language

use, misuse and cynical manipulation of language in common and specialist speech and writing

Women marching behind a "Still not Asking for 'It'" sign at Slutwalk Manchester

Slutwalk: why can’t it be better than this?

By on • ( 10 )

The sentiment that whatever we wear and wherever we go, yes means yes and no means no is what got me Slutwalking earlier this year. Those campaigning to “reclaim” the word “slut”? I didn’t totally hate the idea, but it wasn’t one that particularly inspired me, because I’m skeptical regarding reclamation of marginalising slurs in concept and feel it’s of limited utility compared to actively challenging prejudices more radically.

BFTP: Hyphenating – who goes first?

By on • ( 26 )

…what is seen as usual – the woman’s name first, the man’s name last. This has become so customary that when my husband and I chose to hyphenate our surnames for the kids with his name first and my name last it was considered odd.

Border Gimps: Living on the Border

By on • ( 4 )

Over the last many years I have struggled with physical limitations. I and a few friends like me, have come to call ourselves “Border Gimps”, especially since society not only loves to have a name for things, but also to help sort through the current “P.C. phrase of the month”. Now I know there are as many thoughts on that sort of thing as there are people to think them, but here is how I and mine define it.