That's Ms. Battle-Axe to You

So maybe my feminist is showing but I don't like the term battle-axe in reference to women. I have never actually in real life heard someone call or be called a battle-axe, but that may be because everyone knows I would actually lunge at them with a REAL battle-axe if they did... Just kidding... Sorta. But anyway, that aside, I know the term exists and it's not exactly fair.

For those of you who don't know what a woman battle-axe is, here is what Merriam Webster Dictionary online says: a usually older woman who is sharp-tongued, domineering, or combative. Not an ideal description for a woman amiright? It gets worse.

Merriam Webster Thesaurus online enlightens us further: dragon lady, fury, harpy, harridan, termagant, virago, vixen, fishwife, gorgon; carper, castigator, caviler (or caviller), censurer, critic, faultfinder, nitpicker, railer, scold; belittler, derider, detractor; pettifogger, quibbler. It's getting worse for us ladies isn't it. Some of these words we know, of course. Critic, belittler, derider, vixen (actually pretty badass to be called a vixen in my opinion)... Those are straightforward. But dragon lady? An overbearing or tyrannical woman. Fishwife? A vulgar, abusive woman. Pettifogger? One given to quibbling over trifles.

No woman wants to be called tyrannical, vulgar, abusive... No person wants to be described as such. Even the strong willed women in the world don't want people to think they are given to quibbling over trifles-- in fact I think that is a feminist's worst fear.

Women don't want to be perceived as simply being whiny nitpickers or grating harpies. They want to be seen as reasonable human beings with reasonable problems that should be fixed reasonably. As soon as you call the strong woman in your life a termagant, you have defeated her cause. And you have defeated her.

The goal of a feminist is not to be ostracized for being derisive or radical. The goal of a feminist SHOULD not be that, at least. The point of modern feminism is not to freak people out. To make them mad or uncomfortable or resentful. But just saying the word feminism gives people a bad taste in their mouths. That's not what I picture the world as it should be.

Woman should be able to respectfully present their ideas and woman should be able to receive a respectful reaction. They should not be called a battle-axe for being strong-willed or frustrated with the current state of gender-relations. You are comparing the soft curves of a woman, the slow swivel of her hips, the cool swish of her hair draped down her back, the small of her back, the gentle touch of her hand-- to a fucking giant weapon of war-- and just because she has an opinion?!

I wish I could apologize to the women who have been called battle-axes for their efforts. But more importantly I would like to apologize to all the people who have ever called a woman a battle-axe. I am sincerely sorry you had to live in a time where a person's God-given right to speak their minds must offend you so.

Oh, well... I didn't really intend this post to be a silly rant... I was going to talk about my women idols somewhere in here... Ah well. Another time.