Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Publication Date
Spring 5-1-2024
Journal
Undergraduate Honours Theses
Abstract
This study investigates the emotional reactions and feelings of empowerment experienced by Generation Z women in response to the term "bitch" across various contexts. The research employs a between-subjects experimental design with 108 participants, focusing on three distinct contexts: unspecified, positive, and negative. Participants were asked to recall a memory of being referred to as "bitch" and to describe their emotional responses and feelings of empowerment. The study measures included assessments of self-assurance, fear, guilt, and empowerment, alongside general attitudes toward the term. Results indicate significant differences in emotional reactions and empowerment based on the context in which "bitch" was used. Participants recalling a positive context memory reported higher levels of self-assurance and empowerment and lower levels of fear and guilt compared to those in unspecified and negative contexts. These findings suggest that the term "bitch" can be reappropriated in empowering ways, depending on the context of its use. The study highlights the complex role of context in shaping the emotional impact of historically derogatory terms and underscores the potential for linguistic reclamation to transform pejorative labels into symbols of empowerment. This research contributes to the understanding of how derogatory language affects women and offers insights into the dynamics of language reclamation within feminist and social justice frameworks. It emphasizes the importance of context in the reappropriation of slurs and the ongoing negotiation of their meanings within and beyond the target group.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Notes
Thesis Advisor(s): Dr. Elizabeth Kinghorn