I have been realizing more and more each day how out of alignment my language is with what I am screaming from the roof tops. We have the obvious examples of sexism, harassment and assault: the Harvey Winestiens, pay discrepancies between male and female actors and the fact that 1 in 6 American women are raped. But then there are the subtle societal norms that have perpetuated females as the weaker and lesser sex, and that is where I am guilty.
It's been a pattern I catch myself and others doing that seems like a little nothing common phrase, "don't be a pussy" and "grow a pair." But what are we really saying?
We are indeed fostering the idea that in order to be strong and get shit done, we must have testicles. When someone is fearful or overly cautious we call them a pussy. I tried for a while to convince myself that it was a colloquialism based on the phrase "scaredy cat," kind of like "bat shit crazy" came from the once popular phrase bats in the belfry. But as much as I tried to fit my words into an an acceptable excuse for their use, I know that in reality it is meant to point out the female genitalia. So I am committing to not using my junk or yours as a way to belittle someone, and I invite you to be conscious of how your words form our reality.
What phrases do you use that are based on institutionalized sexism and racism? Did you notice it before reading this? Would love to hear your insightful thoughts on the topic.
