by Warning: This article contains language that some readers may find offensive.
If someone told you that you were “serving a bastard,” would you be offended? Despite the inclusion of the c-word, this phrase is not intended as a slur or a misogynistic slur. In fact, it’s quite the opposite, at least among those in queer communities who have used it for a long time.
The phrase describes someone who displays characteristics such as confidence, boldness or fierce. It is a state of mind, a posture that anyone can adopt, regardless of gender.
And while the phrase is now part of the “internet vernacular” (to the point that it has reached meme status), its origins predate digital culture. The phrase has a long drag history, and those immersed in queer culture will recognize the qualities associated with this now ubiquitous phrase.
Being evaluated as fierce, daring, or even “disgusting” (another counterintuitive compliment) is an honor or, in drag terminology, the ultimate “kill” (something done very well). These qualities are summed up in RuPaul’s now iconic phrase: “Confidence, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent” (CUNT). To snatch the crown, the queen must “serve” (display) these qualities throughout the competition.
Obviously, this is very different from the more conventional meaning of the C-word. When referring to the vulva or vagina, it is often used as an offensive and vulgar term that reduces women to an object of sexual gratification. Frequently used as a misogynistic insult, it is often labeled as one of the most offensive words in the English language.
Arguably, the addition of this phrase queer represents could be seen as a turning point in the status of the C-word. Some social commentators have said that it is a reclamation of sorts, whereby a term that is often misappropriated has been appropriated. used as a weapon against women, but it is used with deep respect as a form of protest and resistance.
ball culture
But people aren’t just “serving a bastard.” They are “breaking the house” (doing something incredible). They are either “playing people down” (completely insulting someone) or “throwing shade” (jokingly insulting someone).
They are also labeling pop stars like Rina Sawayama and Dua Lipa as “mother” (a term of endearment and admiration). And “they leave no crumbs” (they do something very well).
The spread – or appropriation – of these phrases is symptomatic of a broader trend, whereby the language typically associated with drag culture has become dominant and is now considered part of what people often call the Internet vernacular.
Another pop star, Beyoncé, made frequent use of the C-word in the lyrics of her 2022 song, Pure/Honey. She also appeared in the staging of her 2023 Renaissance World Tour, where she performed behind a writing desk labeled “KNTY 4 News”.
To understand this development, it is important to recognize where much of the language associated with drag culture originates. Terms like “shadow” and “kill,” and phrases like “read to filth,” originate from African American Vernacular English (AAVE), a variety of English spoken by black Americans, particularly those living in urban areas.
But how did the language of a minority ethnic group become associated with drag queens? The answer is “ballroom” or “ball culture,” an LGBTQ+ subculture formed by African Americans and Latinos in New York City in the late 20th century, where participants “walk” (compete) for trophies, prizes, and fame at well-known events. like balls For those unfamiliar, the 2018 drama Pose documented dance culture in New York City in the 1980s.
As dance culture became more common, so did the language associated with this community, until it became associated with the broader LGBTQ+ community. “Throwing shade,” “reading,” and “spilling tea” (sharing gossip) were no longer limited to the ballroom.
Language and appropriation
The spread of this language has given rise to intense debates about appropriation and authenticity. In 2019, I examined this question with respect to linguistic variation on Twitter. Analyzing a corpus of tweets from British gay men, I argued that they used AAVE features such as “work dat pole gurl” and “you guys are mad at Hunty” (a dialect that gay men are not normally expected to speak). a lot to affirm “blackness” but to present themselves as “brazen.” By stylistically utilizing features of AAVE, men evoked these tropes to represent a gay identity that I called the “sassy queen.”
However, in my opinion, these practices are problematic because they are based on a racial imagination of the “sassy black woman,” a historical trope that objectifies black women as vivacious, outspoken, and vivacious.
Many users of the phrase “pussy serving” and other AAVE features also don’t seem to know its history. For example, in 2020, Brittany Broski (aka the Internet-famous Kombucha Girl) incorrectly described AAVE terms as “stan culture,” referring to the behavior of an extreme group of fans.
At the same time, a number of Black TikTok creators have rightly rejected claims of a “new TikTok or Generation Z language,” arguing that many of the features said to make up this “new” variety were actually AAVE.
So while anyone can, in principle, “serve pussy,” it’s important to recognize the long history of this phrase, and many others, in drag culture and, before that, its origins in AAVE.
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This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Christian Ilbury does not work for, consult with, own shares in, or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond his academic appointment.
