For what felt like the millionth time, this weekend I was again informed about the definition of faggot/fagot:
fag‧got also fag‧ot
n.
1. A bundle of twigs, sticks, or branches bound together.
2. A bundle of pieces of iron or steel to be welded or hammered into bars.
tr.v. fag·ot·ed, also fag·got·ed fag·ot·ing, fag·got·ing fag·ots, fag·gots
1. To bind into a fagot; bundle.
2. To decorate with fagoting.
The problem is, of course, that this is intellectually dishonest. To tell gay teens and adults repeatedly that the true definition of the word “faggot” means a bundle of twigs, sticks, or branches, is far from the truth-it is escapism.
Sure there are places where the term faggot can be used in this way without raising an eyebrow, but the last time the word faggot was used in an Indiana high school or Indiana based university it certainly was not referring to a bound bundle of anything. If we perpetuate the myth that the definition isn’t what the oppressors are suggesting it means, we are pretending that the English language does not evolve and change.
One of the reasons English has been such a dynamic and successful language is that the language is very much alive. Words change meaning over time, sometimes slowly and sometimes rapidly. For instance, the word “interesting” today has a vastly different meaning in casual conversation from what it did 20 years ago when I was in elementary school. English is constantly adapting and using words from other languages, for example entrepreneurship, a French word. The French language, on the other hand, has retarded growth and has an official body that oversees the introduction of new words into the language.
Let’s stop kidding ourselves: faggot, as currently defined by pop culture, is a derogatory term used toward gay men.
Once we stop kidding ourselves about the definition, we will move on.
Why were you reminded and what was the context? I see that you’ve been hit with the word, but how so? I guess I’m confused… was it in the context of SMYHL conference or something else?
And you’re right, it has entirely different meanings in other cultures. After all, Patsy and Edina enjoy smoking fags on a regular basis. 🙂
This time I was reminded of the ancient meaning at the SMYHL conference�the conference is geared toward teachers and youth who help GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning) individuals come to terms with their sexuality.
This is not atypical. Any time you gather a bunch of GLBTQ activists together in one spot where the discussion is about pride and instilling confidence among the youth, there is always at least one activist who, in the middle of a conversation about hate, will toss out the original definition of faggot.
�Oh yes, and let us not forget the actual definition of the word faggot�.�
Everybody in the room then nods their head in sage agreement and, in theory, the problem has been vanquished.
The other place this gets tossed out is by counselors who are helping people who are freshly coming out. When people complain about getting called names (e.g. Faggot, Homo, Queer, etc�), the counselor will remind them of the old meaning of the word faggot in an effort to lessen its impact�which of course it does in the short term, but the oppressors keep using the word with its modern meaning.
Ah, makes sense to me.
I’ve never really understood why the straight community is so upset that homesexuals exist. My younger brother (whom I no longer speak to) is of the opinion that all of us are looking at he and his friends and wanting to get in their pants, etc. My mother has countered this by asking him, “What makes you think they are interested?”
It’s definately one of those catch-22’s with people like him, if you say you’re not interested in them they will usually throw it back at you with, “What’s wrong, ain’t I good enough for you?”
My brother did this when Ben (my ex) and I visited my folks last year. Guess what? My brother continued to display his bigotry, but his friends mostly surprised me by taking the time to give both myself and Ben a pleasant hello and a hand shake. Amazingly, they all continue to be straight to this day. I’m so glad their heterosexuality didn’t rub off on me. What would people think?!? =)