Be honest – didn’t the title evoke an image of a female filmstar (once in a while, they deserve to be called ‘Actress’!) smoking a joint or quaffing a drink or pouting a risqué pose?
Did anyone at all picturize a glorious achiever?
‘Hero’ is a word we easily associate with victors and achievers. Sportsmen, political leaders, social reformists, business whiz kids, whistleblowers – all cluster comfortably within it.
Rebellious, innovative, unique, glorious.
But, why does the word ‘Heroine’ not echo with the same glow?
Since when did ‘media-created narcissistic starlets’ with an unerring instinct for ‘controversy’ and ‘juicy sound bytes’ — kidnap the word ‘Heroine’ from the real achievers?
Ditto with the adjective ‘Bold.’
Bold used to mean courageous, gallant, risk taker, fearless, daring.
Ayn Rand’s ideas, Kalpana Chawla’s career choice, Irom Sharmila’s startling hunger strike, Durga Shakti Nagpal’s gutsy attack on sand mafia are bold. Or were bold once upon a time.
Now, ‘bold’ is inevitably a starlet either
a. portraying a prostitute
b. threatening to thrust her bust or bum in your face
c. drinking & smoking with gay abandon.
d. all of the above.
Since when did that become ‘courageous and fearless?’
P.S: Speaking of ‘gay’, that is another hijacked word. {Poor Ayn Rand – she used the ‘gay’ word umpteen times to denote carefree, vivacious and feisty laughter. She would definitely throw a tantrum in her grave.}
Isn’t it time ‘Heroine’ and ‘bold’ were reclaimed by worthy candidates?
Who is your idea of a ‘Bold Heroine’?
Like ‘gay’, do you know other words whose intended, real meanings have gone missing?
I thought of one immediately…”Art.”
Another great and thoughtful post Sweety.
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Art – you mean as in artist’s art vs cunning ‘art’ful? Yes, does ring a bell.
Thank you so much.
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The way that Art can be used to refer to Da Vinci, but today, urinate on a picture of Jesus and its Art.
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What??? Such things happen? That’s disgusting. If someone doesn’t believe in God, they are most welcome to be atheists. But today there is a growing rumbling unrest between atheists and theists as if they cannot co-exist.
Pray for peace and sense to all!
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That one was really bad, because the piece of art called “Piss Christ” was funded by the Government Endowment for the Arts. Of course that’s just one example.
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Quite shocking! What was their defense line- Freedom of expression?
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Have a happy holidays…
Andro
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We don’t have holidays for Xmas.
Merry Xmas to you & family!
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Wizard vs witch. Dog vs bitch. We have been conditioned to think this way
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Another one I hate is ‘master’ vs ‘mistress’!!!
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Panna dhai, Meera , Rani Padmini , zhansi chi Rani Laxmi , Mrs Dr. Prakash Aamate , The Nirbhaya , Indira Gandhi Medha Patkar
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Waah waah, khup chaan list aahe. My question, is, do we call them as ‘Heroines’? I mean, the word’heroine’s is actually apt for these super-women, but has got distorted in years.
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Malala
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Damn, but I’m afraid I might use the wrong word, or worse, the right one. Anyway, I want to thank you for following papermudandme.com. I will be following you also. – Happy New Year and Aloha – pjs/
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No matter – just play around with words. That’s what bloggers do. Welcome to my virtual space.
Aloha is a Hawaiian greeting, isn’t it?
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