The word ‘pussy’ has become the focal point of America’s presidential election campaign, with the Republican candidate being dragged (and rightfully so) for his ‘grab them by the pussy’ comment.
A lot of his supporters have blamed it on hip-hop – the word is an explicit term that is censored on air. But how did a perfectly innocent word for cats become so profane and improper?
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The word ‘pussy’ has been used as a term of endearment since the early 1600’s. Pussy cats were seen as lovable animals and people kept them inside the house as opposed to dogs that had kennels outside of the house.
The term gained sexual connotations in the 19th century when it was associated with a vagina, referring to something warm and furry, just like a pussy cat.
That’s how the word became sexualised and has been used in a derogatory manner for the last 200 years. It has spun off other derogatory connotations to infer weakness and cowardice in men. Rappers often diss their contemporaries by describing them as ‘pussies’.
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Featured in movies, music and literature over the years, the term remains controversial as ever. Many opinions have been voiced over this taboo term, in favour of and against it, but people remain divided over the matter.
Many feminists have been known to condemn the problematic idea behind the term while other women have embraced it with a different interpretation of the same, even going on to enjoying and propagating ‘Pussy Power’.
Either way, it is quite disheartening that such an innocent word has become an explicit term, just like ass (donkey) and cock (male chicken).
