Quick Smart See You Next Tuesday? How the ‘worst word’ became a compliment (SUMMER SERIES)
Dec 15, 2025
Virginia Trioli, a prominent journalist and host of ABC TV's Creative Types, dives into the fascinating reclamation of a once-taboo word. She unpacks its surprising transformation from an offensive term to a badge of empowerment, thanks to influencers like drag queens and K-pop stars. Trioli discusses the cultural significance, generational differences in swearing, and even its etymology linking powerful female symbolism. This conversation reveals how language and societal norms intertwine, challenging patriarchy one word at a time.
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How A Word Became 'The Worst'
- The C-word shifted from an anatomical term to the "worst word" through cultural acceptance and media reinforcement.
- Virginia Trioli argues that media hypocrisy and male-dominated norms constructed its offensive status over centuries.
Growing Up With Feminist Reclamation
- Virginia Trioli recalls Germaine Greer's reclaiming of the word with 'C-power' T-shirts in the 1970s.
- She says university peers used the word anatomically and rejected male-derived terms like 'pussy'.
Generations Define Acceptable Swearing
- Generational differences shape comfort with swearing; older women remain appalled while many from Trioli's generation embrace the term.
- Trioli maintains she'd still be admonished on air, showing persistent institutional constraints.