What I found interesting is that turn-around from the insults that were casually thrown in Jo, Ruby and Belas direction by female fans, especially focused on their sexuality and gender. I do remember the slutty cloths remarks that Jo in particular received all over the place when most young women indeed wear low cut jeans and tight shirts. So comparing the online discussion of eps and then the outrage Dean’s relative tame word choice sparked. I can’t help but wonder if there are several fractions out there or if fandom in general tends to be a hypocrite, because for me both critiques seem to come from the same place.

Sure, I wouldn’t have minded, if the writers would have come up with more creative ways of Dean insulting Ruby or Bela, but what the hell? Nobody would have raised an eyebrow if they would have been male and gotten a ‘son of a bitch’, bastard or ass.

I strongly agree with your essay and I was very taken a back by fandom on this subject. I don’t have the slightest problem referring to myself as bitch. There are many TV characters that I admire who hold up the ‘Yes, I’m a bitch, live with it or get lost!’-tradition like Cordelia Chase, Lilah Morgan or Veronica Mars just to name a few on top of my head. As woman you can own the word. For me bitch equals bastard and that insult is so much less troublingly then moron or fool even when it is not very witty or – again for me - offensive. It was name calling on kindergarten level and made Dean look childish and completely out of his element.