Language can be used in variety of ways; through speech, actions, signs, sounds and gestures. While language can be used as a means of uplifting and empowering others, it can also be used in a manner that degrades and tears down the most vulnerable of our society. Not even the most vulnerable of our society but the ones we love the most. Language obviously in all forms plays a mildly oppressive role in my social circle. For instance, when hanging out with the boys, one realizes that no matter what they say to one another it is not taken seriously and not oppressive in anyway.
“You fucking fruit loop”, “You little Bitch”, and “Douche bag” are commonly used term amongst guys. They do not find this offensive. Other commonly used words are spineless or gutless to which they use in order to exhibit a superior masculinity to one another. Not going to go into details, but everyone knows what is meant by it. There are quite a few phrases that guys use towards each other that are not offensive. Guys always try to one up each other; because well that’s just what guys tend to do and what more can one expect out of adolescent boys who are trying to escape the excessively moral society in which they find themselves stuck in on a daily basis. No matter who is around boys will be boys! Loving how no matter who is in the room guys will poke fun of each other, hoping to look cool. But really every girl knows what they are trying to do! Guys want attention and will do anything to get attention.
This is true because no matter how old you get or what your career, being tyrannical is humorous to one another. These terms might have been oppressive back when our parents were younger, but these days when there are movies’ coming out with vulgar terms it makes everything alright. Movies Such as Anchorman, Old School, and Road trip have all played an effect on our social circles. Not to mention all the recent movies such as Step Brothers, Pineapple express and tropic thunder. Boys (and girls) are starting at such a young age going to see movies with oppressive speech and gestures. No longer is it an offensive article to watch; but humorous and comical. No longer is it offensive to call girls sluts, hoes or bitches. Giving the finger is almost a way to say hello now. It is not longer a negative thing.
Don’t get me wrong, my social circle of my girlie's do the exact same thing. Girls want attention just as bad as boys do. They call each other fat, and tell each other what to do and not to do: just for attention. But being in a click your whole life, with the same people, this is not oppressive.
Obviously the overly sensitive people of the world are going to find what boys say extremely offensive but they really just don’t get it. Obviously they have never just chilled with the boys and shot the shit amongst each other. Obviously they are not trying to be offensive to others, as they don’t find this offensive to each other, or as they like to say, “my loser friends,” even though they can act like little bitches all the time. But hey, it’s not their fault that everyone has been raised to observe the sensitivities of one another, with the cost being that they cannot say whatever they want to one another without the fear that someone passing by will overhear their conversation and misinterpret what they are saying or take offense to it. But hey, don’t blame them; they are just rebelling from an overly oppressive society that won’t let them say what they want or joke with their friends without being labeled a racist, bigot or an insensitive prick.
In conclusion, one has to say in ones click or social circle of friends no matter what language you use: being gestures or words it is not offensive. It is great to be able to communicate with each other in your circle of friends without being judged or worried about someone thinking poorly of your words or actions.
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7 comments:
Is your voice "exaggerated?"
This run on sentence needs some comma loving. The semi-colon needs to go.
"Guys always try to one up each other; because well that’s just what guys tend to do and what more can one expect out of adolescent boys who are trying to escape the excessively moral society in which they find themselves stuck in on a daily basis."
Guys always try to one up each other, because, well, that's what guys tend to do. What more can one expect....
"It is not longer a negative thing."
Just a typo, but you should know it's there. It breaks the flow.
Also, I feel like you completely disproved your thesis. As I was reading, I was expecting you to prove how language was "obviously, in all forms, mildly oppressive" in your social circles, but you provided instances of language not being oppressive.
Hm.
I agree with jordan.
I have to say that I think much of what you stated about 'guys' and 'girlies' are a personal perception that you seemed to have assumed was felt by the reader as well. However, I mostly just felt like the foundation of the essay was based on shallow stereotypes of specific scenes of boys (and girls).
For example, I don't tend to call my guy friends f**kin fags and fruit douches or whatever. But the essay is written as if any random collection of guys put together would result in a collaboration of numb, meaningless expletives.
I do realize though, that giving you the benefit of the doubt, this could all depend on the voice you were cast as. If you were supposed to be writing as say, a radical feminist, or an ignorant valley girl, then I totally catch your drift.
So, that's my guess. Either an angry feminist or some kind of teenage girl.
I would say your voice in this blog is overly-opinionated and exaggerated. Very direct and clear
It sounds like you're fed up, the voice is very forceful. It's as though you're laying this out to your readers and making them see our social situations for what they are.
I completely with you on all the "guy" stuff.
My guy friends and I do just about everything you said.
I will agree with the boys above it was a personal perception and a little stereotypical, but sometimes stereotypes are true of some people.
As for voice I would say bitter (too hard to guess these voices)
I am the Author, the voice was suppose to be funny.
A bit short – watch that length.
I agree with the comments – that you’re generalizing – but I also agree that this type of thing (even using different type of language) exists in male circles. Essentially, women typically use language to identify with each other while men use language to try to spar for social rankings. (also a generalization).
It’s not funny, but you do make some decent points.
Some paragraphs tend to be more informational rather than argumentative. Every sentence needs to be arguing a strong point.
Watch the details. Click is clique. The ; in first sentence should be :.
I like the move with comparing it to girls. I think you could go further in this paragraph by identifying the different modes of communication. There do tend to be social distinctions between men and women. Also, it’s brave of you to try to write about a male subculture as a women – that’s a difficult thing to do.
Nice move attacking the sensitive people, but I don’t think you’re entirely convincing. Plus, sometimes oppressive language does not come from friends, which is your example, and thus might be much more offensive when coming from a stranger.
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