Rediscovering the Cunt

The C-Word

Cunt is inflammatory, abusive, vulgar and perhaps the most misrepresented and misappropriated word in our repertoire. Now that I’ve said it aloud, we can move beyond the taboo and start uncovering the fascinating progression of cunt from innocence to impurity.

I've been increasingly interested in the etymology of taboo words. I began my "Take Back the Hashtag" project on Instagram, to explore censored words and to provoke thought on how the words are used. The history of some of those terms, especially feminine derivative terms, has proved enlightening. Words such as vagina, pussy, tits, clit and finally, cunt, have transformed the feminine body into terms of disdain, insult and shame.

Cunts are Beautiful

Cunt has its roots in some of the oldest feminine references. Traced back to the Proto-Indo-European word-sound "cu," it forms the basis of words like cow, queen and cunt…see Matthew Hunt's "Cunt: the Cultural History of the C-Word". "Cu" expresses quintessential femininity* and "cunt" completes that reference by describing our female genitalia in its entirety. The cunt encapsulates the vulva, the clit, the labia...the whole package. It communicates more than just the vagina - it communicates female sexual prowess, enjoyment and pleasure. Pretty empowering and emboldening to think about.

*See another great read/reference: Gillian Schutte’s "C is for Cunt".

But that was then. This is now.

Through eventual linguistic progression, patriarchal writings and and misogynist undertakings - think witch hunts and prolific rape - cunt was pushed underground and remade into the most base, offensive and scornful term. No one says it in polite company. It raises eyebrows. It gets you censored. But cunt, like fuck, holds power, conveys energy and commands attention. Imagine if the once beautiful cunt reclaimed its position as a revered reference to the female sex? Would could we achieve as women if these negative female slurs no longer carried the impact? What if they became a positive definition of our sexuality, our bodies and our voices?

Looking under the hood so to speak, there is a lush history and empowering nature to the cunt, vagina and pussy. That's why I want to take back the hash tag and reclaim these words that have for too long crippled us.

No Hastags Found

I have to think very carefully each time I post to Instagram. My themes range from body image to sexuality, speaking freely to provoking taboos. In my imagery, as well as language, I prefer color, richness, character and openness. To my dismay, a few of my photos had disappeared from the search results list because of my overly creative - and banned - hashtags.

In the scheme of things, it might not be that big a deal. My account wasn't deleted, my photos still appeared on my profile, but the shadow of Big Brother seemed to loom. Purposely vague community guidelines leave me wondering who decides what is acceptable and appropriate? Who defines art? Who draws the lines? Where do the boundaries of censorship begin and end?

To help you make sense of the hashtag do’s and dont’s, I discovered a handy resource from The Data Pack, which put together a list of the banned hashtags on Instagram. A few of my favorites include #breasts #bra #kinky #lingerie #lolita #sensual #vagina...hmm, the medical term for a woman’s reproductive organ is banned?

Let’s take back the right to speak, write, hashtag and communicate without fear of censorship. #takebackthehashtag #bannedhashtagsofinstagram

Pink and Blue Views

I haven't been in the market for toys recently, but, it's that time of year, and I found myself in the local Toys R Us. While trolling through the overstuffed aisles, I was presented with a color-coded crossroads...pink or blue?

The store was segmented by varying degrees into pockets of cotton candy pink, electric fuchsia, baby boy blue and bold navy. Each aisle color-coded the merchandise into its strategically-marketed, gender-specific category: boy or girl. These stereotypical hues have been employed since I was a child and for many, many years prior*. We've become accustomed to directing our browsing and shopping habits based on gender, and color serves as the guide.

And while the color itself does not present a hugely controversial issue, its the content paired with the color that I find a bit more insidious, calculated and discouraging

Barbies occupied an entire aisle bound in petal pink boxes. Tea party box sets and fairy princess costumes beckoned with domestic intent and the promise of the day her prince would come. Across the lane, masculinity was abound. Monster trucks exploded from their fearsome, dark packaging and superheroes awaited alien invasion assembled in neatly stacked rows. Army green men, royal blue matchbox cars and bins of balls, bats and helmets fulfilled the boyhood dreams of conquest, adrenaline and glory.

But my moment of zen came in the Lego aisle.

As a girl, I struggled with balancing the fondness of dolls, ponies and dress up with the desire to be one of the boys...throwing the football, catching frogs and climbing trees. Legos were one of my favorite toys. The simple blocks offered limitless creativity and possibility. They were objective and neutral. Fun for everyone. The dismay I felt while walking the Lego aisles came with the complete dissociation of boy versus girl themes. The macho-packaged sets touted superhero thrills, castle adventures and epic worlds at war. Meanwhile, the soft pink boxes showcased girlfriends keeping house, shopping at the mall and frolicking on horseback at the ranch. The received message? Gender roles, expectations and marketing haven't changed much in child's play since 1953.

However innocent and innocuous toys may seem, these themes DO influence the perceptions and identities of future generations. Their world views and social constructs are shaped, in part, by play. Would a boy freely wander the "pink" aisle and choose an item specifically packaged for girls? Would a girl feel empowered to select a blue box and explore the masculine contents within? 

In a future world, I hope so. Or perhaps we can opt to reject definitions of gender by pink and blue.

* Extracurricular reading on the history of girls & pink