C-Word as a “Term of Endearment”

People with close relationships often have little terms of endearment for one another. Married couples might call each other “sweetie,” for example, and good friends might have nicknames as well. I have not, however, ever seen the “c-word” used in such a manner. Have you?

The Denver Channel reports that this “vulgar anatomical reference“ can be used to describe women in a manner that is, in fact, endearing:

One of the women's attorneys told Hoffman the vulgar term had been used by a football player against teammate Katie Hnida. The attorney asked Hoffman whether she thought the term was "a filthy and vile word." Hoffman replied it was a "swear word" and that its meaning depended on the circumstances in which it was used, according to a copy of the deposition released by the school. Asked if it could ever be used in a polite context, Hoffman replied: "Yes, I've actually heard it used as a term of endearment."

University spokeswoman Michele Ames said Hoffman knows the word has "negative connotations" but it did not in its original use centuries ago.

Now, I readily accept that centuries ago the “c-word” didn’t have the same vulgar and insulting connotations. Hoffman is a medieval scholar so would be more aware of this than the average person. We are not, however, living in the age of Chaucer or even Shakespeare. We are not living in a time when this word has “endearing” connotations. I don’t believe that Hoffman has ever heard the word used as a “term of endearment” unless she was at a reading of medieval or renaissance literature — and if that is what she meant, then I think that she was being misleading. Why? The University stands to lose money in this case.

Read More:

• Guide to Ethics and Morality
• News About Ethics