Which of these terms are sexist when applied to a female candidate?

[John Dule]

After the recent VP debate, a number of red avatars complained that some of the above descriptors were "sexist" when they were applied to Kamala Harris. I have compiled those adjectives, along with a few other choice words, in this list. Please select all options that you believe inherently expose sexism/misogyny in the user when they are applied to a female politician. Hopefully this exercise will make it easier for all of us to communicate our feelings on Kamala Harris in the future, without immature people accusing us of hating women or minorities.

[John Dule]

Calling a woman a "bitch" does not in itself mark the user of the word as a misogynist. There are plenty of women out there who deserve that label, just as there are plenty of men who deserve the label "asshole."

[John Dule]

There is a degree of sexism to most of them, just like there is a degree of racism when sportswriters and pundits praise white athletes for their intelligence and leadership and black athletes for their physical prowess. It's not necessarily sexist in every case, but the general stereotypes are sexist. It's hard to imagine a male politician being criticized for their appearance (people made fun of Bernie a bit, but it was far from actual criticism) or called most of these words.

Trump and Cruz have spent their entire careers being mocked for what they look like (deservedly).

[John Dule]

Have y'all never met a bitchy woman? or man, for that matter?

I knew you were socially reactionary but wow 

People don’t really use “bitchy” to describe an unpleasant man. And obviously I’ve met women I dislike, I just won’t use gendered language like that.

Haha, you don't need to be a social conservative to call a woman a "bitch." Maybe there's some correlation, but I've seen plenty of left-wing activists using that word (and worse) against women they dislike. And for the record, men are often told to "quit bitching" or words to that effect, whereas-- for example-- I have never heard a woman referred to as an "asshole" in my life. So interestingly, I think that word might be more "gendered" in terms of usage than "bitch."

[John Dule]

tbh anyone who has never used the word "bitch" needs to meet my verbally abusive alcoholic high school algebra teacher

[John Dule]

Have y'all never met a bitchy woman? or man, for that matter?

I knew you were socially reactionary but wow 

People don’t really use “bitchy” to describe an unpleasant man. And obviously I’ve met women I dislike, I just won’t use gendered language like that.

Haha, you don't need to be a social conservative to call a woman a "bitch." Maybe there's some correlation, but I've seen plenty of left-wing activists using that word (and worse) against women they dislike. And for the record, men are often told to "quit bitching" or words to that effect,

I think there is a bit of a difference there. When a woman is called a bitch it is generally because she is seen as rude but when a man is called a bitch it usually means he is seen as weak.

Sure, but there are tons of words that take on different connotations when applied to men versus women.

[John Dule]

It all depends on context, you knuckleheads.

Exactly. If Trump were to use one of these words, obviously it would reveal what we all already know about him-- he has no respect for women (or anyone, for that matter). But a random person using one of these words, without a preestablished pattern of sexist behavior, is not necessarily a misogynist.

[John Dule]

Interestingly, my generically-center-left father is more uncomfortable with calling women bitches than is my "it came from the 70s!" second-wave feminist mother, so clearly there isn't a 1:1 correspondence between levels of misogyny and levels of comfort with some of these words.

I think you’re overthinking it, your dad is uncomfortable saying it because he’s a man and it would be sexist if he said it, and your mother is a woman so it’s fine for her to say it.

The identity group of the user does not define the intent behind the word.

[John Dule]

Interestingly, my generically-center-left father is more uncomfortable with calling women bitches than is my "it came from the 70s!" second-wave feminist mother, so clearly there isn't a 1:1 correspondence between levels of misogyny and levels of comfort with some of these words.

I think you’re overthinking it, your dad is uncomfortable saying it because he’s a man and it would be sexist if he said it, and your mother is a woman so it’s fine for her to say it.

The identity group of the user does not define the intent behind the word.

Intent isn't really relevant for stuff like that.

Intent is literally all that matters when determining whether or not a person is prejudiced.

[John Dule]

Interestingly, my generically-center-left father is more uncomfortable with calling women bitches than is my "it came from the 70s!" second-wave feminist mother, so clearly there isn't a 1:1 correspondence between levels of misogyny and levels of comfort with some of these words.

I think you’re overthinking it, your dad is uncomfortable saying it because he’s a man and it would be sexist if he said it, and your mother is a woman so it’s fine for her to say it.

The identity group of the user does not define the intent behind the word.

Intent isn't really relevant for stuff like that.

Intent is literally all that matters when determining whether or not a person is prejudiced.

Not really? Because unconscious bias is definitely a thing.

Even assuming this is true, that doesn't qualify you to interpret another person's statement as though you know the inner workings of their psyche better than they do. I know this might come as a shock to modern leftists, but in ancient history there was once a concept called the "presumption of innocence," which gave the speaker the benefit of the doubt and prevented others from automatically interpreting their words in the most malicious way possible. I understand that this norm has been dead for eons, but reviving it could prove beneficial to our national discourse.

[John Dule]

Interestingly, my generically-center-left father is more uncomfortable with calling women bitches than is my "it came from the 70s!" second-wave feminist mother, so clearly there isn't a 1:1 correspondence between levels of misogyny and levels of comfort with some of these words.

I think you’re overthinking it, your dad is uncomfortable saying it because he’s a man and it would be sexist if he said it, and your mother is a woman so it’s fine for her to say it.

The identity group of the user does not define the intent behind the word.

Intent isn't really relevant for stuff like that.

Intent is literally all that matters when determining whether or not a person is prejudiced.

Not really? Because unconscious bias is definitely a thing.

Even assuming this is true, that doesn't qualify you to interpret another person's statement as though you know the inner workings of their psyche better than they do. I know this might come as a shock to modern leftists, but in ancient history there was once a concept called the "presumption of innocence," which gave the speaker the benefit of the doubt and prevented others from automatically interpreting their words in the most malicious way possible. I understand that this norm has been dead for eons, but reviving it could prove beneficial to our national discourse.

"Bitch" is obviously not even close to being as severe, but would you agree that the n-word is inherently racist for non-Black people to use (the one exception being actors)? 

Of course not. Some people of other races genuinely become close enough friends with a black person that they feel comfortable using that term with one another. Like how I used to call my Mexican roommate a "beaner" while he called me a "pasty gringo."

[John Dule]

Interestingly, my generically-center-left father is more uncomfortable with calling women bitches than is my "it came from the 70s!" second-wave feminist mother, so clearly there isn't a 1:1 correspondence between levels of misogyny and levels of comfort with some of these words.

I think you’re overthinking it, your dad is uncomfortable saying it because he’s a man and it would be sexist if he said it, and your mother is a woman so it’s fine for her to say it.

The identity group of the user does not define the intent behind the word.

Intent isn't really relevant for stuff like that.

Intent is literally all that matters when determining whether or not a person is prejudiced.

Not really? Because unconscious bias is definitely a thing.

Even assuming this is true, that doesn't qualify you to interpret another person's statement as though you know the inner workings of their psyche better than they do. I know this might come as a shock to modern leftists, but in ancient history there was once a concept called the "presumption of innocence," which gave the speaker the benefit of the doubt and prevented others from automatically interpreting their words in the most malicious way possible. I understand that this norm has been dead for eons, but reviving it could prove beneficial to our national discourse.

"Bitch" is obviously not even close to being as severe, but would you agree that the n-word is inherently racist for non-Black people to use (the one exception being actors)?  

Of course not. Some people of other races genuinely become close enough friends with a black person that they feel comfortable using that term with one another. Like how I used to call my Mexican roommate a "beaner" while he called me a "pasty gringo."

You're unironically using the n-word pass defense?

I have never experienced anything like this in my entire life, and don't know anyone who has.

You're unironically choosing to be offended on behalf of people who aren't offended themselves?

Make some nonwhite friends and I'm sure you'll experience this.