I Am Woman – Or am I Just a Gutless Bitch?

Listening to the media recently, the liberated woman in me is furrowing her brow, putting her bra back on, and trying to call Gloria to see what’s happening.

I’m just not sure how to refer to myself anymore. Our biggest concern used to involve being called a “girl” rather than a “woman.” Yea, well, I think we have bigger fish to fry.

Recently, I heard and was really proud of the recent promotion that Erin Andrews received as a female sportscaster. She knows her stuff. She is a talented interviewer. I felt like she more than deserved the promotion.

I didn’t realize how worthless she was until I watched the rant from a DJ at a Boston radio station who had apparently over-indulged on a diet of anger and energy drinks. According to him, Erin Andrews should not be called a sportscaster. Here are a few of the words he prefers –

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2131926-boston-radio-host-calls-erin-andrews-gutless-b-after-wainwright-interview

Erin went from promoted sportscaster to gutless bitch in a matter of seconds. And for no apparent reason, other than the fact that guy really, really hates her.

[quote button_text=”Tweet the Quote”]My concern isn’t the word bitch, as much as the hostility behind it.[/quote] I think, as women, we need to be a little outraged.

But let’s say I’m just old and out-of-date. Uncool (a word that shows how old and uncool I really am). Perhaps I am failing to understand how slander can be a positive thing.

Maybe I should put on my positive thinking cap and consider how accepting these words could change things. If we do nothing, here are some of the possible changes we can look forward to:

  1. Introductions at seminars: And now, the President and CEO of Super Smart stuff, Mark Smith! VS. And now, the Bitch who runs Super Smart Stuff, Sally Jones!
  2. Rewriting of Helen Reddy songs:  I am strong, I am invincible, I’m a big bitch. . ooohhhh 
  3. New Baby Names for Girls:  Peyton Big-Ass Bitch Williams
  4. Revisions of Eleanor Roosevelt’s Quotes: No one can make you feel inferior without your consent, bitch.

Yea, I’m not buying it. I still think women deserve better, and so do men. And Erin, I worked in radio. Your salary is probably kicking the ass of that DJ’s. You’re talking to athletes he can only grouse about on the radio. Maybe that’s why he hates you so, so much.

Erin, let’s face it. While you’re moving up the ladder in years to come, this DJ will be sitting in a bar talking about his glory days when he called you a gutless bitch. And thanks to all of the beer he’s been consuming, he will be anything but gutless.

For the rest of us, we need to be careful of what we quietly accept. Language means something. We are what we tell ourselves we are. So let’s join forces and push back.

We are strong. We are invincible.  We are not gutless . . . yeah, I think I’ll let that second word go.