BI***IN'?

Now that Bitchin' Bodies has officially been birthed, "Other" responses are coming in. For you critical theorists out there, yes, I do mean Other. For those of you have not yet entered the wonderful world of critical theory, Other is one of those key words that we use when we want to discuss the way that individuals relate, or fail, to each other. When we treat a person as an Other, we address her as an object, a tool, something other than a full person. The goal of true interpersonal communication is to approach the other in a way that accepts her for all that she is, even when we disagree. Instead of finding fault or belittling her, we seek understanding. While we may disagree, we allow her to be who she is and to express herself in the manner that she feels is best. We respect her right to be a full person at the same time that we acknowledge that we might find significant problems with what she is saying.

At this point, you are probably asking, "Terri, what the hell does this have to do with Bitchin' Bodies? And why Bi***in'?" Great questions! The easy answer is that when one sets out to write literature that empowers women, and when that writer is a woman, one of the first things that happens is that there is backlash or visceral negative responses from those who feel they and their power are being challenged. The first time (or 10+ times) this happens, there's a strong temptation to back down and take on an easier task of writing, something less controversial. However, if you're very lucky, which I am, you have a strong network of supporting individuals who remind you that you're doing good work and if you're getting backlash that means you're starting to make a difference. They remind you that strong responses are par for the course, and while the responses may be hurtful it's part of the game you signed up for. More importantly, they reinforce that you're doing good, important work, and the negative responses put you in the company of other women who have dared to step out of the little lady box into which American women today are still relegated.

So, why Bi***in'? Well, in the flurry of media coverage for the national birth of Bitchin' Bodies, at least one media outlet found it necessary to censor the title. Their concern was that they didn't want to expose their readers to the "actual expletive," bitch. When this first happened, I was amused and thought it the work of an overzealous copy editor. Sadly, my amusement turned to frustration tinged with moments of anger as the censorship continued. Even though Fox28 had no problem showing the cover of the book and saying (oh the horror) "Bitchin'" on morning television, this particular media outlet continued to censor. Why? The word bitch is openly used in all sorts of venues -- books, television, media, movies, etc. Yet, the title kept being referred to as Bi***in' Bodies. More than mere censorship, this is a misrepresentation of the work. Imagine my surprise when I started getting phone calls and e-mails from people who wanted to buy the book and couldn't find one called Bi***in' Bodies. Of course they couldn't find that book, because it doesn't exist. Therefore, in addition to participating in the horrid act of censorship, they were misrepresenting the book in question, my book. I guess I was naive in thinking that literary titles were sacrosanct -- you don't mess with them even when you don't like them. Apparently, in this postmodern age of overprotection and increasingly intrusive encroachment into personal freedoms, there still exist media professionals (and I use that term lightly) who feel that the first amendment only applies in certain situations.

Sadly, the story doesn't end here. In addition to participating in outright censorship, this same media outlet decided to run a "satirical" (and I use that term reluctantly) comic about Bitchin' Bodies. (After much deliberation, I've decided not to reproduce the comic for you, because why should I give them free press?) The main gist of the comic is that Bitchin' Bodies sounds like adult literature, code for porn. However, it's actually "just" third wave feminism in the same category as books such as "Pseudo Psychology and Other Things that Sound Smart, but Aren't" - a textbook example of backlash discourse in action. Part of me is reveling in the fact that I wrote something that so upset another person that he took the time to create a very detailed response. The other part of me, though, is saddened to think that instead of engaging in an intellectual discussion of the issue, the cartoonist (he doesn't deserve the title of artist) felt the best response was to hide behind the mask of juvenile jokes and standard jabs at feminist writers. The interesting thing is that while the cartoonist felt perfectly comfortable positioning Bitchin' Bodies as pseudo-scholarship, he still censored the title to Bi***in' Bodies. If you're going to take a stand against something you disagree with, shouldn't you at least have the balls to use the "actual expletive?"

The moral of the story is that all of this only serves to reinforce why even in the twenty-first century postmodern world, there still exists a wide range of systemic and institutional discrimination against women. More importantly, the whole situation reminds me that it truly is time to start a BITCHIN' REVOLUTION where women move beyond the pretty little lady box. The next time someone calls you a bitch, and you know it will happen, instead of getting mad say, "Thank you." Thank them for acknowledging that you're being a strong woman living outside the little lady box. If you want to have even more fun, make them explain why you're a bitch. No matter what reason they give, just keep asking, "Why?" Force them to get to the depths of their own sexism. And no matter what they say, remember that Bitch is used as a sword, so instead of letting them use that sword against you, turn it back on them. Breathe deep, stand tall, and be a Bitch! Be a proud Bitch! Own the Bitch title and your own bitchiness.

If you want to read another take on this issue, check out the StepSister Press blog. And just in case there's any confusion, I did not write Bit***in' Bodies. I wrote Bitchin' Bodies, the book that will start a new bitchin' revolution of strong women who are proud of who they are and how they look.