We explore two intriguing topics: why the heck “cunt” is so controversial, and why women feel the need to shave their pubic hair to look like children down there! So get ready for a deep dive as we shed some light on their history and cultural significance.
Topics
- Introduction
- Language is constantly evolving
- Slang is a prime example of this
- One word that has undergone a significant evolution in meaning is “cunt”
- Evolution of “Cunt”
- Medieval Times – Not Offensive
- Rise of Puritanism – Changed Connotation
- Today, “cunt” = most offensive words in the English language – in the United States
- The etymology of “cunt” is contested
- Questions Raised by the Evolution of “Cunt”
- How did it become so offensive?
- The power of words
- Reclamation of “Cunt”
- 14th century, reclaim
- Feminist artists in the 1970s
- Women and the word today
- Evolution of Body Hair Removal
- Ancient Egypt, body hair – uncivilized and unhygienic
- Ancient Greece, women = hairless, men = sign of masculinity
- Middle Ages, shaving pubic hair = prostitution
- Renaissance, a full bush = sexy
- Cultural Beliefs and Biases
- Body hair removal – symbol of class, purity, masculinity/femininity
- Note: many beliefs have cultural biases
- Conclusion
- Language evolution and cultural attitudes towards sex and the body are deeply intertwined
- Examining the history of words and practices can help us understand our own cultural attitudes
- We can work towards creating a more inclusive and accepting society.
Want More?
If you’d like to read more about this topic, see our blog!
Sources
Cultural History of Pubic Hair
How Hair Removal Becam A Beauty Standard