THE FUSE

The words we use shape the world we live in,and can be a powerful tool of oppression. We use certain phrases so often that they feel harmless,but they are a part of our everyday,normal conversations,but many of them carry hidden weight,quietly teaching children and adults rigid ideas about gender. Certain words like “like a girl,” “man up,” “don’t be a pussy,” “grow some balls,” or “you’re too emotional” are not neutral slangs. These expressions appear in casual talk,sports commentary,workplaces,schools,and family settings,they are tools of patriarchal language that demean feminity,punish vulnerability in men,and keep gender roles in place,they are repeated so often that most people stop noticing how they shape thinking and behaviour.