I am a bitch. According to a certain "Bitch Test" administered by a certain website, I rate 39%, which is 1% above the average. While I embrace this ascription, I regard it as a culturally contingent one. It's probably one of the most interesting words out there. It seems to have survived the vicissitudes of linguistic fashion, as the process of embracing in itself has proliferated new meanings which mediate between mass culture and the general interests of feminism. I guess you could say, we (18-22ish) grew up with whatever "bitch" has come to mean. Which is not to say we're living in "Generation Bitch," because there are some serious failings (i.e. negative connotations for women) of the word in adequately and consistently referring to women. The basic definition of "bitch" today refers to a (modern) woman who uses power efficiently through interpersonal actions. Sounds like the definition of "being a man."

The cult of "bitch" sometimes separates itself from the movement of feminism; many cultural critics have called the bitch movement a "postfeminist" one for that basic sentiment. Everything is divided and similar to the way in which "feminism" itself continues to be a misused term in the American vernacular: feminists align themselves with sects of the "bitch" movement, or totally reject it. Those who uphold it as a viable and interesting term - like me - are more concerned with its transmission and the history associated with it. Obviously I hate the word "slut" but I think it's an interesting word; maybe we should institute an "image awareness" week or "slut/bitch awareness" week. There are several fascinating projects centered around being a "bitch" that have recently come to my attention.

The best starting place for the new-comer to bitchdom would have to be the website based on the word bitch, at www.ncinter.net/~bert/bitch/bitch.shtml.com. Here, we are reminded of the word's diversity. The more misogynistic connotations of the possessive form - namely "so-and-so's bitch" or "my/who's/his bitch," "the bitch's son…," a.k.a. "son of a bitch" and the construed meaning of "gangsta bitch" - has been effectively altered to mean something separate from gender, as anyone can be anyone else's bitch nowadays. It's almost a term of endearment, at least when it's adopted as a fronting label. The beauty lies in the word's transcending (originally negative) power when used behind the back of the supposed bitch. It's intention, then, is to unite two people or groups of people in their mutual dislike of a third. This makes "bitch" a secretive term, but with a new potential as more people are incorporating it into their inexplicit vernacular.

Next, the magazine, Bitch: the noun, the verb, the magazine, (accessible at www.bitchmagazine.com) considers the intersection of feminism with pop culture. That's right, feminism. While it ascribes to a feminist goal of critiquing the oddities and overall foibles of our corporate-run nation-state, the magazine recognizes the sentiments of its concept's subscribers who are actively examining "the meaning of bitch" and distancing themselves from the feminist movement-which, by the way is expansive and hard to identify in itself: it's kind of like LA nowadays. You have to ask, "Where is it? What is it?" So anyway, many see embracing bitch as part and parcel to an overall "postfeminist backlash." Kind of like how LA is a Po-Mo backlash in itself. Huh?

The recent history of "bitch" is the subject of Elizabeth Wurtzel's witty diatribe of a book, Bitch: In Praise of Difficult Women. It reads not unlike her stance on popular culture's influence on the national movement towards depression in Prozac Nation. Perhaps one day Bitch will rightly be considered the prototype "po-fem backlash." Sigh... Wurtzel's considerations of the Amy Fisher drama exculpates the actual actors in light of the nation's more intimate involvementŠyes, watching "Amy" get statutorily raped on an unprecedented three stations' coverings counts as grossly intimate involvement, consider the ratings battles over itŠI think Drew Barrymore won. Mostly, she relates modern cultural stories like Amy's in light of classic models of the "bitch" or "bad woman" like Delilah et al.

Last but not least is the website phenomena of "Crazy-Bitch.com." Basically, an asshole named Dave launched it as a forum for discussing his crazy-bitch ex. My own "Crazy-Bitch" baby tee is in the mail. Hypocrisy in consumerism is so pop, right? So, back in the day, after this aspiring "crazy-bitch" found out her Dave was sleeping with his secretary, she finds the secretary's number in his Rolodex no less; the women scheme Dave's downfall, and are successful. The damage: his apartment is sacked, I mean really sacked. His question - the entire motive of his website - is, "Did she outdo herself?" In other words, the etiquette of bitchdom, which is basically respected in the wake of our "grrrl power" sensibilities, is in question: I often ponder the question of where the thin line lies between a bitch and a crazy-bitch? I've written Dave - and you can too. My opinion (namely, he deserved it, but it's not a total tragedy for he has risen from this tragic abyss he brought upon himself - the scheezy bastard - and hallmarked a very entertaining website) differs dramatically from Howard Stern's, which you can find on his site www.crazy-bitch.com.