Bitch

1. Younger women have reclaimed the word bitch as an act of rebellious empowerment & use it to demonstrate they aren’t being insulted by the Patriarchy anymore.

First generation feminists & women older than that were called bitch as a serious insult, equating women to a female dog only used to breed. Millennials started using bitch as something you’d call a friend affectionately. ie “I’m so excited to have brunch with my bitches this weekend!.

To call a friend “bitch” is to take what was an insult & reclaim it, which cuts the systemic oppression associated with the word. A hetero cisgender man using the word bitch is still thought of as an insult, while LGBTQ & hetero cisgender female identifying humans can use the word bitch positively. It is saying we know ya tried to keep us down, Patriarchy, but you can’t. It’s purposely in your face as a reclamation.

2. It can also be a light joking, sarcastic way to express envy. Instead of saying “I’m so envious you have 2 bedrooms, I only have 1 .”, the shorthand colloquialism is to say “You bitch!”. It’s meant as wow you are so lucky! Or I am jealous but you are my friend “You lucky bitch!”.
3. It can also express awe, affirmation, excitement or way to go like exclaiming “Yes!” but instead people say “Yes, bitch!” Or just “Biiiiiiiiiitch!”.
4. Similar to #3, it can also be compassion, understanding or “I see you/I feel you” by saying “Biiiiiiiitch…” but the tone may incline down instead of up to emphasize empathy.

Friend: I can’t wait to see you, bitch!
Friend: You’re my best bitch.
Envy: You lucky bitch!
Affirmation: Yazzzzz bitch!
Empathy: Biiiiitch…