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Atticus

(15,124 posts) Thu May 31, 2018, 09:16 PM May 2018

Serious question: while both are considered "vulgar", why is calling a man a prick less offensive [View all]

than calling a woman a cunt? Isn't the great disparity in the perceived offensiveness due to "protective" sexism?

61 replies

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Serious question: while both are considered "vulgar", why is calling a man a prick less offensive [View all] Atticus May 2018 OP

Social power. Plain and simple. Caliman73 May 2018 #1

Very clear. guillaumeb May 2018 #2

A perfect example of "a prick" Chipper Chat May 2018 #28

And lady parts are ooky and magical. Dirty. Frightening. nolabear May 2018 #3

Agree with all you said. Sort of like an aggressive man is termed a "hard charger" or Atticus May 2018 #5

Yep. People try to re-appropriate words that have been hurtful and oppressive. Caliman73 May 2018 #10

That reminds me of some lines from the new Mean Girls musical NewJeffCT Jun 2018 #46

Exactly.. nt Raine May 2018 #8

Wait. "Men are expected to act like pricks"? panader0 May 2018 #9

Corporate America? JonAndKatePlusABird May 2018 #12

I never said that men are expected to act like pricks. Caliman73 Jun 2018 #36

Ask all the people who voted for Trump. yardwork Jun 2018 #59

Not buying this, sorry. John Fante May 2018 #19

The awesome thing about life... Caliman73 Jun 2018 #35

when we want to insult and demean a man lapfog_1 May 2018 #4

Agree. And, "thinking about" the different perceptions was the intent of the OP. Atticus May 2018 #6

Because guys like their pricks. Really, really, really like their pricks. mahatmakanejeeves May 2018 #7

How true! BigmanPigman May 2018 #16

Why, we've written SONGS about them... Dr Hobbitstein May 2018 #17

I was thinking more along the lines of Chuck Berry, but that song is sooooooo awful. mahatmakanejeeves Jun 2018 #49

Yeah, Chuck Berry's was really bad, too. Nt Dr Hobbitstein Jun 2018 #58

Impossible to insult those in power Kaleva May 2018 #11

I see your point, but the brush you are using is too broad. Any decent, thoughtful Atticus May 2018 #14

I'm thinking more of insults that are race or gender specific Kaleva May 2018 #18

Yup JonAndKatePlusABird May 2018 #23

Sadly, the quickest way to insult a man is to question their John Fante May 2018 #25

Why is that point so hard to understand? HopeAgain May 2018 #15

Have you heard of Donald Trump? He claims everything is an insult to him mythology May 2018 #20

Do you believe anything Trump says? Kaleva Jun 2018 #40

Oh, poor Donald Trump! kcr Jun 2018 #42

Huh? ProfessorGAC Jun 2018 #45

The farcical notion anyone would believe Trump's allegations is amazing to me. LanternWaste Jun 2018 #47

Men are called "Pricks" because. ..... ProudMNDemocrat May 2018 #13

Post removed Post removed May 2018 #21

You have a nice evening, too. (Bless your heart!) nt Atticus May 2018 #26

It's Primitive The River May 2018 #22

I don't use either term for multiple reasons mythology May 2018 #24

Thanks for the thoughtful response. nt Atticus May 2018 #27

A woman described in this way trixie2 May 2018 #29

Yep. TDale313 May 2018 #32

That's a sweeping statement to make without any history, details, link... FiveGoodMen Jun 2018 #54

It was an assignment in grad school about language and its affect/affect of history trixie2 Jun 2018 #56

Well for one thing, grad school isn't really "common education" FiveGoodMen Jun 2018 #57

I have been using that same example on various threads lunatica May 2018 #30

It ab-so-fuckin-lutely is. TDale313 May 2018 #33

Ab-so-fuckin clueless kcr Jun 2018 #43

Men have power. Women don't. The Velveteen Ocelot May 2018 #31

Well said. nt Atticus May 2018 #34

Great answer. smirkymonkey Jun 2018 #37

Agree that it's about power. meadowlander Jun 2018 #38

A man in a bar who hits on multiple women just looking to score... NCTraveler Jun 2018 #39

What is "protective sexism"? ariadne0614 Jun 2018 #41

Also called "benevolent sexism" treestar Jun 2018 #51

The great disparity of perceived offensiveness results from the great disparity in power. Orsino Jun 2018 #44

A promiscuous male is congratulated by his peers and the power structure. LanternWaste Jun 2018 #48

Honestly it's a complex issue with no clear answer Lee-Lee Jun 2018 #50

Why TimeSnowDemos Jun 2018 #52

From Joss Whedon Gothmog Jun 2018 #53

Because we know we're pricks? Initech Jun 2018 #55

First thing I learned as a nurse ages ago tavernier Jun 2018 #60

No. Words have different levels of vulgarity attached to them grantcart Jun 2018 #61