“As funny as it is informative, this book will have you laughing out loud while you contemplate the revolutionary power of words.” —Camille Perri, author of The Assistants and When Katie Met Cassidy
A brash, enlightening, and wildly entertaining feminist look at gendered language and the way it shapes us.
The word bitch conjures many images for many people, but it is most often meant to describe an unpleasant woman. Even before its usage to mean a female canine, bitch didn’t refer to gender at all—it originated as a gender-neutral word meaning genitalia. A perfectly innocuous word devolving into a female insult is the case for tons more terms, including hussy—which simply meant housewife—or slut, which meant an untidy person and was also used to describe men. These words are just a few among history’s many English slurs hurled at women.
Amanda Montell, reporter and feminist linguist, deconstructs language—from insults and cursing, gossip, and catcalling to grammar and pronunciation patterns—to reveal the ways it has been used for centuries to keep women and other marginalized genders from power. Ever wonder why so many people are annoyed when women talk with vocal fry or use the word like as a filler? Or why certain gender-neutral terms stick and others don’t? Or where stereotypes of how women and men speak come from in the first place?
Montell effortlessly moves between history, science, and popular culture to explore these questions and more—and how we can use the answers to effect real social change. Her irresistible humor shines through, making linguistics not only approachable but both downright hilarious and profound, demonstrated in chapters such as:
• Slutty Skanks and Nasty Dykes: A Comprehensive List of Gendered Insults • How to Embarrass the Shit Out of People Who Try to Correct Your Grammar • Fuck it: An Ode to Cursing While Female • Cyclops, Panty Puppet, Bald Headed Bastard and 100+ Other Things to Call Your Genitalia
Wordslut gets to the heart of our language, marvels at its elasticity, and sheds much-needed light into the biases that shadow women in our culture and our consciousness.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
© 2019 HarperAudio (Luisterboek): 9780062932693
Publicatiedatum
Luisterboek: 28 mei 2019
“As funny as it is informative, this book will have you laughing out loud while you contemplate the revolutionary power of words.” —Camille Perri, author of The Assistants and When Katie Met Cassidy
A brash, enlightening, and wildly entertaining feminist look at gendered language and the way it shapes us.
The word bitch conjures many images for many people, but it is most often meant to describe an unpleasant woman. Even before its usage to mean a female canine, bitch didn’t refer to gender at all—it originated as a gender-neutral word meaning genitalia. A perfectly innocuous word devolving into a female insult is the case for tons more terms, including hussy—which simply meant housewife—or slut, which meant an untidy person and was also used to describe men. These words are just a few among history’s many English slurs hurled at women.
Amanda Montell, reporter and feminist linguist, deconstructs language—from insults and cursing, gossip, and catcalling to grammar and pronunciation patterns—to reveal the ways it has been used for centuries to keep women and other marginalized genders from power. Ever wonder why so many people are annoyed when women talk with vocal fry or use the word like as a filler? Or why certain gender-neutral terms stick and others don’t? Or where stereotypes of how women and men speak come from in the first place?
Montell effortlessly moves between history, science, and popular culture to explore these questions and more—and how we can use the answers to effect real social change. Her irresistible humor shines through, making linguistics not only approachable but both downright hilarious and profound, demonstrated in chapters such as:
• Slutty Skanks and Nasty Dykes: A Comprehensive List of Gendered Insults • How to Embarrass the Shit Out of People Who Try to Correct Your Grammar • Fuck it: An Ode to Cursing While Female • Cyclops, Panty Puppet, Bald Headed Bastard and 100+ Other Things to Call Your Genitalia
Wordslut gets to the heart of our language, marvels at its elasticity, and sheds much-needed light into the biases that shadow women in our culture and our consciousness.
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
© 2019 HarperAudio (Luisterboek): 9780062932693
Publicatiedatum
Luisterboek: 28 mei 2019
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Vera
16 jan 2024
Heel leuk! As a bit of a wordslut myself was het interressant om te lezen en de feministische draai was krachtig en verfrissend.
Esther
29 okt 2022
Interesting, informative, shocking and brilliant. I learned so much! A very powerful book.
Katelyn
20 mrt 2021
This is honestly the best book I’ve read since the beginning of the pandemic. I love this woman. Wish you had her second book Cultish on Storytel.
Joyce
27 jul 2023
Made me think about the way language is used around me and helps me recognise patterns in my own way of speech. Very eye-opening, funny author, would recommend!
Sophie
12 apr 2023
Very interesting read (or listen?) that made me painfully aware of my own hurtful tendencies and struggles that exist in the world, without being judgmental. It gave me lots of information and ideas for changes I can start making myself. Absolutely loved it! Well written and well read too.
Sophie
4 mrt 2023
A fascinating book - highly recommend
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