{"product_id":"wordslut-a-feminist-guide-to-taking-back-the-english-language-isbn-9780062868879","title":"Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language","description":"\u003cp\u003e“As funny as it is informative, this book will have you laughing out loud while you contemplate the revolutionary power of words.” —Camille Perri, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Assistants\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eWhen Katie Met Cassidy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA brash, enlightening, and wildly entertaining work of pop linguistics and a feminist look at gendered language and the way it shapes us.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe word bitch conjures many images, but it is most often meant to describe an unpleasant woman. Even before its usage to mean “a female canine,” bitch didn’t refer to women at all—it originated as a gender-neutral word for “genitalia.” A perfectly innocuous word devolving into an insult directed at females is the case for tons more terms, including hussy, which simply meant “housewife”; and slut, which meant “an untidy person” and was also used to describe men. These are just a few of history’s many English slurs hurled at women.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmanda Montell, reporter and feminist linguist, deconstructs language—from insults, cursing, gossip, and catcalling to grammar and pronunciation patterns—to reveal the ways it has been used for centuries to keep women and other marginalized genders from power. Ever wonder why so many people are annoyed when women speak with vocal fry or use like as filler? Or why certain gender-neutral terms stick and others don’t? Or where stereotypes of how women and men speak come from in the first place?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMontell effortlessly moves between history, science, and popular culture to explore these questions—and how we can use the answers to affect real social change. Her irresistible humor shines through, making the field of sociolinguistics not only approachable but downright hilarious and profound. \u003ci\u003eWordslut EPB\u003c\/i\u003e gets to the heart of our language, marvels at its elasticity, and sheds much-needed light on the sexism in language and the biases that shadow women in our culture and our consciousness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis hilarious and whip-smart journey into the field of sociolinguistics uncovers:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eGendered Insults:\u003c\/b\u003e Discover the surprising and often shocking origins of slurs like slut, hussy, and bitch—and what it means to reclaim them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eVocal Fry and Uptalk:\u003c\/b\u003e Unpack the real linguistic power behind so-called \"annoying\" speech habits, from vocal fry to using \"like\" as a filler, and learn why young women are linguistic innovators.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eLanguage and Power:\u003c\/b\u003e Explore how everything from catcalling to grammar rules has been used for centuries to keep women and other marginalized genders away from power.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFeminist Linguistics:\u003c\/b\u003e Arm yourself with the hilarious and profound insights of a feminist linguist who makes complex topics not only approachable but laugh-out-loud funny.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e | \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA brash, enlightening, and wildly entertaining feminist look at gendered language and the way it shapes us\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe word bitch conjures many images, but it is most often meant to describe an unpleasant woman. Even before its usage to mean “a female canine,” bitch didn’t refer to women at all—it originated as a gender-neutral word for “genitalia.” A perfectly innocuous word devolving into an insult directed at females is the case for tons more terms, including hussy, which simply meant “housewife”; and slut, which meant “an untidy person” and was also used to describe men. These are just a few of history’s many English slurs hurled at women.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmanda Montell, reporter and feminist linguist, deconstructs language—from insults, cursing, gossip, and catcalling to grammar and pronunciation patterns—to reveal the ways it has been used for centuries to keep women and other marginalized genders from power. Ever wonder why so many people are annoyed when women speak with vocal fry or use like as filler? Or why certain gender-neutral terms stick and others don’t? Or where stereotypes of how women and men speak come from in the first place?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMontell effortlessly moves between history, science, and popular culture to explore these questions—and how we can use the answers to affect real social change. Montell’s irresistible humor shines through, making linguistics not only approachable but downright hilarious and profound. \u003cem\u003eWordslut\u003c\/em\u003e gets to the heart of our language, marvels at its elasticity, and sheds much-needed light on the biases that shadow women in our culture and our consciousness.\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003e\"Grounded in decades of innovative feminist scholarship, full of witty personal stories, and written with the pragmatic aim of disrupting and changing the status quo, this is a humorous and important book for anyone interested in gender equality, wordplay, or fostering precise communication. Just the kind of sharp, relevant scholarship needed to continue to inspire the next generation of feminist thought.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“As funny as it is informative, this book will have you laughing out loud while you contemplate the revolutionary power of words. Who knew sociolinguistics could be so damn entertaining? Leave it to a master of language like Amanda Montell to pull off this semantic magic trick.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCamille Perri, author of The Assistants and When Katie Met Cassidy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I get so jazzed about the future of feminism knowing that Amanda Montell’s brilliance is rising up and about to explode worldwide.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eJill Soloway\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“As a bitch who says bitch and loves to talk about bitches, this smart and freakishly entertaining book awakens parts of my brain I didn’t know existed while tickling all my foul-mouthed, feminist, word-obsessed fancies. If you’re a human who speaks English and aren’t reading this, then what on earth are you doing.” \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSamantha Irby\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e“This feisty, fascinating critique of the English language will make you feel smarter after every paragraph. Amanda Montell’s analyses are sharp and provocative but also funny and accessible. She’s the cool feminist nerd we need.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhitney Cummings, creator of 2 Broke Girls\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“At its heart, this work reflects a tenet of sociolinguistic study: language is not divorced from culture; it both reflects and creates beliefs about identity and power. Modern stylings situated within foundational research will hopefully bring a new audience to the field of language and gender studies.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Wordslut is filled with fascinating info about the sexist history of our language: I literally said ‘whoa’ multiple times while reading this book. It is so witty and brilliant. Men and women both need to read it.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBlyth Roberson\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Amanda Montell has given validation and tools to those of us who have always felt wrong in our guts about the way gender permeates our means of communication and the criticisms often lobbed at women for how we talk. \u003cem\u003eWordslut\u003c\/em\u003e is brilliant fun and empowers all women to give ourselves a voice.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eGaby Dunn, author of Bad with Money\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harper","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44888970363109,"sku":"NP9780062868879","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780062868879.jpg?v=1730230210","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/wordslut-a-feminist-guide-to-taking-back-the-english-language-isbn-9780062868879","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}