ABSTRACT
Gender in swearing covers three basic aspects: the gender of the swearer, that of the terms themselves, and the application or “target.” Traditionally it has been assumed, and is commonly evident, that swearing is predominantly a male domain and that even swearing in the presence of women is a severe breach of good manners. As the entry women, swearing in shows, this is generally, but not absolutely, true, since notable female swearers have a long tradition in both literature and history. Studies by Timothy Jay into swearing among American college students showed that women were ahead in certain categories, but did lag significantly behind men in using terms for the genitalia, such as pussy, cunt, tits, and cock (1992, 143-53).
