In the early 1900s, gay meant happy and carefree. In 2010, gay is about the worst epithet a boy can throw at a another boy.
Last year I blogged about Dude, You’re a Fag: Masculinity and Sexuality in High School, a book that explores boys’ seach for meaning and masculinity. That post came to mind as I watched the most recent episode of Glee this week.
Watch Kurt’s dad stand up for his son after Finn, another member of the show choir, uses the word, “faggy.”
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2 Responses
I have been known to throw that word around like it simply means lame. “Oh, man, that’s so gay.” I have a love/hate relationship with language. On one hand, I love that all words have a beginning. They are created and birthed from someone, somewhere. What I hate is the power that is put behind these words. Curse words, derogatory statements, racial slurs…
I understand that the words are driven by past events. But, I really don’t like the power we, as a people, give these words by gasping and filing a lawsuit every time someone shouts something. We give those words power; we give the shouters power. I try not to use the word gay any longer. It sounds so different coming out of the mouths of babes. And to sound disgustingly cliche, I have those token gay friends (and I am their token Asian [a.k.a. yellow] friend). We sling slurs around like it’s our job, but only in the comforts of our own surroundings. I don’t know if that makes it better or worse…
I hear you. I argued the same basic point in grade school over the middle finger salute. Why is it bad to hold up my middle finger, esp. if I don’t mean to convey that message? My teachers were unimpressed.