Introduction
The word “bitch” in the modern world can be used in several ways, for example, traditionally as an insult or as a joke appeal among friends. This word has a long history of use in a negative context against women, but the peculiarities of its meaning were changing. Even though the “bitch” has long been used as a tool of humiliation, the modern world weakens its negative sense.
Discussion
The word “bitch” was not always an insult but only applied to a female dog. The Online Etymology Dictionary (2022) traces its history back to the Old English “bocce” used for dogs, which probably originated from the Old Norse “bikkjuna” of the same meaning. Its application to women dates back to the 15th century, and in the 18th, it became one of the most brutal offenses (Zhou, 2020). Such an appeal was supposed to show that women cross borders.
“Bitch” as an insult was tied to its original meaning. The word applied to women that showed strong sexual desire, like the dog in heat (Cooperman, 2021). In the 20th century, the use of “bitch” became more common, for instance, in media or literature. According to Zhou (2020), this trend was a reaction to the women’s suffrage movement to protest their receipt of such power that traditionally belonged to men. However, the world is changing, and the “bitch” is decreasingly used as an insult.
The humorous use of the word “bitch” carries more positive connotations. For example, Cooperman (2021) believes that such appeal promotes camaraderie when applied to a group of women. In some cases, “bitch” is used for persistent and confident women and may be regarded as a compliment (Cooperman, 2021). A gradual shift from using this word as an insult can help change its meaning and make it more positive.
Conclusion
Thus, the word “bitch” comes from Old Norse, and its original meaning is a female dog. However, since the 15th century, it has also been used to insult women. Often, such treatment should have reminded women that they were outside the boundaries of society’s accepted behavior. In the modern world, “bitch” is used in a more humorous approach, which contributes to changing its meaning to a more positive one.
References
Cooperman, J. (2021). The evolution of the bitch. Common Reader. Web.
Online Etymology Dictionary. (2022). Bitch. Web.
Zhou, L. (2020). Use of the word “bitch” surged after women’s suffrage. Vox Media. Web.