Sexist Name-calling: A Sign of Fear and Desperation in Insecure Men by The Childless Cat Lady Feminist Sexpert
The Feminist Sexpert has observed that, in instances in which sexist, backward thinking individuals are intimidated by and out and out frightened of powerful women, they often use name-calling as a pathetic tool of attempted domination. In an effort to put women back in their place–i.e., back into the kitchen–they try to shame and humiliate them through the use of vapid, obnoxious and singularly uncreative nicknames.
I first learned this in school, when Junior Feminist Sexpert was repeatedly attacked with the label of Feminazi–a nasty moniker first conceptualized by conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh. It seemed that, whenever a bully failed to come up with an intelligent counterarguement to feminist beliefs, they would sputter out nonsensical nicknames such as ‘feminazi’ because–frankly–they had nothing better or wiser to say.
Years later, when I edited the memoir of a Holocaust survivor for very little pay, empowering this amazing gentleman to tell his story, I wondered just how much of a Nazi I was.Â
Then, while serving as the proud president (aka Possemeister) of the Playgirl Posse, the official fan club of Playgirl magazine and PlaygirlTV, one of my member’s husbands felt that I deserved a professional moniker apart from Possemeister.
“My husband says that you’re a morally depraved single woman,” she informed me with a smirk.
Translation: This woman is encouraging my wife to enjoy and demand more from her sexuality, and to admire photos of naked men who are, in total, far hotter than I am. She must be destroyed in short order.
I asked my friend to pass along my thanks to her husband for my cool new nickname, and wondered aloud if the phrase would fit on a T-shirt.
Well years later, I am still standing. Still fighting for women’s freedoms, including their sexual freedoms. And because of ultra conservative politicians who have stripped us of our bodily freedoms and still deny us basics such as equal work for equal pay, we all have to fight harder than ever to maintain our equality and autonomy.
One of these peeps, in point of fact, has decried women in power as ‘childless cat ladies’ who have no stake in our nation’s future.
So in divine celebration of these amazing women, let’s take a look at some famous Childless Cat Ladies from the annals of popular culture.
Catwoman: As played through the years by Eartha Kitt, Julie Newmar, Halle Berry, Lee Meriwether, Anne Hathaway, and so many others, Catwoman reigned as one of the first female superheroines and–when one thinks about it–was the ultimate Cat Lady, giving Batman a run for his money as she exerted her formidable power.
Ripley, Alien: Aside from ranking among the most powerful heroines in scifi history, Warrant Officer Ellen Ripley is a proud cat mama, to Jonesy–a fierce feline who stays faithful and loyal by the side of this intergalactic warrior woman.
Captain Marvel: The unbeatable superheroine Captain Marvel possesses many superpowers–furthermore, the same can be said for the adorable Goose, her able partner in global domination.
We also could reference any number of real life Childless Cat Ladies who have changed the world–including Betty White, Dolly Parton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Taylor Swift. And while Kamala Harris is indeed incredible, ‘Momala’ is not childless–she is the proud stepmom to two kids. As for The Feminist Sexpert, I have no natural born children–or even cats, for that matter–though I am a proud aunt to both human and animal children of all varieties. I’m also a community reporter whose news stories have generated thousands of dollars in donation for charities that feed, clothe and educate children.
And while I am always happy to pet an adorable pussy, I’d never grab one.
