I am sure you’ve heard of the writer Rebecca West? Her famous quote:

People call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.

In my experience and observation, the term feminist and bitch are used interchangeably.  I have also heard “bitch” refer to women who:

• Speak their minds — even if it offends.
• Form their own opinions without influence or pressure.
• Ambitious, self-motivated and self-reliant.
• Not easily intimidated.
• Can outwit the mundane, catty and egocentric.

If all of the above means being a bitch,  I’ll have to agree with Bitch Magazine –  “thanks.”

Now, while I have feminist tendencies — I would not say that I am a “feminist.” But, I found that my own views were right inline with Bitch Magazine — who did a great job describing why women like me find the word harmless, if not a compliment.

Here’s how they put it:

“Bitch” is an epithet hurled at women who speak their minds, who have opinions and don’t shy away from expressing them, and who don’t sit by and smile uncomfortably if they’re bothered or offended. If being an outspoken woman means being a bitch, we’ll take that as a compliment, thanks.

We know that not everyone’s down with the term. Believe us, we’ve heard all about it. But we stand firm in our belief that if we choose to take the word as a compliment, it loses its power to hurt us. And if we can get people thinking about what they’re saying and why when they use the word, that’s even better.

And last, but certainly not least, “bitch” describes all at once who we are when we speak up, what it is we’re too worked up over to be quiet about, and the act of making ourselves heard.

- Bitch Magazine

Favorite Quotes:

“Since when has being cheap counted as “empowerment”?…Hey, I’m all for getting in touch with the “inner goddess” by pole dancing you’re way to “new you”, but you can’t get lobster thermidore out of a can of tuna. Get a life.”
– -HBI Member, Lola

“Women have been trained to speak softly and carry a lipstick. Those days are over.”
– Bella Abzug, politician

What about the G word?

Get your mind out the gutter.

I’m a geek. Not a nerd, not a dork. OK, maybe sometimes a complete fecking dork.  Pfffttt. Nothing special  about being a geek… welcome to the 21st Century.