re: #293 bratwurst

So if I called one black person the n-word, would you accept my excuse that I do not mean mean to imply that all black people are the n-word?

Now that the dust is settling and I may even be safe removing my flame-retardant lurking cloak, I’d just like to address the following possible “comeback” to your argument:

“Black people can’t control being black, but women can control being prostitutes. So what do you call a woman who’s a prostitute?”

My answer? You call her a prostitute. Or a sex worker. Not a whore, streetwalker, or slut. Even if one doesn’t think these terms demean women as a whole, they still demean and dehumanize prostitutes (thus making it easier to do heinous things like engage in violence against them or minimize it when it occurs).

Now, what do you call a woman who uses sexuality as a means to promote an evil agenda? Exactly what you could call a man encouraging her to do so - cynical, sleazy, crude and exploitative.

You can use strong language to condemn awful behaviors (and awful people) that doesn’t at the same time dehumanize or degrade unintended targets.