I got this from the Online Etymology
Dictionary:
1680s, from L. vagina "sheath,
scabbard" (pl. vaginae), from PIE *wag-ina- (cf. Lith. voziu
"to cover with a hollow thing"), from root *wag- "to
break, split, bite." Probably the ancient notion is of a sheath made from
a split piece of wood.
 |
| Aristotle comes to mind. |
Inga, the authoress of Cunt: A Declaration of
Independence, touches on the idea that other words, such as “bitch” and
“whore,” while once had “positive associations about women,” are now words with
ugly connotations. She suggests
that it is a religious (read: Catholic) and patriarchal fear of women that has
caused the change.
When it comes to words with ugly connotations, there’s one
word that makes people cringe when they hear it.
According to Inga, The Women’s Encyclopedia of Myths &
Secrets, by Barbara G. Walker says the word “cunt” is “related to words from
India, China, Ireland, Rome & Egypt.
Such words were either titles of respect for women, priestesses &
witches, or derivatives of the names of various goddesses.”
 |
| What a cunt. |
Inga Muscio’s book is a manifesto on the reconciliation between a woman and her cunt – the empowerment that occurs when you refuse to allow any man or organization to control you in any way. We bleed, we have orgasms, we give birth – it is a source of power and pain and we must not fear it anymore even if the rest of the world does and wants us to, as well.
The book is meant to help us to understand ourselves better
through a brief history of our ancestors’ foreign cultures and our treatment
because of just being a woman.
Through reeducation, reconciliation and myth dispelling Inga hopes to
help “empower and unite all women.”
I plan on reviewing and discussing this book chapter by
chapter, so stay tuned!
