The Social Harms Of Bitch Analysis

Reclaiming Critical Analysis: The Social Harms of “Bitch” “Sexism is the water we swim in, and we are the fish who cannot see it.” Sherryl Kleinman asserts in The Social Harms of Bitch: a piece where she analyzes how some women have recently attempted to “reclaim” the term “bitch” in popular culture and questions whether it is possible to endow a sexist term with a positive connotation. Women can say “bitches” in reference to her friends, say “sexy bitch” in a positive connotation, but despite anyone’s intentions, putting this word into the air makes men think it is acceptable to throw it around in their daily conversations. Feminists have gone on to note that “a woman’s preference of saying this word roots from internalized oppression, whereby …show more content…
She describes it thoroughly by using examples such as relating its magnitude to a word as “vile” as the “n word,” though not as adverse, comparing the nonchalance we have with using “bitch” to this word helps the audience empathize with the immensity of this issue. She clearly defines terms such as “false power” which the audience may be unfamiliar with, but clearly defines it as “the person in the subordinate group may feel good about adopting an oppressive practice, but that feeling does not challenge an oppressive system.” She greatly considers how women are affected by this word and how people who throw around the term “bitch” are contributing to the sexism in several examples, such as “experiencing what we say or do as pleasurable does not make it harmless. As feminists taught us long ago, the personal is political; women who normalize “bitch” also normalize sexism.” The information in this pieced is used fairly, and the audience – women and those who normalize “bitch” can learn about the consequences and awareness of using this word. In whole, Kleinman’s rhetoric is used very suitably, and has an impressive effect on the