a token word that only conveys pandering
December 12, 2019 9:58 AM Subscribe
Charlotte Druckman asks: Are there any words or phrases you really wish people would stop using to describe women chefs (or really, women, period)? The word that emerged as a lightning rod of scorn is one that may surprise readers, given that it is so frequently and proudly slung around by one and all as the ne plus ultra of praise: badass.
Overuse has leached badass of its badassery. "It's like interesting: so bland as to be almost meaningless," says Eater Features Editor Rebecca Flint Marx. "It's a token word that only conveys pandering."
But the deeper reason why so many women in the food world dislike it is the connotations it has acquired. Though its slangy, demotic roots give it a tang of modernism, to many women it embodies the stultifying conventions of maleness that dominate restaurant kitchens...for an overwhelmingly large number, it is befouled by the heavy, telltale, locker room odor of what is disparagingly known as "bro-culture."
Charlotte Druckman's anthology Women on Food (Amazon) makes the case for ending the practice of referring to woman chefs as "badass."
(An essay from the anthology on MeFi previously)
Overuse has leached badass of its badassery. "It's like interesting: so bland as to be almost meaningless," says Eater Features Editor Rebecca Flint Marx. "It's a token word that only conveys pandering."
But the deeper reason why so many women in the food world dislike it is the connotations it has acquired. Though its slangy, demotic roots give it a tang of modernism, to many women it embodies the stultifying conventions of maleness that dominate restaurant kitchens...for an overwhelmingly large number, it is befouled by the heavy, telltale, locker room odor of what is disparagingly known as "bro-culture."
Charlotte Druckman's anthology Women on Food (Amazon) makes the case for ending the practice of referring to woman chefs as "badass."
(An essay from the anthology on MeFi previously)
This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- frimble
I was ready to come here and defend "badass" as a word, but this quote in the article made me rethink it:
"Badass is a detonated way to describe a kind of cultural male whiteness — an aggressive, swaggering one," Druckman told NPR. "And then it gets put onto women, as what feels like a tarnished 'badge of honor,' or backhanded compliment. Calling a woman — chef or otherwise — 'badass' is a way to signify that she's cool or relevant because she's acting like a man (specifically, an aggressive, swaggering one)"
That seems like a pretty solid observation.
I did find the writing of the NPR article a little obnoxious though and had to keep reminding myself that Druckman didn't write the article. The quotes from Druckman are far and away the best parts.
posted by 256 at 10:32 AM on December 12, 2019 [10 favorites]
"Badass is a detonated way to describe a kind of cultural male whiteness — an aggressive, swaggering one," Druckman told NPR. "And then it gets put onto women, as what feels like a tarnished 'badge of honor,' or backhanded compliment. Calling a woman — chef or otherwise — 'badass' is a way to signify that she's cool or relevant because she's acting like a man (specifically, an aggressive, swaggering one)"
That seems like a pretty solid observation.
I did find the writing of the NPR article a little obnoxious though and had to keep reminding myself that Druckman didn't write the article. The quotes from Druckman are far and away the best parts.
posted by 256 at 10:32 AM on December 12, 2019 [10 favorites]
I'm in favour of a general de-ass-ification of metaphors. An ass moritorium. A cancellation of butts.
posted by bonehead at 10:33 AM on December 12, 2019 [14 favorites]
posted by bonehead at 10:33 AM on December 12, 2019 [14 favorites]
Adding "Badass" to my list of words to replace (current list: Just, really, little, actually, girls, badass).
Interesting to note, the rest of the words are on the list because they are diminishing.
posted by rebent at 10:39 AM on December 12, 2019 [4 favorites]
Interesting to note, the rest of the words are on the list because they are diminishing.
posted by rebent at 10:39 AM on December 12, 2019 [4 favorites]
An ass moritorium. A cancellation of butts.
:(
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:45 AM on December 12, 2019 [66 favorites]
:(
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:45 AM on December 12, 2019 [66 favorites]
I could argue that culturally appropriating the word, badass, to describe a highly-functioning female professional is a way to dilute the white maleness of it, but hey, maybe I'm not woke enough.
posted by Chuffy at 10:59 AM on December 12, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Chuffy at 10:59 AM on December 12, 2019 [2 favorites]
"And then it gets put onto women, as what feels like a tarnished 'badge of honor,' or backhanded compliment. Calling a woman — chef or otherwise — 'badass' is a way to signify that she's cool or relevant because she's acting like a man (specifically, an aggressive, swaggering one)"
See also: Rockstar
posted by Thorzdad at 11:03 AM on December 12, 2019 [18 favorites]
See also: Rockstar
posted by Thorzdad at 11:03 AM on December 12, 2019 [18 favorites]
It doesn’t praise professional women for their skill but for their style, and only for a style that is particularly risky to out-groups (either the targets of the ‘badass’ or the ‘badass’ who goes over the narrow margin allowed out-groups). Poisoned pill.
posted by clew at 11:10 AM on December 12, 2019 [7 favorites]
posted by clew at 11:10 AM on December 12, 2019 [7 favorites]
Now I'm going to go watch an episode of Cooking with Ellen Ripley to confirm my bias.
posted by Chuffy at 11:11 AM on December 12, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Chuffy at 11:11 AM on December 12, 2019 [1 favorite]
Also this smashing attack, from
Therese Nelson, who runs the Black Culinary History blog. "What they really do is assign a kind of toxic masculinity to men in ways that perpetuate it in insane ways. I think strength is a virtue that men and women need, but there is a way in which we talk about male strength that diminishes women while also marginalizing men, as though all they can be are these one-dimensional caricatures as opposed to fully formed people. The whole narrative is bad for everyone."posted by clew at 11:17 AM on December 12, 2019 [8 favorites]
As a programmer, I am totally OK with banning the term “rockstar” and issuing immediate defenestration to anyone who uses it when referring to anyone who is not a musician and/or an actual rockstar.
posted by drivingmenuts at 11:55 AM on December 12, 2019 [20 favorites]
posted by drivingmenuts at 11:55 AM on December 12, 2019 [20 favorites]
What if you're a famous (googles furiously) petrologist?
posted by avalonian at 11:59 AM on December 12, 2019 [17 favorites]
posted by avalonian at 11:59 AM on December 12, 2019 [17 favorites]
On a related note, can we ban describing comedy as 'irreverent' -- it is at best worthless (reverent comedy is not a thing) and at worst a code-word for 'this comedian is an asshole' (usually also a man).
posted by axiom at 12:19 PM on December 12, 2019 [19 favorites]
posted by axiom at 12:19 PM on December 12, 2019 [19 favorites]
While we are at it, I'm all in on banning the word "ban."
posted by MorgansAmoebas at 12:34 PM on December 12, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by MorgansAmoebas at 12:34 PM on December 12, 2019 [5 favorites]
Scorn, mock, avoid, deprecate, reprove?
posted by clew at 1:01 PM on December 12, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by clew at 1:01 PM on December 12, 2019 [2 favorites]
Objurgate? Anathametize?
posted by clew at 1:02 PM on December 12, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by clew at 1:02 PM on December 12, 2019 [1 favorite]
Why, for instance, do we hear incessantly about the European culinary aristocracy of René Redzepi, Ferran Adrià and Massimo Bottura but almost nothing about Carme Ruscalleda, the Catalan chef who has more Michelin stars than most other chefs in the world?
Am I just really oblivious here, do y'all recognize these people by name? Then again, these days unless they're in a video with Claire I might never notice them.
Talking about food and chefs is an interesting problem. The most important thing about them is the taste and smell of their food. Neither experience lend themselves to being described, use any language you want and unless I have a specific memory already of a smell, it's all meaningless. It's a trap, most of the delicious food made by chefs is simply not an option for everyone who hears about it to taste. I've asked the food network previously to shut itself down until taste-and-smell televisions come into existence, but on ward food media goes.
I think since food cannot be adequately or meaningfully described with words and images, we end up to trying to extrapolate onto the chef since a person is more easily understood as just words and images.
posted by GoblinHoney at 1:04 PM on December 12, 2019 [1 favorite]
Am I just really oblivious here, do y'all recognize these people by name? Then again, these days unless they're in a video with Claire I might never notice them.
Talking about food and chefs is an interesting problem. The most important thing about them is the taste and smell of their food. Neither experience lend themselves to being described, use any language you want and unless I have a specific memory already of a smell, it's all meaningless. It's a trap, most of the delicious food made by chefs is simply not an option for everyone who hears about it to taste. I've asked the food network previously to shut itself down until taste-and-smell televisions come into existence, but on ward food media goes.
I think since food cannot be adequately or meaningfully described with words and images, we end up to trying to extrapolate onto the chef since a person is more easily understood as just words and images.
posted by GoblinHoney at 1:04 PM on December 12, 2019 [1 favorite]
I feel the same way about Strong Female Characters in fiction. Female characters who are strong in various ways are often really great, of course, but characters who are described as strong female characters are so often imitation toxically-masculine men in woman-suits that I now see it as a red flag.
posted by joannemerriam at 1:05 PM on December 12, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by joannemerriam at 1:05 PM on December 12, 2019 [8 favorites]
OMG YAAAAAS. Love this. I was in a female power focused marketing thing for a focus group, and I was the crabby feminist who said I am tired of being told I am "strong." It's okay to not be strong, for one! And also, shut up!
posted by agregoli at 1:10 PM on December 12, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by agregoli at 1:10 PM on December 12, 2019 [8 favorites]
As a Strong Female in my industry can we just ban the whole idea of strong females? Or strong males or really the entire cult of personality? Its all so.... Instagram-y? Pathetic? Self aggarandizing? Every article or video these days is like a low budget derivative documentary made by a grasping hack who can't tell a story without a child like reliance on a heroic figure or big reveal. Aside from being tired as hell it just encourages the glory seekers that clutter the landscape of every worthy endeavour until they bog it down in their own mediocrity. Let's celebrate a return to talking about actual topics and accomplishments, not focusing on the most charismatic people in the room.
Not that I have strong feelings about any of this or have shot down dozens of stupid crappy ideas this year alone.
posted by fshgrl at 2:52 PM on December 12, 2019 [6 favorites]
Not that I have strong feelings about any of this or have shot down dozens of stupid crappy ideas this year alone.
posted by fshgrl at 2:52 PM on December 12, 2019 [6 favorites]
God this was great to read. YES. Like having to “battle” cancer. Why does everything have to be so exhausting?
posted by HotToddy at 3:11 PM on December 12, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by HotToddy at 3:11 PM on December 12, 2019 [4 favorites]
My daughter has the book, "Rad American Women from A to Z," and I have a similar concern about that use of "rad," though I suppose "rad" is less associated with toxic masculinity than with, say, BMX banditry.
I always saw it as a shortened form of "radical", so the associations and origins are either political or mathematical, but at least less gendered.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 3:42 PM on December 12, 2019
I always saw it as a shortened form of "radical", so the associations and origins are either political or mathematical, but at least less gendered.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 3:42 PM on December 12, 2019
I always saw it as a shortened form of "radical", so the associations and origins are either political or mathematical, but at least less gendered.
"Rad" in 80's slang was made popular by surfers and skateboarders, who started to see the likes of Jay Adams, Stacy Peralta, Tony Alva and others grown in fame and popularity during the late 70's and early 80's. It was an abbreviation of the word, radical, because the next generation of surfers and skaters were radically different than their predecessors. Their style, technique, ability to surf huge waves, lifestyle and overall attitude was radical, in relation to the people that went before them. Another synonym could be, "intrepid."
To say something was rad meant cool, but cool in the way that it was superior in skill, craziness and attitude from whatever "square" was. If you called something rad, it was a good thing...modern, an upgrade, but it could also potentially have been tied to the alpha male stereotypes that encompass badassery.
It was easy to see this adjective applied to new kit, fashion, music, etc. because it meant revolutionary in terms of the evolution of a product, design, style, skill, etc...
An excellent documentary that highlights what I'm saying is Dogtown and Z Boys.
posted by Chuffy at 4:09 PM on December 12, 2019 [3 favorites]
"Rad" in 80's slang was made popular by surfers and skateboarders, who started to see the likes of Jay Adams, Stacy Peralta, Tony Alva and others grown in fame and popularity during the late 70's and early 80's. It was an abbreviation of the word, radical, because the next generation of surfers and skaters were radically different than their predecessors. Their style, technique, ability to surf huge waves, lifestyle and overall attitude was radical, in relation to the people that went before them. Another synonym could be, "intrepid."
To say something was rad meant cool, but cool in the way that it was superior in skill, craziness and attitude from whatever "square" was. If you called something rad, it was a good thing...modern, an upgrade, but it could also potentially have been tied to the alpha male stereotypes that encompass badassery.
It was easy to see this adjective applied to new kit, fashion, music, etc. because it meant revolutionary in terms of the evolution of a product, design, style, skill, etc...
An excellent documentary that highlights what I'm saying is Dogtown and Z Boys.
posted by Chuffy at 4:09 PM on December 12, 2019 [3 favorites]
"Badass" is a fine word, if you're 13-years-old and talking about Wolverine.
posted by straight at 5:48 PM on December 12, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by straight at 5:48 PM on December 12, 2019 [2 favorites]
shrill
If I never hear the word shrill used to refer to words from women and feminists it will be too soon. Gross.
posted by bendy at 6:08 PM on December 12, 2019 [3 favorites]
If I never hear the word shrill used to refer to words from women and feminists it will be too soon. Gross.
posted by bendy at 6:08 PM on December 12, 2019 [3 favorites]
Why can’t people be recognised for being good at their job without having to ooze faux machismo or bravado? It seems like you have to lurch around aggressively being one of the boys. Can’t you just, I don’t know, make amazing meals and have it be known without you having to make amazing meals with some kind of over the top personality? And I say this for everyone, not just women.
I realise it doesn’t make for as good a story but people are there for the food, they’ll never get to hear your f bombs or lack thereof that make you so ‘badass’.
posted by Jubey at 6:43 PM on December 12, 2019 [1 favorite]
I realise it doesn’t make for as good a story but people are there for the food, they’ll never get to hear your f bombs or lack thereof that make you so ‘badass’.
posted by Jubey at 6:43 PM on December 12, 2019 [1 favorite]
How about “you’re the bomb dot com”? Because I really like using that one for low-key recognizing people’s skills at work. Like, I want to express my respect for them but I don’t want to draw attention to the act, I just like giving people props. If it’s gendered in a bad way then it’s back to just basic honest praise :(
posted by Doleful Creature at 7:43 PM on December 12, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Doleful Creature at 7:43 PM on December 12, 2019 [1 favorite]
"Badass" is a fine word, if you're 13-years-old and talking about Wolverine.
Seconding this. Around here calling any adult "Badass" is currently a high compliment from a 13 year old. No guarantees on next week though...
posted by speug at 10:13 PM on December 12, 2019
“Whip-smart” seems to only be used for women
posted by reiichiroh at 12:18 AM on December 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by reiichiroh at 12:18 AM on December 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
cultural male whiteness
I kind of assumed "badass" was ultimately an appropriated signifier of black masculinity? You know. Cursory searching says I'm probably not entirely wrong, but broad usage goes back a ways. Now when we're talking about chefs in this kind of context, yeah, most of the dudes are white.
posted by atoxyl at 3:37 AM on December 13, 2019
I kind of assumed "badass" was ultimately an appropriated signifier of black masculinity? You know. Cursory searching says I'm probably not entirely wrong, but broad usage goes back a ways. Now when we're talking about chefs in this kind of context, yeah, most of the dudes are white.
posted by atoxyl at 3:37 AM on December 13, 2019
“Whip-smart” seems to only be used for women
If so, that's a recent restriction.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 5:31 AM on December 13, 2019
If so, that's a recent restriction.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 5:31 AM on December 13, 2019
I guess I'm the only person who'd never made any gender associations with "badass." To me, a badass has always defined anyone or anything when, faced with a challenge, manages to do so with a sardonically confident attitude and/or success exceeding expectations in surprising ways.
posted by DrAstroZoom at 1:53 PM on December 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by DrAstroZoom at 1:53 PM on December 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
I definitely consider "badass" to be a word used more for women, but it doesn't actually necessarily invoke that toxic masculine bro-ish swagger in my mind. It makes me think of women being successful on their own terms without modulating their persona or culinary interests or definition of strength in order to prove themselves.
I definitely see the pressure to do that swagger: the burns on your arms, etc. I'm not denying that. Nor do I doubt women chefs' accounts of that connotation. It's just not what comes to mind for me personally when I hear "badass."
posted by desuetude at 3:34 PM on December 13, 2019
I definitely see the pressure to do that swagger: the burns on your arms, etc. I'm not denying that. Nor do I doubt women chefs' accounts of that connotation. It's just not what comes to mind for me personally when I hear "badass."
posted by desuetude at 3:34 PM on December 13, 2019
Just anecdotal of course, but:
- I’m a cishet man
- I was referred to in a complimentary way as a badass and a rockstar several times this week*
- I am easily one of the least manly/macho men at work; I’m super super nice to everyone, I openly talk about my feelings and go out of my way help others feel safe to do so as well, other men in the office will jokingly rib me for calling them out on toxic masculinity stuff, etc etc
I often think of male and female co-workers as “badasses”. I don’t use it too often in really overt contexts but it has always been a shorthand for me of someone I respect and admire because of their skill and their passion and their ability to stick with a problem until it’s solved. They’re smart, loyal (the good kind of loyal), righteous, kind, and brave. To me it was always a positive and non-gendered compliment about exceptional people that inspire me to be better. But maybe I’m just weird or in a weird industry/area because I always thought that’s what everybody was thinking.
*Oh and I absolutely earned all that praise, by working hard, being super respectful to my colleagues and my clients, always telling the truth, and keeping promises. Honestly this reads like a brag but really I just want to share because I’m continually surprised at my work friends who don’t understand this. They think success is about playing politics and excluding people and being tough and never compromising. I can’t do that stuff, I’m terrible at it, so I lean into the soft approach, the inclusive approach that gives people a chance to win on their own terms. I’ve been accused of being “too honest” and “too altruistic” and yet time after time I’m asked to lead the most complex, mission critical projects for my company...and I and my team (comprised of mostly women, coincidentally) deliver every single time. We ARE badasses because we give ZERO FUCKS about the petty feuds and toxic memes of modern work culture. We show up, we do the work in front of us and we stay hydrated. We give grace to our colleagues and let our actions speak.
All this to say, well, I’m probably going to stop using these words on the principle that I don’t want to perpetuate something with even a hint of toxicity in it, but I have to admit I’m really not sure what I’m going to replace it with. “You’re really awesome/great” works I guess, but it just doesn’t have a lot of verve to it.
I mean if there’s a list of better/non-gendered replacements for “badass” and “rockstar” I would love to know about it.
posted by Doleful Creature at 10:24 PM on December 13, 2019
- I’m a cishet man
- I was referred to in a complimentary way as a badass and a rockstar several times this week*
- I am easily one of the least manly/macho men at work; I’m super super nice to everyone, I openly talk about my feelings and go out of my way help others feel safe to do so as well, other men in the office will jokingly rib me for calling them out on toxic masculinity stuff, etc etc
I often think of male and female co-workers as “badasses”. I don’t use it too often in really overt contexts but it has always been a shorthand for me of someone I respect and admire because of their skill and their passion and their ability to stick with a problem until it’s solved. They’re smart, loyal (the good kind of loyal), righteous, kind, and brave. To me it was always a positive and non-gendered compliment about exceptional people that inspire me to be better. But maybe I’m just weird or in a weird industry/area because I always thought that’s what everybody was thinking.
*Oh and I absolutely earned all that praise, by working hard, being super respectful to my colleagues and my clients, always telling the truth, and keeping promises. Honestly this reads like a brag but really I just want to share because I’m continually surprised at my work friends who don’t understand this. They think success is about playing politics and excluding people and being tough and never compromising. I can’t do that stuff, I’m terrible at it, so I lean into the soft approach, the inclusive approach that gives people a chance to win on their own terms. I’ve been accused of being “too honest” and “too altruistic” and yet time after time I’m asked to lead the most complex, mission critical projects for my company...and I and my team (comprised of mostly women, coincidentally) deliver every single time. We ARE badasses because we give ZERO FUCKS about the petty feuds and toxic memes of modern work culture. We show up, we do the work in front of us and we stay hydrated. We give grace to our colleagues and let our actions speak.
All this to say, well, I’m probably going to stop using these words on the principle that I don’t want to perpetuate something with even a hint of toxicity in it, but I have to admit I’m really not sure what I’m going to replace it with. “You’re really awesome/great” works I guess, but it just doesn’t have a lot of verve to it.
I mean if there’s a list of better/non-gendered replacements for “badass” and “rockstar” I would love to know about it.
posted by Doleful Creature at 10:24 PM on December 13, 2019
Words like competent, skilled, effective, focused, productive, admirable, exemplary, etc. would probably serve better.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 5:47 AM on December 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Kirth Gerson at 5:47 AM on December 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
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