[lbo-talk] Language of Contempt

[Miles Jackson]

joanna wrote:
> The worst term of contempt for a man is "queer" or "homo" -- in the 
> straight community. This is the analog of "slut". In this culture, a man 
> can never be demeaned relative to a woman, therefore his relations with 
> women can never result in a demeaning term. Likewise, a woman can always 
> be demaned in her relations to men, therefore "slut." Women are non 
> subjects therefore their relations to one another are meaningless, 
> therefore "dyke" may be descriptive, but it is not analogous to "faggot."
> 
> Even in my son's generation, one of the main sayings is "bro's before 
> ho's."
> 
> Joanna
> 

J's on to something here: there's also "cocksucker" as an epithet for 
men.  We don't express contempt for men by talking about the number of 
sexual partners they have; the big insult is--doing what gay men or het 
women do!

Miles