Swear Words, Society, and a Woman’s Body

I was on my way to college in the 222 bus when I witnessed my first full-fledged swearing fight on the road. The Cs, the MCs, the BCs were flowing like molten lava from active volcano.

Now, for most people in Mumbai, these words are daily background noise. But being a late bloomer, I didn’t know their meaning until that day when I asked a friend sitting next to me. Until then, I only knew them as “bad words.” That day I realised what they actually meant.

And it hit me. Hard.

In my growing years, I often wondered that why are the ugliest abuses directed at women’s bodies? Why a mother’s or a sister’s body part? The same body parts where life itself comes from. The very place where a 3 kg child enters the world after enduring unimaginable pain and strength.

I still remember once, when an acquaintance muttered MC, BC in frustration, I stopped him and said:

“You’re angry with that man, right? Then why speak about his mother or sister’s private parts? Then how does this even make sense as an insult?”

He looked at me blankly, then mumbled “sorry” and brushed it off, saying I was being too emotional.

But I refuse to brush it off.

Because here’s my point: if you’re one of those people who can’t survive an argument without swearing, at least don’t drag women’s bodies into it. Don’t take shelter under your mother’s or sister’s existence to fuel your so-called masculine rage. You claim pride in being the stronger gender, but even for abuses you’re dependent on women. Isn’t that irony wrapped in hypocrisy?

And let’s talk about English too. When a man is weak, he’s called a “p#$$y.” When he’s brave, people say “he’s got b@!!s.” But think about it biologically. Which organ is stronger? The “p#$$y,” which can endure excruciating pain to bring life into this world, or the b@!!s, which can be knocked out by the slightest hit?

Language reveals mindset. And mindset shapes culture. Maybe it’s time we questioned the words we throw around so casually.

So the next time someone swears with “MC” or “BC,” pause and ask: Are you really insulting me, or are you just exposing your own weakness by hiding behind a woman’s body part?

Because here’s the truth—

If you need my body to prove your manhood, then trust me, the abuse isn’t mine. It’s yours.

Sharon