Animals, Women and Terms of Abuse: Towards a Cultural Etymology of Con(e)y, Cunny, Cunt and C*nt

Beirne, Piers

doi:10.1007/s10612-019-09460-w

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…These terms are considered so insulting it would be curious to note the consequences of men’s presentation. Beirne (2020) noted the taboo nature of the word “cunt” and how the term is abusive, sexist, and speciesist. Jane (2014) called the use of such terms “explicit ad hominem invective and unapologetic misogyny” and asked for the remedy of “gender vitriol.”…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ugly or weak? Insults target sex-specific cues of mate value.

Harrison

Hughes

2022

Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences

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Insulting comments are meant to demean a target. From the lens of evolutionary psychology, we theorized that the most used insults could be tied to evolved, sex-specific cues of mate value. We predicted that participants would ascribe as more insulting to men or to women phrases that derogate sex-specific cues of mate value. We analyzed both qualitative and quantitative data from 136 survey participants (age M = 21.2, SD = 6.1). Predictions were supported by notable consensus, and there were largely no sex differences in insult use. Most insults targeted at men derogated formidability/status and sexuality/gender, and most insults targeted at women derogated physical appearance and ascribed promiscuity. These qualities have been shown to be salient cues to mate viability for each sex, respectively. Limitations and future directions for research are discussed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ugly or weak? Insults target sex-specific cues of mate value.

Harrison

Hughes

2022

Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences

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“…They have been called terms of abuse (e.g. De Raad et al 2005;Van Oudenhoven et al 2008;Beirne 2020), derogatory words (e.g. Norri 2000) and (dysphemistic) terms of insult (Allan & Burridge 1991:27-28).…”

Section: Impoliteness and Terms Of Abusementioning

confidence: 99%

Appellativized first names as terms of abuse

Sarhemaa

2023

NOSO

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In the article, three appellativized Finnish personal names are analysed in their use as a derogatory part of communication. In support of the argumentation, two kinds of data are used: corpus data from the internet forum Suomi24 (‘Finland24’) and internet questionnaire data. The methods of qualitative corpus and questionnaire research are adapted, and the approach is loosely cognitive. It is evident that the three expressions are used pejoratively and to express negative emotions. Thus, their usage makes the communication impolite or emphasizes impoliteness. By showing the meanings and usages of the three expressions, it is argued that appellativized proper names have a specific, complex semantic profile.

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“…Beirne's (2019) genealogy of 'cunt' shows its connection to animalistic images for women's sex.Sex work and ribaldry in the blues archive…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Daddy-callin’ Mamas’ and ‘Jelly Beans’: sex work and ribaldry in the blues archive

Curtis¹

2021

Pop. Mus.

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I present a thematic overview of sex work and ribaldry in recorded blues songs for the period c.1920–1942. My ambition is primarily documentary, to take up Paul Oliver's insistence that discussion of the blues must ultimately revolve around its ‘libidinous hub’ and to concretise Abbott and Seroff's characterisation of blues as ‘unabashedly licentious a music form as America has ever produced’. Ribald sex work songs are common in the blues archive, but have not been a focus of sustained study. A grasp of the significance of sex work provides a key to decoding creative wordplay, even as the relation between blues performers and real sex work must remain obscure.

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Animals, Women and Terms of Abuse: Towards a Cultural Etymology of Con(e)y, Cunny, Cunt and C*nt

Cited by 6 publications

References 24 publications

Ugly or weak? Insults target sex-specific cues of mate value.

Ugly or weak? Insults target sex-specific cues of mate value.

Appellativized first names as terms of abuse

‘Daddy-callin’ Mamas’ and ‘Jelly Beans’: sex work and ribaldry in the blues archive

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