“You’re a .”

How many times have you heard those words spill out of someone’s mouth? “She’s a . She’s an ugly .” These terms revolve around us in the school hallway, whisper in our ears, pass by us when we’re eating in the lunchroom and there’s that awkward moment when everyone happens to hear the insult thrown at someone, usually a girl.

The first thing I want to clarify is that boys can be called s too, but since I’m a girl, I’ll focus more on girls. However, that doesn’t mean boys don’t go through the same harassment.

The second thing I want to clarify is that I really, really doubt that the statement is true most of the time. The definition "" in the dictionary is "a. A person, especially a woman, considered ually promiscuous. b. A woman e. 2. A slovenly woman; a slattern."

Yes, because obviously, any girl who annoys someone is a ually promiscuous e. Of course. We’re annoying; therefore we must sleep around a lot and sell our bodies for .

Are you starting to see a slight fallacy in the logic of this argument?

People have this habit of throwing these derogatory terms around like they’re common, everyday words for common, everyday language. But really? Are these common, everyday words to be used? Are these words to even be used?

First of all, if it’s not true, then why call someone a or a ? What sort of sick, twisted, messed up people are we to throw around false, derogatory words at others who can't defend against them? As my English teacher mentioned, the English language is extremely ist. Men call women a , a , a , and what can women call men? A bastard? A player? The definition of a bastard is an illegitimate child, which isn’t as a derogatory term as we mean it to be, and “player” gives the connotation of fun and games. Let’s play. Let’s have some fun. It had nothing to do with degrading someone based on their ual desires, etc.

People who are called s and cannot defend themselves. They have nothing to say to fight back. And most of the time, it’s not even true—they don’t even fit the definition of any of those phrases.

And even if it is, then do people not have morals? Do they not have the ability to respect others and be polite? What joy do people get out of demeaning others with unnecessary, vulgar, crude descriptions? I'd like to think that we're all decent people who respect each other and at least keep a polite distance around people we don't like as much. We're not monsters who fight to push others down with hurtful phrases and malicious intentions.

So why do people act like monsters? There’s no point, and it’s like they’re casting away their dignity to hurt others. What sort of society is this, if we throw around such demeaning terms like natural, conversational words?

Let’s all learn some respect, some dignity, and not be so ignorant of everything.