Credit: Nemo

There was a huge uproar when Dame Helen Mirren swore at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards. Dinosaur Daily Mail journalist Quentin Letts wrote a piece criticising her, calling her an ‘”uneducated trollop”. Here is what Mirren said: “40 is good, 50 is great, 60 is fab and 70 is fucking awesome.” In an ageist, sexist society you have a sexy, beautiful, successful woman saying the word ‘fuck’ and a grown man just can’t handle it. Mirren is an advocate that getting older is great, that life just gets better, much better than the usual youth-obsession and droning on that getting older is awful. Dawn O’Porter also wrote an amazing piece for Glamour on Letts and swearing.

But let’s get down to what this is really about: sexist double standards. No one writes scathing articles when men swear but women are supposed to be ‘ladylike’. And when people say ‘ladylike’ what they really mean is quiet, well behaved and knowing your place. We have to wear the right things, have the correct manners, don’t be loud, don’t be opinionated, don’t draw attention to yourself. It is all COMPLETE BULLSHIT. I mean, are men like Quentin Letts gentlemen? No, there are barely any left, but women are still supposed to follow an ancient Victorian code that oppresses them under the guise of being a lady. I am a woman, not a lady and I am proud of that. Being a woman is far better. I have no interest in being a lady.

I am not saying I like ladette culture, in fact, I hated it. I am not saying all women should be loud mouthed and swear all of the time but a well placed fuck in the right moment makes all the difference. Never mind the fact that there is nothing sexier than someone who can swear properly. When you tell someone to fuck off it’s a command, not a suggestion. Punch it. True, not everyone likes swearing generally, but then again, not everyone likes chocolate or steak or yellow, that doesn’t mean other people aren’t allowed to like it. Everyone is allowed their own opinion on general swearing. For and against.

The real fact is, this is the only area where I blame my parents (blaming your parents for problems in your adulthood is juvenile to say the least). When I was growing up swearing was something that we were punished hard for but my parents were particularly hard on me, not my two brothers, always saying that it is ‘worse’ when women swear and not ‘ladylike’. This is, very probably, why my favourite word is ‘fuck’.

So the next time you have a point that would be greatly emphasised with a well-timed swearword, fucking go for it.

What do you think? What is your opinion on swearing?