"Wordslut" by Amanda Montell

Wordslut is subtitled "A feminist guide to taking back the English language." It's a powerful slogan, though perhaps a bit misleading. Wordslut is less an action guide and more a overview of feminist linguistics, outlining the ways in which language shapes and is shaped by our understandings of gender.

Most of the content of Wordslut will be familiar to anyone who's taken basic women's and/or gender studies courses: the way in which language categorizes women as either virgins or whores. The sexual nature of most vulgarity and its role in perpetuating sexism. Catcalling as a form of dominance. It's all important information, but if you've chosen to read this book, it's probably not new either. Even the section on Polari, a cant slang used in gay British subculture, was covered on an episode of the Allusionist podcast I listen to.

I found myself skimming the information that felt familiar, but there were some sections that I slowed down for. I was familiar with the sexist denigration of "teenage girl" speak, but Montell analyzed both the nature of the language (spoiler: it's no different than that of other English speakers) and why it's so hated.

Montell thoughtfully explores the double-bind many women feel in navigating language. Speak "like a woman," and a woman is likely to be dismissed for lacking confidence. Speak "like a man," and a woman is likely to be dismissed as too aggressive.

Montell's tone is casual, which makes the reading feel breezy. At the end, though, I left without feeling I had much of a call to action. True, I could try to invent some new profanity that didn't rely on denigrating women. Not sure how likely that is to catch on. Perhaps the broader message is to not accept language implicitly but rather to think explicitly about the messages we're conveying--intentional or not--when we use certain words.