I'm a B#$%@

Some years ago, BC (before children) I had a relationship that didn't work out. He called, asking me to come over so we could "talk", so I obliged him. When I got there he was civil and we sat down to hash out our differences. We talked for a while but then he ended up calling me a B&;%$#. So I stood up to leave. If the conversation wasn't going to be productive, and he was just going to call me names, why stay, I figured. He calmed down but in a few minutes the pattern repeated. Again, I stood to leave. I really did have better things to do with my time. He apologized once again. Alas, it happened again and this time I decided I was leaving, no matter what he said. At this point he said, "You're just mad because you finally met your match!" I said, "You are sadly mistaken if you think calling me a B#$%@ makes you my match", and I really meant it.
 I think the "B" word has lost much of it's power in the last 20 years. Men will still hurl the insult at women but I think many women no longer even find it all that insulting. Thank you Paula Cole for "I'm a B@#$%", embracing all that a woman can be, and all at the same time. Some women even wear the moniker proudly. Sayings like, "You say I'm a B@#$% like it's a bad thing", and good for them. It's misogynistic and I dislike words that are supposed to make you feel bad about yourself. I do love a good curse word now and then, the degrading ones not so much though. Whether you embrace the word and wear it proudly or find it deeply insulting, it is still out there and being thrown around on a regular basis. How you deal with it is up to you though. We all have the right to reject these stereotypes and embrace our feminine power. And yes, Kevin B., you're still not my equal.