitch is a lower-hierarchy prisoner, typically physically weak or vulnerable, who is dominated by more senior prisoners and forced to adopt a servile role. According to convention, these inmates are used as sexual slaves or traded as personal property.
