UTSA Survey Paper

Conventionally schools are trying to promote success and positive student image. Using profanity in the classroom through literature can promote a negative mentality.

The meaning of words change over time. Some of the words that were considered highly offensive and unacceptable in the past are now presently used in a kind hearted manner and a way to communicate in this current generation. A major factor includes the time period. For example the term “bad” is used to describe somebody or something

Kory STAMPER is a lexicographer and editor for the Merriam-Webster dictionaries, and in her first book, Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries, which was released in March 2017, she documents the difficulties she faces as a lexicographer. In this article, the author tracks how the slang words “swag”, “fubar” and “bae” have changed over time.

The word “bitch” throughout our society has developed tremendously, the use of the word has grown and grown as our generation has progressed. The term “bitch” did not become a “universal female insult until the 1920s” (Pardes) it was insulting and hurtful to women at the time, but now the term has so many definitions. When a woman is called that word it can have many different meanings because the definition has grown as years has gone by. Today the word is not even considered an insult in many situations, it's more of a compliment to some women. Society today has used the word so often that when they hear it, it's normal. The word is being used on a daily basis. Although many people use the term mainly towards women it is still considered an insult. Not only does the term express how one feels towards women, but as how they see them. The way in which hip-hop artists use the term to describe women is unacceptable, artists “are just reiterating the acceptability of the word” (Elan).

Words such as “whore lady” (Lee 91) and “nigger-lover” (Lee 90) are also used which are

The Oppressive Language Leading to the Degradation of Woman via The Hip Hop Culture Today

Over the years, the slang used by teens in America has changed drastically, from simple words used to describe the appearance of another to phrases to describe being intoxicated. While comparing the words and phrases used in the 1920’s to those commonly used today, I found that there are many with the same definitions, all of which tend to be related to girls, alcohol, and making fun of others.

One of Rap music's greatest criticisms is that it is sexist in its portrayal of women. Some argue that Hip-hop music teaches young children to look at women as "bitches" and "hoes", as women are often called in various hip-hop songs. It is this negative message that has constantly kept rap music in a national spotlight. Critics view sexism in rap as a symptom of an increasingly crumbling set of social values in the black urban community.

According to the New York Times, The use of the word, “bitch,” tripled in the last decade alone, growing to 1,277 uses on 685 shows in 2007 from 431 uses on 103 prime-time episodes in 1998 (Wyatt, 2009). Several years later, the use of the term has increased tremendously since 2007. Today the term has been found not only in television, but in popular music, literary works, online media, and daily conversations. What will be studied and analyzed in order to find a better understanding of the complexities provided by the term will include every day conversations, especially between women; as well as some popular culture texts that include misogynistic lyrics, specifically in the hip hop and rap genres.

Words like “bitch”, “whore” “chicks” or “cunt” are seen as generalizing terms for women, used to degrade their status within in the series and thereof for women in real life. This assumption might be conceivable, as most women in the TV-show are far from using comparable phrases to describe men. There are simply less words which would have the same descriptive and generalizing effect as the above-mentioned terms used for women. However, women in South Park are not expelled from using derogatory and vulgar language. Robin Lakoff wrote in his book Language and Woman´s Place that little girls should not use rough language like boys because this would not enhance their status and prestige among men within the patriarchal system. In fact it would expose females to ridicule and ostracising (5). Within this scope South Park makes a feminist stand in “Tom’s Rhinoplasty” (episode 11 of the first season). When Wendy Testaburger is, driven by jealousy to the new class teacher Ms Ellen approaching her after class to have a word with her, she just explodes with furious swearing and threatening.

Just like in the article “The Language: You Guys” that term is favoring men. Just like in the article we do not even acknowledge you are doing something wrong because it's a habit. The Arthur states “When two female friends told me one day that it bothered them being called “you guys””. She didn’t know that she was offending people until that point then changes her views and perception towards the term “Once I copped to being in the wrong, I started to hearing the phrase with new ears. Suddenly it seemed bizarre to me when a speaker at an academic conference addressed a room full of women as “you guys””. I identify with this since this comparable occasion transpired in high school. The usage of the word nigga was coming out of my mouth every sentence when associating with my friends. We weren't utilizing it with any foul goal, we related it as my companion. Until, one day in a conversation with an elderly black women she gave me a lecture on why I should replace that word from my dictionary. On how offensive it was to her because of the things her family have encountered in the past and how that word was associated with malice. After that discussion did I took that word out as well as a few others since she opened my ears in really taking a top to bottom information in specific words and the impacts it can convey to

Words are tools that are vulnerable to being influenced by society to be used as weapons. When the intention behind using a certain word is to hurt another person, the infliction can convey a reminiscence of oppression. In Gloria Naylor’s selection, The Meanings of a Word, Andi Zeisler’s, The B-Word? You Betcha, and Michiko Kakutani’s, The Word Police, in the anthology Made With Words it is discussed how over time the perception of certain words change. Based on different events that have occurred in society, especially in the music industry, the N-word and B-word have reduced in severity; however African Americans and women still get offended by these derogatory terms.

When using the word bitch, it’s clear that in any situation being called so is not a desirable thing. A good example of somebody using the term “bitch” was when rapper Lupe Fiasco wrote a song describing women as bitches. Mychal Denzel Smith, a writer for the Atlantic said in response to the song, “he sets up a simplistic and demeaning hierarchy of womanhood, in which one can choose to be a bitch, woman, or lady – without even attempting to define what those terms might mean”. Every time Lupe Fiasco, as well as any other artist uses slurs in their music, they spread prejudice to millions of listeners who don’t question the logic of the song and therefore let the use of slurs

Five labeling words associated with gender that I find offensive are bossy, sassy, moody, gossipy, and mumsy. I found the labels are offensive because they are sexist towards women and girls. The fact that the labels are disproportionately directed towards women implied for gender inequality. The labels often go unremarked for men. Bossy, for example, is a critic towards women. If men display the same “bossy” behavior in a work place, they will likely be called a strong leader.

Although it seems that these words are generally ok to throw around, they have had a horrible effect on our society. They are not only portraying us as angry profane people, but they are also degrading our society’s standards. Many can agree that the relationship between a man and a woman is one of partnership and teamwork. Swear words, however, have been reducing women to sex toys and baby machines. Are they not people as well? Why would you ever refer to a woman as a female dog? This only says that you consider her as a pet, and a dumb animal. It astounds me how the human race is constantly looking to find divisions among themselves with which to argue and offend. Can we ever just get