Bitch Slap - I have a problem with this

I've been waiting for an opportunity to bring this up isn some context to an existing thread but got impatient.

I see folks using this term to describe actions of this one or that one. I cringe every time I see it.

While I appreciate the graphic effect it implies, is smacking women the sort of image we sould be conjuring up on this board ? Is it the sort of expression that deserves a place in our vernacular ?

OK maybe I'm being an old fart about this, but having a daughter to raise I ame sensative to the changing world in which she is growing up and the change is not altogether good. I know what will happen to anyone who slaps her, bitch or otherwise. That person will get a lesson in manners from her or me but what of all the other women out there ?

What about the women being abused daily ? Why is it OK for "hip hop" culture people to think that slapping a woman is ever acceptable ?

So can we have a moratorium on this wretched term ? Please ?

And while you're at it, how about considering putting a blue bulb in one of those Christmas candles in your windows (if you do thei sort of thing) signifying rememberance of battered children and your intolerance of it.

Thanks for your time and have a safe and joyful holiday season.

not make their point by glorifying vilonce against women.

maybe there's hope !

People are careless with language.

because it's said on TV. That's DU policy,
I believe.

EDIT: I await a correction, if not.

n/t

colloquial on DU.

"I'm cleaning my bathroom bowl" is also used on TV but I don't see it used in GD.

Has hip hop been given protected "victim" status?? How the hell can you "smear" a form of music? And SO WHAT???

to follow the lingo.

A "Bitch slap" is when a woman slaps someone. (she's the bitch)

A "pimp slap" is when a man slaps someone. (he can slap anyone, even another man)

j/k about the too old part. I still love you guys.
:toast:

that was ALWAYS my understanding of the word (and I've since looked it up and confirmed it). It was only here on DU that I saw people read the word to mean "slapping a woman". It doesn't. It refers to a woman doing the slapping. I think it's sorta empowering.

but I won't take a website called "urbandictionary" as the standard of English usage.

But you see, "bitch slap" isn't exactly in Websters. It is an urban slang term that I hear from the guys I work with every day. It's very clear what they mean, particularly when considered along side the music they listen to.

Standard English would demand that "bitch slap" only meant slapping a female dog. Somehow, I don't think that you really believe that's what it means, do you?

I already stated above that my belief was that the word referred to the act of a woman slapping somebody. And to be honest, I didn't think it was an "urban" term (i.e., black). The word has been in common usage (at least in my circles) for many many years.

"Bitch" is not a new, urban term. It's been around a long time. I always imagined "bitchslap" to be what Joan Crawford did to people.

In Humboldt Park, Chicago.

I realize that bitch isn't exactly a new term, but the phrase "bitch slap" is derogatory to women no matter which meaning you choose.

commonly confused with pimp-slappimp-slap, however a bitch slap is similar to that of a weak homo slapping his gay lover.

Sheeet, mo fo, dat ain't no way to treat yo ho. I seen chodes wid more bitch-slap than dat.

This is the connotation it had in the circles I traveled in in florida. I find this offensive as well. As if a gay man's slap was as "weak" as a womans. It manages to insult gay men and women at the same time.

As I have noted before on a very similar thread, the term "bitch" in "bitch slap" refers to the person being slapped. HOWEVER, it is not referring to the person as a woman. The word "bitch" in the context would also have the same meaning in the phrase "You're my bitch," in showing OWNERSHIP, or social inferiority.

It has nothing to do with gender.

and a girl that would slap would have to be a bitch I guess.

I don't think it's actually offensive as some of us older gals think it is meant to be. But it sounds worse than what we are used to - it can be.

so she is an empowered woman.

It's not derogatory towards women when they do the slapping.

Here's to getting slapped by empowered women.
:toast:

other "bitches" over the sleazy behavior of men.

The Bitch slap is a forehand slap, one in which the palm of the hand comes in contact with the target. It is called bitch slapping because it is the way a woman would slap. Slapping with the palm is not masculine enough I guess.

The pimp slap is a backhand slap, usually delivered with the fingers slightly bent. The target of a pimp slap is hit with the knuckles. Because the motion of the pimp slap is more compact it is considered cooler and more befitting of a pimp than the bitch slap.

For most, rather than promoting violence against women, it refers to the kind of Hollywoodesque,( -Joan Collins, Bette Davis, - playing the role of a bitchy woman) slapping of a man or woman in a dramatic fashion.

I understand and empathise with your objections. But the term does have a rather mainstream usage. It's often employed on prime-time television, and has been adopted widely in the culture. Probably, the majority who use it haven't the intention to give offense or promote violence against women.

but I'm not too happy about the use of bitch and "ho" either as you might expect. It confuses the dogs no end and the elves wonder what happened to the other two ho's.

Seriously, its a pretty easy mistake given the demeaning attitude of some hip hop music toward women (note I didn't say ALL hip hop but SOME). I can't be the only one getting this wrong.

I'd still like to see folks stretch their vocabularies a bit. Makes for far more interesting posts when we do.

Thank you. I really had that one coming.

But...I've seen threads like this locked here at DU. Damned annoying, but don't be surprised if it happens. I don't know why, but language that offends women is not taken seriously.

You watch as we're accused of not having a sense of humor, etc. And hey, I get a kick out of Bartcop's "pink tutu" thing like anyone, but the truth is, my daughter dances on pointe, so on another level it kind of sucks to see all these feminine kick-ass strengths knocked down to jokes all the time.

using the term "wife beater" being used to describe a t-shirt.

I hate it too. That phrase and about 100 others at least.

I thought it was Rita Hayworth's full-armed slap to the face to whoever made her angry?

I thought it was a slap delivered BY, not TO, a woman.

I think of it too, a woman really giving it to someone across the face. :shrug:

means the same thing....

nothing but parasytes.

They are leeches whose threat of, or more often, application of violence serves neither the customer nor the 'service provider'. It only serves to satisfy their need to make another subserviant to their will.

Lets not glorify something as vile as this. These people are beneath contempt.

n/t

So would I and many others here DU...Thanks..a woman who understands the vernacular and terminology, not as a sexist remark, but as a term of slang expression, of ones wishes of what one would love to do to wake up these fascist.

Wanting to "bitch" -slap Bush, is not an intent to discriminate or insult women (i.e. female dog, offens. sl spiteful woman) and may not be an accurate or articulate way of displaying ones anger and frustration, but most understand the idea or expression without the sexual overtones. Hardly meant in this forum as to insult women.

And I understood it to mean something entirely different than you. Perhaps your definition is a little behind the times?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bitch+slap

And I understood it to mean something entirely different than you. Perhaps your definition is a little behind the times?

Seriously, as that site demonstrates, the common meaning of that phrase is to hit a woman. It's sexist and misogynist and thoroughly repellant.

No one (with any sensitivity what so ever) advocates violence towards women, certainly not I …when one (including women) says “I’d like to kick him in the balls” or “chop it off” should ALL men be offended or should one recognize how it’s being used in context? Can a women use this terminology, refering to a man? (Bush)

If used, (bitch-slap) as the lowest degrading way to insult, you may be right, in the sense that it does indeed refer to and is intended to make a man feel as helpless and defenseless as a women who is being threatened by an overpowering man.

For this I do sincerely apologize.

However, in overall expressions, using the term, I seriously doubt that is the intent when it is indeed flippantly used as anything more than a form of political frustration.

With no disrespect intended…it seems somewhat petty, especially when used in the "vernacular" of this forum…

But again, I do understand your objection to it…and I for one will make an effort to use some other terminology.

I do believe that saying something akin to "I'd like to kick him in the balls" or "chop it off" are also sexist and should be avoided at all costs.

Not only are they sexist in nature, but these types of insults are astonishingly unimaginative, simplistic and unintentionally revealing. By saying you'd like to "bitch-slap" GWB, what you seem to be saying is that you'd like to slap him as you'd slap a misbehaving woman. This statement implies that the reverse is also true in the speaker's opinion. If GWB is so bad he deserves to be slapped like a woman, what does that say about women?

I work at a place that employs quite a few urban youth, including many ex-gang bangers. I can assure you that when they say "bitch-slap" they mean hitting someone like you'd hit a bitch. Bitch meaning woman. Any woman. And as a woman, I can tell you that it is very disconcerting to hear over 50% of the population constantly referred to as "bitch", "ho", "skank", "cunt", etc., then hear it excused because it's common venacular.

Anyway, I do sincerely thank you for at least considering that this term might be offensive. I do not believe it is petty to expect to be treated with equality. I do not think it is petty to ask people to realize that words have meaning and to consider that before they post.

because a woman is assertive she is a bitch. If she resorts to violence, so much the better because now she is an "empowered bitch". No the intent is not insult, but the result, through ignorance is indeed insult.
Let's just think for a moment about the word bitch, shall we? A bitch is a female dog. The first person who called a woman a bitch was certainly not thinking about, or refering to a strong woman.

It is misogynistic. And also smacks of white suburban brats co-opting (in a very patronizing way) an aspect of minority misery. This is also why i disapprove of "pimp and ho'" parties. It's not funny or "edgy" (and this is coming from a man who owns the complete works of Robert Beck and Donald Goines)

Usage- On that Dynasty episode last night that bitch Joan Collins really bitch slapped that bitch Crystal all over the room.

The term pimp slap doesn't mean you slap a pimp.

So maybe you should learn a little bit about hip hop culture before you mix it in with spousal abuse.

to be referring to a slap BY a woman I see/hear it used in reference to hitting a woman so I s'pose it depends on the context

I mainly don't like it for the same reason stated above it's really pathetic to see middle class white kids using ghetto slang - Especially when you're living in Australia - the kids who dress and acts like "homies" here are more Straight Outta Private School than Compton.

Maybe we could change the terminology when people are wanting something to sum up a nice hard slap across the pud how about "glove slap" taking a cue from Homer and his dueling glove slap - and those who are wanting to refer to violence against women - well we can just ignore them

resenting "white kids" for using "ghetto slang" is (usually subconsciously) racist. It implies that black culture cannot be part of mainstream American thought and language. I don't think that's true.

We've easily adopted Irish culture, Italian culture, German culture, etc. etc. Aren't we overdue for African-American culture to become mainstream?

African American Vernacular English has been integrating itself into white american culture since time immemorial. AAVE's been the trendsetter since at least the twenties.

Of course there's always been the white racists ranting about how ebonics is degenerate and dumbing down white society.

but it is a bit ridiculous for rich kids to replicate in the Australian suburbs - they even put on an American accent?????
And to be honest they just reinforce stereotypes - none are replicating African American culture they replicate all the negative stereotypes - no-one ever claimed that when kids play "cowboys and indians" and the Indians "scalp" the cowboys that Native American culture is being "accepted in the mainstream"

either way a suburban tragedy case kid changing from his private school blazer and going to "hang with is homies" and talking about "putting a cap in yo' ass" - especially seeing as NO-ONE in this country ever says "ass" and none of them have ever been a fist fight - is pathetic from where I stand - they just look sad and to be honest Dookus I'm kinda annoyed you've decided I'm a racist even if you did rather patronisingly add "usually subconscious" that's YOUR spin on it - not the facts

Is hip/hop culture the ultimate in what African American culture has to offer?
So many of our popular forms of music and be traced right back to Africa. There is art and don't even get me started on African influence on dance.
But to get back to the hip hop or rap culture being part of the popular vernacular; I think you are right, why shouldn't my children dress like the artists they admire? Why shouldn't they use the language? Certainly for these musicians to be sucessful they have had to market to more than just AA youth? However, the term bitch, references to violence against women or men, refereces to getting high etc... If that is the best they can do in terms of culture then I see no reason to find it acceptable. Surely the hip hop world has more to offer than that?

Once again:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bitch+slap

I hate to keep beating this dead horse, but there are a lot of definitions for this word and all of them are derogatory to women. You say the poster doesn't understand hip hop culture? Well I understand it very well and still agree with her, as do many women in hip hop. What do you say to us?

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Not that I have to justify or prove my knowledge to anyone, but I have been in and around the hip hop scene in Detroit and Chicago since the early eighties. If you doubt my cred...well, I really don't give a shit. The people I hang with could give a shit about it.

The website was an amusing link I posted to show that there are other definitions of "bitch slap" other than a slap a bitch throws. Do you really believe that "bitch slap" doesn't refer to violence against women? Do you really believe that all the female hip hop artists who have fought against this and other misogynistic terms don't know anything about hip hop culture? Or do you just not care?

I now understand that I was mistaken as to the intended meaning. However the term is ambigous at best and not all of us feel the need to try and find a dictionary for interpretation.

Irrespective of that, "bitch" is unnecessary, "slap" is unnecessary. Just because Bette Davis may have hauled off on some guy in a 30's movie doesn't make it right in 2003. I think we've come some ways since that time.

I can imagine that a young lady involved in the hip hop scene who has pride must find this a very difficult paradox to navigate. Thanks for trying susang.

Alot of ppl use Bitch slap like slapping a bitch.

as long as we don't mind being refered to as female dogs, no harm no foul.
Certainly when I have a problem with someone I often slap them just like the bitch I am.

you're taking the that waaaaay it out of context. "Bitch slap" isn't about a man slapping another woman. It's a term to describe how a woman hits, like a slap, you know, "slapping like a girl."

True, women may get hit, but it's usually a woman that hits another woman, hence "bitch slap."

I see nothing wrong with the term, even if it may have a sexist sound to it.

On edit: Independent429 summed it up on post #7.

"a term to describe how a woman hits"

You mean a woman like Laila Ali? Don't know about you, but I wouldn't call Ms. Ali by that name, and she sure as hell doesn't slap! And neither did I, back in my fighting days.

http://www.lailaali.net/

I've used that term numerous times, and all the people I know, including women, do not find it offensive at all. Hell, the women I know use the term more often than I do. It seems to me that only a few here on DU find it offensive.

Laila Ali is what I'd like to call an "outlier" on the normal bell-shaped curve of women. She can kick anyone's ass - man or woman. I don't understand why you brought her into this arguement...but oh well.

He has a lot to learn too. I suggest you go back and read some posts by all of feminist outliers on the bell curve of women.

I don't get what's so offensive about it.. i use it on guys AND girls and I'm a girl for the record.


Like if a friend does something stupid "don't make me come bitchslap you"

Cuz you can use it on guys too

I put blue lights on the tree in my front window.

.

It is sexist. I find it interesting that some justify it in this thread by saying that it means an ineffectual slap like a woman. Jeez, can't you see that is sexist also.

I will never understand why folks choose to use language that they know may offend others. How can you persuade others using language that offends?

As in "Let's line up *, rummy, and dick for a Stooge Slap."

(smack).................(smack).................(smack) :)

good answer Robb :7

I remember when "bitch-slap" was just starting to make the rounds, it meant something more specific than it does now.

Do you remember...it wasn't that long ago that calling a man a "bitch" was not as much insulting, as it was just plain weird. It was clear that it was a derogatory term used on women, and to use it on a man meant you were too out-of-touch with good ol' American pejoratives to use them properly. Then, I guess it was eight or nine years ago, you started to hear it used on men too, and when that change happened it seemed really novel. These days it's just another slur.

"Bitch-slap," to my memory, came into use just before this conversion of "bitch" to include both genders. It meant a backhand slap to the face, like you might see Bogart or Gable give to some harridan in a black & white movie. And it was only used, at least in the beginning, to challenge women, because only a woman could be called a "bitch."

A short time later Snoop & Co. introduced the idea of calling men bitches, and by association the territory of "bitch-slap" expanded with it. Now it can mean a number of things, as indicated in that Urban Dictionary link people have been posting.

Personally I think it's a stupid term. As a person who considers himself fairly open-minded I try to suppress my human trait of judging people before I know them, over things like race, heritage, handicap, etc. But I reserve the right to unfairly prejudge anyone over sloppy or lazy use of language, and the person I hear use "bitch-slap" gets a very low estimation out of the gate.

And I'm very open-minded about nearly everything. But it's an ugly term. It even *sounds* ugly.

(a nasty mean woman) and the recipent of the slap could be any gender.

-- Allen

Ive always used it like that too.

I tried to get it banned a while ago, but I got. . .rejected.

Reading this thread is honestly the first time I have ever heard the term described as 'the way a woman (bitch) slaps someone'.
I have, however, heard the term used about a million and one times and EVERY single time I've heard it used it was in the context of 'the way one would slap a woman (bitch).
I was married to a sailor for 14 years, and have known many ragingly macho military types, and I can tell you unequivocally, that the best way one man can illustrate that he thinks another man isn't quite masculine enough, or isnt even worth the effort to get into a fist fight with, is to slap him rather than punch him, ie; 'bitch slap'...'the way one would slap a woman' (bitch). I'm willing to bet that most of the men here would agree its meant to be a huge insult.

Yes, the meaning of the term probably depends on the context in which it is used, but to my mind, either context is pretty derogatory.


-chef-

should give people pause. Like I said above, the first person to call a woman a bitch certainly meant it to insult the woman, saying she was no better than a female dog meant to breed.

Which is why I made it a point to juxtapose them each time I typed the word woman.

I'm constantly surprised by men, and even sometimes women, who will say that the term 'bitch' isnt meant to be derogatory, but refuse to consider that simply using it perpetuates negativity toward women. It's a very insidious word....much more than a lot of people are willing to recognize.

-chef-

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bitch+slap&f=1

To open handedley slap someone. Denote disrespect for the person being bitch slapped as they are not worthy of a man sized punch. Suggests the slap was met with little resistance and much whining

Kieth owed me that $20 for weeks and I had to bitch slap the M.F. to get it back.

a female dog has nothing to do with women. :eyes:

Read the rest. These are some other definitions on that website:r instance,

1. When your woman wont cook you food, give her a hard but meaningful bitch slap.

Woman, make me dinner or expect a nice bitch slap

2. to slap a ho when she aint makin you enough cash
what a ho gets when she refuses to go out to da corner

francine got one hell of a mother fuckin bitch slap when she kept da money from me
you get dat bitch out on da street and make me my money before I bitch slap her black ass


3. When you are doggie style N a ugly bitch and she looks back again after being warned to not to turn around.

You look back here again ho and im gonna bitch slap yo a$$.

4. to slap a ho when she aint makin you enough cash
what a ho gets when she refuses to go out to da corner

I have never thought abotu women when it comes to this. I have uised the term here at DU this way. Clark just bitch slapped that Faux reporter. Slapping anyone is wrong even if they are bitches and ho's. Calling people bitches and ho's is wrong too.

I appreciate you re-thinking the issue. :hug:

More of a euphamism, like "opening up a can of whoop-ass".

Now, I don't know about YOU guys, but even though I've never SEEN a can of Whoop-ass (or purchased one at the local 7-11) I sure have opened up a few ... B)

I don't use it because I think it's too crude but I always thought it refered to one woman slapping another woman. Guess I'm wrong, but if it means a man slapping a woman I really won't use it!

The term is ugly & dehumanizing. The use of this term is just as wrong as a racial or gay bashing joke; it perpetuates a prejudicial mindset. There's no acceptability, no excuse, and no exception for a mysogynist insult to our sisters.

We need to be responsible for our speech and aware of the hurt we cause.