alternative hippopotamus

A Brief Note On Castration

8 Responses to “A Brief Note On Castration”

1. eRobin Says:
   April 8th, 2008 at 1:41 pm

   I didn’t get worked up over it but I think that Shakes can add this example of sexism to her list without worry. The sort of language you cite is more common and so less meaningful than “gelded,” which specifically means “castrated.” Maybe Josh thought he was being polite - of course then the question becomes why not use the term “marginalized” or “demoted”? And would he accuse Obama of gelding anyone? I can’t see that happening but if it did, I’d love to watch the fall out.

2. AltHippo Says:
   April 8th, 2008 at 3:09 pm

   Indeed, I have never heard the word “gelded” used in a political context. The language certainly calls attention to itself, doesn’t it? I for one would like to hear Josh explain the usage.

   Perhaps this is a situation where it would make sense to ask the blogger in question (Josh) what he meant? I still see this as a politer version of the macho posturing language that’s common in business, or in any area involving money and power. This isn’t Jonah Goldberg we’re talking about, I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt. It just seems cleaner to ask him what the intent was.

3. KCinDC Says:
   April 8th, 2008 at 4:14 pm

   The online media don’t have quite the constraints of print, but I think they still worry about headline length. That’s probably one reason to prefer “geld” over some alternatives, though it does seem like a strange term.

4. Thomas Nephew Says:
   April 10th, 2008 at 11:20 am

   Hm. I thought of that headline the way AltHippo did, which illustrates my own blind spot when it comes to sexist language in this context, or at least that my sexism-detection antennae are not tuned as well as Shakes’s. “Gelded” has been used this way by writers before in male-male interactions of the sort; should it not be allowed for Clinton-Penn on suspicion of sexism?

   I think JM was going both for brevity and color, which “marginalized” or “demoted” doesn’t do. “Spanked”? Probably no good either, I suppose. “Slapped on the wrist”? A bit long. Are there phrases that are both short, colorful, and noncontroversial that can be used to describe how a powerful woman and feminist icon punishes-yet-arguably-doesn’t-maximally-punish a male subordinate? Tough to do, I think.

5. Thomas Nephew Says:
   April 10th, 2008 at 11:32 am

   As a point of information, here’s the Webster’s online definition. Yes “geld” primarily means “castrate”, but it also has an accepted secondary meaning to “deprive of a natural or essential part “. On the other hand, just from a writing standpoint, I’d still give Josh’s word choice a “C” in that he clearly meant something less than that happened to Mr. Penn.

6. Thomas Nephew Says:
   April 10th, 2008 at 11:34 am

   Hm. There’s a prior comment of mine still hung up in moderation that I wish had come before the last one. Maybe it eventually will.

7. AltHippo Says:
   April 10th, 2008 at 12:45 pm

   Sorry Thomas about the moderation delay. I’ve got a bunch of filters happening because of the massive determination of spammers to sell me, umh, “enhancement” products.

   Anyway, I was just thinking of our conversation from last night. I’ll try to post something along those lines soon.

8. Thomas Nephew Says:
   April 10th, 2008 at 1:52 pm

   No problem, of course. I had just figured they’d *both* get delayed. Look forward to your post, if you have time to put something together.

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