Wordslut

hardcover, 304 pages

Published May 28, 2019 by Harper Wave.

ISBN:: 978-0-06-286887-9
OCLC Number:: 1051052154

The word "bitch" conjures many images for many people but is most often meant to describe an unpleasant woman. Even before its usage to mean a female canine, bitch didn’t refer to gender at all—it originated as a gender-neutral word meaning genitalia. A perfectly innocuous word devolving into a female insult is the case for tons more terms, including hussy, which simply meant “housewife,” or slut, which meant “untidy” and was also used to describe men. These words are just a few among history’s many English slurs hurled at women.

Amanda Montell, feminist linguist and staff features editor at online beauty and health magazine Byrdie.com, deconstructs language—from insults and cursing to grammar and pronunciation patterns—to reveal the ways it has been used for centuries to keep women form gaining equality. Ever wonder why so many people are annoyed when women use the word “like” as a filler? Or why …

The word "bitch" conjures many images for many people but is most often meant to describe an unpleasant woman. Even before its usage to mean a female canine, bitch didn’t refer to gender at all—it originated as a gender-neutral word meaning genitalia. A perfectly innocuous word devolving into a female insult is the case for tons more terms, including hussy, which simply meant “housewife,” or slut, which meant “untidy” and was also used to describe men. These words are just a few among history’s many English slurs hurled at women.

Amanda Montell, feminist linguist and staff features editor at online beauty and health magazine Byrdie.com, deconstructs language—from insults and cursing to grammar and pronunciation patterns—to reveal the ways it has been used for centuries to keep women form gaining equality. Ever wonder why so many people are annoyed when women use the word “like” as a filler? Or why certain gender neutral terms stick and others don’t? Or even how linguists have historically discussed women’s speech patterns? Wordslut is no stuffy academic study; Montell’s irresistible humor shines through, making linguistics not only approachable but both downright hilarious and profound.

6 editions

Rev. Dr. Sir Wayne Murillo III reviewed Wordslut by Amanda Montell

Review of 'Wordslut' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

After reading Montell's Cultish, I saw she wrote a book called Wordslut. I had to read it. I wasn't disappointed.

Wordslut is not erotica, but a feminist analysis of how language upholds the patriarchy. Like gravity forces glaciers downhill, the patriarchy has forced words that once had neutral connotations for women to pejorative connotations. For instance, buddy and sissy were abbreviations for brother and sister. Buddy still has a positive or neutral connotation. Sissy is a pejorative now. The rest of the book is just gushing with examples of how the patriarchy shapes language against women while managing to be hilarious. This book is worth your time.

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