Bitch vs Bitches

“Bitch” is one of those words that carries the dual connotation of an insult or a playful greeting, depending on how you say it. Once an old English term to describe female dogs and canines, the term has been since adopted by various groups to signify a number of different meanings. According to Wiktionary, there’s a few definitions to consider when using the word:

1. (n.) A female dog or other canine, in particular one who has recently had puppies.
2. (vulgar, derogatory) A female who is malicious, spiteful, unbearable, intrusive, or obnoxious.
3. (pejorative) By extension, a man with any of these qualities, especially a gay man (suggesting his behavior is womanly) or a man who is dishonorable, cowardly, spineless, whiny, or otherwise behaves in a manner unbecoming a man.
4. (humorous, colloquial) Used with a possessive pronoun, usually between women, between gay men and women that are friends.

In Feminist Language

The word “bitch” has been also re-appropriated by modern feminists as a self-empowering term with virtuous connotations like a strong woman, cunning individual or a go-getter. One of the earlier instances of “bitch” being used in such context can be found in The Bitch Manifesto written by feminist attorney Jo Freeman in 1968.






List of Self-Identified Bitches on Wikipedia

A Bitch takes shit from no one. You may not like her, but you cannot ignore her….[Bitches] have loud voices and often use them. Bitches are not pretty….Bitches seek their identity strictly thru themselves and what they do. They are subjects, not objects…Often they do dominate other people when roles are not available to them which more creatively sublimate their energies and utilize their capabilities. More often they are accused of domineering when doing what would be considered natural by a man.

Bitch vs. Bitches

While the word “bitch” still carries an insulting tone in most circumstances, its plural noun form has been increasingly used as a casual way to address one’s close friends, associates and even families, with connotation similar to that of “fellas.” Such non-derogatory use of “bitches” in plural form was also documented through Urban Dictionary in early 2005:

Originally used to describe women; now a days literally can be said to any1 ..anytime ..anyplace for any reason. For example:
“wutup bitches!”
“u guys r bitches!”
"it’s celebration, bitches!”

The important distinction to make here is the singular versus plural: the singular form singles out an individual and conveys feelings of hostility, while the latter can be used in good humor to refer to a group of close friends and associates. Of course, there are exceptions to this application, such as the  comprehensive list of 90 different list of bitches    uploaded onto Flickr earlier , originally written by an unknown grade school student in Washington D.C.

Roots in Hip Hop & Online Conversations

It is still unclear when or where this genderless interpretation of “bitches” originated from, but frequent and often indiscriminate use of the word in hip hop lyrics may have led to its colloquial use in everyday conversations with friends. On the internet, the word “bitches” has been heard through several catchphrase memes, such as Bitches dont know about X  and bitches leave.

10 Things Bitches Love
 
Here’s one of the more recent image macro trends called bitches love X , based on the original quote “I sent that bitch a smiley face, bitches love smiley faces” first heard in the animated TV show Boondocks. Enjoy!