Bitch: A word reclaimed

We had a little bit of debate about the use of the word bitch in rap and rather it can even have a positive connotation or not. I personally don't mind the word in the use of a joking way where its blatantly obvious or tossing it around. But once you get serious it can definitely be insulting and I understand some people do not even like the use of the word. So bare with me as I dissect the use of it in hip hop and in relation to women.

So we all know that the first definition of the word when looked up in Webster's dictionary is a female dog and honestly what girl really wants to be called a dog. This word can even be used towards men often by other men and here it is an insult upon their masculinity calling them a weak woman, which also is another insult upon women calling them weak.

Queen Latifah believes however that the word does not need to be taken at face value as it always has been. She is a part of the reclaimer group that Cheryl Keyes speaks of in Empowering Self, Making Choices, Creating Spaces: Black Female Identity via Rap Music Performance. Queen Latifah says,

"It's not what you're called but what you answer to."

You are the only one who can really decide what people can call you and rather you give them the power to. The word is problematic in society today depending on who is using it, how its used and to whom the word is actually referring (Keyes 271).

"I don't really mind the term.... I play around with it I use it when my home girls like, 'Bitch are you crazy?' Bitch is a fierce girl. [Or.] 'That Bitch is so crazy, girl.' You know, that's not harmful [But.] ;This stupid bitch just came down here talking...,' now that's meant in a harmful way. So it's the meaning behind the word that to me decides whether I should turn it off or listen to it." - Queen Latifah (1993)



Nicki Minaj says she is often called a bitch but she takes it as a compliment because to her that just affirms her power and hard headedness as a woman, yet she knows people often mean it in a negative way.

"When I am assertive, I'm a bitch. When a man is assertive, he's a boss. He [is] bossed up. No negative connotation behind 'bossed up.' But lots of negative connotation behind being a bitch.  Donald Trump can say, ‘You’re fired.’ Let Martha Stewart run her company the same way and be the same way. [People will say] ‘f**king old evil bitch!’ But Donald Trump, he gets to hang out with young bitches and have 50 different wives and just be cool. ‘Oh, Donald, we love you, Donald Trump!’... When you're a girl, you have to be everything, You have to be dope at what you do but you have to be super sweet and you have to be sexy and you have to be this, you have to be that, and you have to be nice. It's like, 'I can't be all those things at once. I'm a human being." - Nicki Minaj (2010)

Despite this though Nicki uses the word bitch repeatedly in her music referring to both herself (sign of power) but also other women, and even some men who are not on her level in the rap game. Two strong examples are Beez in the Trap where she is 'Always in the trap' and her trap being rap. She is making all the money and again just one of the guys because she is such a strong artist/ rapper. And Come on a Cone where Nicki basically is one of the guys in the video and she talks about herself as if she is a man, because she has that empowerment.

 These are just two female rap stars take on it, and my opinion strongly goes along with Queen Latifah. I still have used it in a negative connotation myself though at times, I'll admit that. But I believe it can be seen in a positive light as an assertive or independent woman as Nicki takes it, even if the person saying it means it in a negative way.

 What do you think of the use of the word? Is its connotation flexible? Can it be used in a positive sense?