Is it OK to use the 'F' word?

[Michie]

There are certain words in the English language so drenched in connotation they’ve become almost useless for honest conversation.

We all know them — the words that act less like bridges and more like flashing red lights. They don’t invite dialogue; they warn of an oncoming explosion. Words like privilege, diversity, or woke agenda don’t just carry ideas anymore — they carry baggage. And depending on where you land politically, hearing one of them is enough to make you brace yourself, cross your arms, and stop listening.

One of those words is feminism. As a lifelong conservative, I’m not sure I can think of a word that shuts my fellow constitutionalists down faster than this one. (Patriarchy might give it a strong run for its money.)

It’s gotten so bad that a friend recently begged me to stop using it in my own writing and activism. If you looked it up in a right-wing glossary, it would probably read something like: feminism — noun; a secular religion devoted to hating men, destroying the family, and killing babies.

You can hear this tone echoed across conservative commentary. Ben Shapiro has described feminism as “a war on traditional femininity.” Jordan Peterson has accused modern feminists of being “deeply resentful” and driven by envy toward men. Tucker Carlson once claimed that feminism “has made women unhappier” and “weakened the social fabric.” Phyllis Schlafly, decades before them, called it “the most destructive lie in our nation’s history.”

It’s no wonder the word makes conservatives flinch. In our circles, feminism has become shorthand for everything wrong with the modern world — faithlessness, fatherlessness, gender confusion, moral decay. And honestly? Some of that reputation is earned.

Continued below.

Is it OK to use the 'F' word?

As a lifelong conservative, I m not sure I can think of a word that shuts my fellow constitutionalists down faster than this one

www.christianpost.com

 

[Tuur]

Vulgar language is, I'm sorry to say, a failing of mine. Colossians 3:8 calls for believers to put away filthy language, so I'm without excuse. Maybe i don't lapse into military grade invective as much now - maybe. Yet I still do on occasion. That's not good.

That included the F word. It might come up more in casual conversation now, but the word hasn't lost its crude meaning or invective overtones. Granted that words change in meaning (at one time the F word and some others considered vile didn't have that connotation in English, though that does not hold for all such words. The point is what the words mean now and where. The "B" word is seen as a curious British and Australian invective to American ears, but that doesn't mean it's fine for an American to use it in British or Australian company.

 

[Fervent]

I think the political baggage is inevitable. The movement has long since abandoned being a distinctly female enterprise, as it supposedly aims for more egalitarian policies across the board not just women. Where it largely goes wrong is that it misses that while WASPy men tend to be the ones in power, the system has always functioned for the benefit of WASPy women. Men typically seek power not for the sake of having power, but for the sake of having access to high status women. By ignoring the privilege that such women have typically had and perpetuating a simplistic victim mentality and focus feminism is bound to foment resentment on all sides. The whole oppressor-oppressed narrative frame is too far removed from the reality of such things to be of any use in actually correcting the self-perpetuation of systemic issues.

 

[David Lamb]

Paul wrote:

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Php 4:8 NKJV)

If those are instructions for what we let our thoughts dwell on (meditation), surely they should also be true of when our thoughts turn in spoken words. Could using the "F word" possibly be described as noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, whether in our thoughts or in speech?

Incidentally, I am unsure what this matter has to do with politics.

 

[ChubbyCherub]

I work with men, was raised with men and adopted their language with great enthusiasm. The 'F' word was my favorite word for the longest time. I even defended my husband for using it as 'modern language' and social etiquette has evolved (or devolved).

BUT, I have stopped using it because we are supposed to be ambassadors of Christ. How can we demonstrate all of the things we're supposed to demonstrate when we use coarse language which some find offensive or off putting?

So, I couldn't really answer that question in a way that validated continued use of the 'F' word so we broke up.

I don't think the 'F' word, in and of itself is a sin, but we cannot do what we are here to do if it causes an impediment or distraction and I think, if we're honest, we can see that it would for most people.

 

[Michie]

This article is discussing feminism. That is the F-word being discussed.

 

[David Lamb]

This article is discussing feminism. That is the F-word being discussed.

In that case, I apologise for my earlier post. Where I am, when people talk about the F word, they are referring to a disgusting swear-word with the meaning of sexual intercourse. If feminism was meant, why not say so? I see I am not the only one to think that the F word was referring to a vulgar swear-word.

 

[Michie]

In that case, I apologise for my earlier post. Where I am, when people talk about the F word, they are referring to a disgusting swear-word with the meaning of sexual intercourse. If feminism was meant, why not say so? I see I am not the only one to think that the F word was referring to a vulgar swear-word.

Because feminism is often misunderstood in conservative circles. Reading the article will clear up your questions.

 

[ChubbyCherub]

I see I am not the only one to think that the F word was referring to a vulgar swear-word.

haha! yeah I thought it was what you thought! oops!

 

[Michie]

haha! yeah I thought it was what you thought! oops!

Titles do not give the full story.

 

[David Lamb]

Because feminism is often misunderstood in conservative circles. Reading the article will clear up your questions.

Well, until you posted to say that the F-word you meant was feminism, I didn't know I had any questions.

 

[Michie]

Well, until you posted to say that the F-word you meant was feminism, I didn't know I had any questions.

Because you did not read the content. Just the title.

 

[ChubbyCherub]

Titles do not give the full story.

Fair enough! I'm bowing out. I have no interest in this particular F-word!

 

[David Lamb]

Because you did not read the content. Just the title.

Fair enough, but surely titles should be more closely related to the subject of the thread, so the rest of us know whether or not we are interested in following or replying.

 

[Michie]

Fair enough, but surely titles should be more closely related to the subject of the thread, so the rest of us know whether or not we are interested in following or replying.

You could contact the author. But feminism does seem to be the f-word in some circles. The meaning was clear. I don’t care how precise a title is, if you do not read the content, you do not know what you are commenting on.

 

[JustaPewFiller]

Because you did not read the content. Just the title.

Actually, in your original post, you mentioned clearly the subject was "feminism" . Simply reading the post would have done the trick without even having to read the article.