Devi Nair
🎧 Listened in audio 📢 Narrated by Amanda Montell ⏱ Duration: 7 hours 🏷️ Publisher: Harper Collins 📅 Published: May 28, 2019
After reading The Age of Magical Overthinking, I’ve returned to Amanda Montell’s work with Wordslut. This time, she turns her sharp, analytical eye toward the evolution of language, specifically how words have been twisted over centuries to degrade women and reinforce patriarchal structures. Montell doesn't just tell you that language is sexist. She walks you through centuries of receipts. From the way "hysteria" literally comes from the Greek word for uterus (because of course it does) to how words like "hussy" went from harmless housewife descriptor to full-blown insults, she traces how the patriarchy has weaponized vocabulary.
She doesn't just stop at women though. She also tackles how LGBTQ+ communities and people of colour have had their language appropriated, diluted, and stripped of meaning by white, mainstream culture. It's not just about reclaiming "slut" or "bitch", it's also about understanding why these words were taken from us in the first place and what it means when we steal from others.
Montell approaches linguistics like a friend who's done all the research and can't wait to spill the tea. That aspect makes the book really interesting to consume. Sure, some sections get a little academic (there's only so much sexy you can put into phonetics), but she always brings it back to the real-world implications. By the end, I found myself hyper-aware of the language I use, and way more forgiving of women who say "like" every other word. We've earned our filler words, dammit!
Would I recommend it? If you've ever felt defensive of how you speak, been told you sound "unprofessional" for using vocal fry, or wondered why certain insults only seem to land on women, read this book. If you love books that make you rethink everyday things (like... literally everyday words), this is a solid pick. It's enlightening, funny, and a kind of read that'll linger long after you've finished reading. Montell makes you think differently about every conversation you have going forward. Absolutely worth your time.
🎧 Listened in audio 📢 Narrated by Amanda Montell ⏱ Duration: 7 hours 🏷️ Publisher: Harper Collins 📅 Published: May 28, 2019
After reading The Age of Magical Overthinking, I’ve returned to Amanda Montell’s work with Wordslut. This time, she turns her sharp, analytical eye toward the evolution of language, specifically how words have been twisted over centuries to degrade women and reinforce patriarchal structures. Montell doesn't just tell you that language is sexist. She walks you through centuries of receipts. From the way "hysteria" literally comes from the Greek word for uterus (because of course it does) to how words like "hussy" went from harmless housewife descriptor to full-blown insults, she traces how the patriarchy has weaponized vocabulary.
She doesn't just stop at women though. She also tackles how LGBTQ+ communities and people of colour have had their language appropriated, diluted, and stripped of meaning by white, mainstream culture. It's not just about reclaiming "slut" or "bitch", it's also about understanding why these words were taken from us in the first place and what it means when we steal from others.
Montell approaches linguistics like a friend who's done all the research and can't wait to spill the tea. That aspect makes the book really interesting to consume. Sure, some sections get a little academic (there's only so much sexy you can put into phonetics), but she always brings it back to the real-world implications. By the end, I found myself hyper-aware of the language I use, and way more forgiving of women who say "like" every other word. We've earned our filler words, dammit!
Would I recommend it? If you've ever felt defensive of how you speak, been told you sound "unprofessional" for using vocal fry, or wondered why certain insults only seem to land on women, read this book. If you love books that make you rethink everyday things (like... literally everyday words), this is a solid pick. It's enlightening, funny, and a kind of read that'll linger long after you've finished reading. Montell makes you think differently about every conversation you have going forward. Absolutely worth your time.