With a half-smirk and confident gaze, my 10-year-old sister looked into my gob-smacked eyes and asked me if I knew what a bitch was. Her friends must have used the word in the playground, as swear-words are strictly prohibited from her innocent ears. As I informed her to never use it, she retorted she was taught at school by her teacher. Naively, she only knows it means a female dog. At what age will she find a bitch inspirational?
Meredith Blake
In 1998, actress Elaine Hendrix played the wicked step-mum Meredith Blake in the 98 remake of The Parent Trap. Her red nails and lips oozed glamour, while her beautiful and confident persona radiated sex appeal. She’s the villain young girls secretly love. Twenty years on, she’s a cultural icon redefining our bitch connotations.
According to Vox, after Hendrix responded to a tweet with a near-exact line from her infamous character: “I will ship every one of you brats off to Switzerland”, fans went wild proclaiming their adoration for Meredith. It’s not the classic style she possessed, but rather her shameless desire to blend her own success with the income of a wealthy man, that has people admiring.
Meredith was ruthless, ambitious and hungry for what she wanted. Back in the 90’s, we saw her as a real-life version of Cinderella’s step-mother. She placed money before love, and showed no interest in the prospects of children. Something that makes women seem feminine and sweet.
Today, a female ruthlessly going for what she wants, is pro-feminist. It’s no longer taboo to talk money or confess to a child-free future. Although the character Meredith was a Disney extreme, certain traits of her’s has shifted towards a halo light. She has helped make the word bitch inspirational.
Pop culture has also played a part
Britney Spears landed her first UK number 1 with her hit ‘Work Bitch’. She reclaimed the term to mean “I speak my mind, think my own thoughts or do things my way”. Female stars often have to defend their power and fight back headlines branding them bossy.
I myself, like many young women, have had the word thrown at me as an insult. When I stick up for myself and voice my opinion, it’s said to take away my power. To show that I as a woman, should remain polite and quiet. Strong women are repeatedly told they’re threatening to their gender and off-putting to men.
Like the publication Bitch Media, and the celebrities who strike back, why can’t we embrace a new positive definition? I know what I want; I’m not going to settle. I do believe if a man can walk into a room and confidently assert himself, I can too. If that makes me take on the term of a female dog, than so be it.
It’s so much more than a word
To consider a bitch inspirational, you have to question stereotypes of women in society. On the one hand, a woman is all about her SATC friendships. On the other, females are heartless enough to back-stab and cheat with your husband of 10 years.
These solid, one or the other boxes, makes it hard to appreciate a word that’s long been used as a frightening put-down. It’s represented everything bad about our gender. Its two syllables refers to mean, vindictive behavior.
If a woman puts her own positive spin on it, are they also carrying along the bad? The world has a huge journey to partake before we truly define bitch inspirational. However in 2018, change is certainly happening, and women are not holding back.
How do you feel about the word? Are you a Parent Trap fanatic like me? If you are, please let me know what you love about the movie and your favourite scenes. Is Meredith inspirational?
lmfaoo, when you said meredith blake, I was like why does that name sound so familiar…and then when you said parent trap, I had the biggest “aha!” moment ever. Literally my finger was in the air and everything. No, but seriously, I think the word bitch can be used in different contexts depending on who’s using it. When a man says it, it’s frustrating, because you know he’s using that word as an insult. If a girl uses it, it totally depends. Me and my friends throw that word around, and it’s not in a negative way. I never thought of the fact that society has been the one to deem that word negatively. Great post Larua! xxx
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
It’s a weird one, because women do say it in a good way, but there is this strong meaning, especially in the UK, that a bitch is a female insult to describe typical ‘female’ traits like cattiness and gossip.
I like that people are challenging these views and taking a word so linked to women, and saying actually, we’re going to embrace some of the negative traits it stands for.
Thank you so much for reading! xx
I think there is so much power in being able to turn an insult into something else. The word bitch can be inspiring for sure. Parent trap is a brilliant movie! I was thinking about it today haha, i hated meredith when I was younger but the more i think of it now the more i kind of feel bad for her!xz
I feel the same! In fairness to Meredith, Annie never tried to be nice to her. It was always going to be an issue. But the film did make it seem that Meredith was simply after his money. I’m going to have to watch it again this week! xx
I have friends from all over the world and it always amazes me how one culture deems a word disgusting and another culture uses it as a term of endearment. (The C word is one of those that is highly controversial) I think it depends on the intent behind the word like with anything. I use bitch, but I also interchange it, depending on who or what I am talking about, I might be using it derogatory, or endearingly, or even jokingly. It all depends on the situation.
I have thought a lot about words. Last week a stranger on the street called me babe in a very objectifying manner and I got mad, but boyfriends have called me babe in an endearing manner and I am okay with that.
I think instead of thinking of a word as bad or good we need to start looking at tone and intent. As always you give such great food for thought beauty. Also I always feel like i write you books in your comments! ;p Thanks for sharing <3
I love your commentry books! It’s really the nicest thing as a writer, to know that someone cares deeply enough to take the time to create a detailed response.
You really are the best! Just to let you know as well, I’m catching up with all your posts later. I don’t want to rush through them now.
Your last paragraph sums up my sentiments. We need to stop being so quick in general, to head to one extreme or the other. It’s definitely about the intent, but I like that women are taking the word bitch and it’s negative meanings, and saying actually we’re going to own this and make it positive.
Thank you so much beautiful for reading! x
I LOVE The Parent Trap, both the originals and the -98 one!
I remember feeling sorry for Meredith, I always felt that things could have been handled different from all the adults and maybe she would have been liked? And maybe she would have liked the kids?
In Sweden, ‘bitch’ is only ever used in a nasty way, so I can’t really say anyting about that 🙂
I love that you love The Parent Trap! The 98 one is my favourite movie – I’ve never stopped watching it. I even adore the fashion and grew up wishing I owned Elizabeth’s wardrobe.
I get what you mean. As a child I just didn’t like Meredith because I loved the mum. But now, she couldn’t really be blamed at first for falling for a man who had twins – who hated her. 🙂
I grew up with the originals, so they’re always number one for me 🙂 Hayley Mills who played the twins was sooo cute! The dad was amazing,! And I love that the woman playing Merediths mum in the -98 one had Merediths role in the original.
I could even get over the “1961 quality” 🙂
You’ve presented quite the unique perspective on the connotation of being a ‘bitch’. It’s funny how the word is used as an insult at times and as a praise at times. The media always says that there’s two kinds of b*tches on the block- the sad/jealous/uninspiring one or the bold/gutsy/assertive one, you know? It’s either black or white- but it doesn’t have to be that way. Love this post!
Thank you!! I think that’s how the media put women in general. They are either nice or horrible, jealous or successful etc.
I like that people are challenging the word and more women are choosing for themselves, what it means to them. It seems like a nice direction 🙂