Some words better left in original context

By MARTHA MARTINEZ

“Sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt you.”

That all-too-familiar phrase doesn’t hold true most times when people are verbally attacked. People are often offended by words used to describe them.

Considering words are just letters clumped together, it’s logical they shouldn’t have any offensive meaning to people. In fact, many of the words used to offend have a completely different meaning in everyday use.

One word in particular holds true especially when insulting women.

The most common insult used to describe a woman is bitch. When used in proper context, the word simply means a female dog or any female member of the canine family.

However, when used to insult women, it often describes women who speak their minds, who have opinions and don’t shy away from expressing them.

In an extensive Internet search, the word had several meanings in regards to women: a woman who is thoroughly disliked, a promiscuous woman, irritable, nasty, and unpleasant, as well as to be an unpleasant difficulty.

Sticks and stones.

In the context of being an outspoken women, wouldn’t it now be flattering to be called a bitch.

If being an outspoken woman all of a sudden meant being a female dog, take it as a compliment and pay no further attention.

If women take the word as a compliment, it loses its power to hurt or insult us and puts the power in our hands. People wouldn’t know what to do. All of a sudden people would wonder why we didn’t feel insulted anymore.

Being outspoken and opinionated is a good thing, ladies.

One thing’s for sure: If a man speaks his mind he is not branded with that title. Rather, he is one who works himself up in the corporate ladder; one who makes something of himself.

He is just outspoken.

Bitch, just like any other word is just that, a word and it just so happens to also be a poor attempt to insult women.

So, next time you find yourself in a pool of insults and the word ‘bitch’ is among them, simply smile, say “thank you” and be on your way.