A few months ago I went on a little rant about the use of the word “bitch” by “feminists.” You can read the full article “Why Do We Call Ourselves Bitches” but the gist of it is - how do you “reclaim” a word that was never yours to begin with?
If you’ve spent any time online in the past month then you probably heard about Supreme suing MOB over the Supreme Bitch trademark. In the counterclaim MOB claims that Supreme is misogynistic and touts MOB products as “unapologetically feminist”. Now, just because someone alleges something in a counterclaim doesn’t make it true - it’s just that person’s version of the facts. But I just find it difficult to listen to this bullshit any longer. MOB has no business calling anyone misognynist - it’s like the pot calling the kettle black.
In the MOB answer and counterclaim, MOB states:
Central to MOB’s message is the reclamation of the word “bitch,” a term used to denigrate women, particularly those who spoke and acted counter to “conventional” feminine characteristics of passivity and acquiescence. MOB - which stands for “Most Official Bitches” - embraced and celebrated these so-called undesirable characteristics of strength and assertiveness, and in the tradition of other historically oppressed minorities, re-appropriated the epithet from its abusers.
MOB Answer and Counterclaim #122, p.14.
I don’t agree with that. But ok, MOB says they are reclaiming the use of the word “bitch” as an expression of power. So WHY did MOB create designs that use the word “bitch” as an insult directed toward other people?? It’s clear in the following designs that the intention is to INSULT not EMPOWER.
That’s not all. MOB further denigrates itself by basically calling the wearer a prostitute, simulating sex with a gorilla and labeling the wearer a cunt - probably the worst insult you could call a woman.
And let’s not forget my all time favorite. “Men Are the New Women.” I remember when this first came out and I was completely dumbfounded. I could not comprehend how the statement “Men Are the New Women” was feminist in any way. Perhaps (if you are not completely coherent) it may seem as an empowering statement. But, please ladies, lets think about the actual words and what they mean. You are basically insulting men - by calling them WOMEN. HOW IS THAT EMPOWERING TO WOMEN? {microphone drops}
Some may say I’m being really harsh. Perhaps I am. But this hypocrisy has been going on for far too long. I don’t doubt that MOB’s intentions are good - I just don’t think there’s enough thought going into the messages being perpetuated in the spirit of “empowerment.”
Here’s a look at works by other designers that are actually positive and about empowering women - what I define as feminist…
StopObjectification Charms by Norma Kamali
Standout pieces from DIMEPIECE
And we all know I’m a fan of Herstory - here’s a great one from HELLZ.
You don’t need to insult other people to make yourself stronger. If you do, then you’re no better than your “oppressors”. I realize that there are many types of feminism and that all feminists are not the same. I just don’t think it’s ok to spew hatred toward women and call yourself a feminist. Just my two cents.