Bitch: The Journey of a Word

by Karen Stollznow

Bitch is a bitch of a word. It used to be a straightforward insult, but today—after so many variations and efforts to reject or reclaim the word-it's not always entirely clear what it means. Bitch is a chameleon. There are good bitches and bad bitches; sexy bitches and psycho bitches; boss bitches and even perfect bitches. This eye-opening deep-dive takes us on a journey spanning a millennium, from its humble beginnings as a word for a female dog through to its myriad meanings today, proving that sometimes you can teach an old dog new tricks. It traces the colorful history and ever-changing meaning of this powerful and controversial word, and its relevance within broader issues of feminism, gender, race and sexuality. Despite centuries of censorship and attempts to ban it, bitch has stood the test of time. You may is the word going away anytime soon? Bitch, please.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction

200 pages, Hardcover

Published June 27, 2024

About the author

Dr. Karen Stollznow is a linguist, author, and broadcaster whose work bridges scholarship and public engagement. Her books include Beyond Words: How We Learn, Use, and Lose Language; Bitch: The Journey of a Word; On the Offensive: Prejudice in Language Past and Present; Missed Conceptions: How We Make Sense of Infertility; God Bless America; Language Myths, Mysteries and Magic; and Haunting America. She is also the author of the short fiction collection Fisher’s Ghost and Other Stories.

She co-hosts the award-winning science podcast Monster Talk, contributes regularly to Psychology Today, Cambridge Core, and The Conversation, and has spent many years investigating anomalous claims through the lens of skepticism and science.

Karen holds a PhD in Linguistics and has taught at universities in both the United States and Australia. She previously worked as a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, and is currently a Visiting Scholar at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Born in Sydney, Australia, Karen now lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband and their son.

Reviews

[Queralt✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The etymological journey of the word bitch: its origins, how it’s used against women, in favor of women (tea parties 🫖), and how its meaning has changed in different settings (LGBTQIA+ during different periods, prison, feminism). The book also addresses words used against men and discusses how they sting less than insults against women because men are rewarded for being tough. The worst insults men can get are those that allude to femininity, micropenises, or that they are gay (sissy, faggot, SDE, you know it).

My favorite discussion was when the author challenged whether women should be taking ownership of the word bitch. She explains how all the boss bitches and what’s up bitches use a word that has sexist connotations. I wish the author had chewed more on this because it was interesting, but she dropped the topic and moved on too quickly.

I found the book interesting but a little redundant at times. Nonfiction can be entertaining, and I found this one to be a little dry; I wasn’t very engaged. It started interesting discussions and dropped them before making a point. And sometimes it would go on tangents that were interesting but not really relevant to the book.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 feels like the fairest rating I can give this book.

I have very strong opinions and feelings when it comes to this book. And because of one sentence, I really struggled to finish this at all. From about the halfway mark onward, I had to skim.

I really loved the idea of this book because I really loved Amanda Montell's Wordslut, it's one of my all-time favorite non-fiction books (if not my absolute favorite). But I would recommend Wordslut over this book any day because of one sentence/example in this book.

I loved that this book spends so much time explaining how there is no other word like "bitch." There is no male counterpart, nothing you can say to a man will have the same impact and implications as a man calling a woman a bitch. It's one of our oldest words, and has been an insult for women nearly since it became a word at all. That's all fascinating. Women have tried to take it back, but it remains near hate speech still. It really is so interesting. It's the kind of thing you already know, but having history and facts and numbers to back up what you feel is so validating.

But I am not okay with what this author said about Native Americans. I want to give her the benefit of the doubt and say it is a cultural thing. This author is Australian and therefore doesn't necessarily understand what she said, but Australia isn't the best about their indigenous people either, so I don't know. Either way, she should know better.

Now here it is, the moment that made me get the ick and struggle with the rest of the book...she starts explaining that names have been changing since words mean different things over time. Sure. She gives the example of a restaurant called "The Black Bitch," it is named after a dog, but the town thought it unsavory, so they changed it. And then she gave the example of a certain football team named after a slur for Native Americans. She says this name had to be changed because overtime that became offensive. What are you talking about?! That name has been a slur since its inception. A slur is a slur. The name only changed because enough people that do not fall under the demographic of that name got mad enough on behalf of those that did. It has always been a slur! I just can't get over that example. That term did not suddenly become a slur, it has been one. Look it up, Native Americans have always disliked and felt disrespected by that term. She did so much research on the word "bitch," but not on her examples. I found that disgusting and shameful. Do better.

I am giving this a 2.5/5 because I cannot excuse being so oblivious that you are simply being racist. But I did think that the other information in this book was great and very valuable. Maybe consider taking out that little section before publishing.

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! I really did like this book besides for that one section, it just gave me the ick. And I cannot excuse that.

[Bill Philibin · Rating 5 out of 5]

(5.0 Stars)

Thank you to #NetGalley for making this audiobook available for reading and review.

This book was well researched and entertaining. Narrated by the author, and performed expertly.

If you like etymology, or even just like listening to the history of "bad words", you should find this book enjoyable. The author included history, pop culture references, and adjacent related words so this is a complete look at the word as both, insult and inspiration... and everything in between.

[Brittany Lutz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love “a history of-“ style nonfiction books so when i saw this book was coming out I had to request it! So thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an audio copy of this book. It was a quick and easy read providing a fascinating history of the word Bitch. I also liked how the word mentioned other curse words and derogatory words and how they came to be because they are all intrinsically tied together.

[Casey O'Brien · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really excited about this one, but unfortunately it was disappointing in so many ways.

Although it is clearly a product of a lot of research, it feels more like a series of examples of different uses of the word bitch (and some examples that feel unrelated to the subject at all) than a nuanced discussion of the history and weight of the word.

It is super repetitive and feels poorly organized.

The audio itself in terms of quality is fine, but it was jarring in its free use of slurs (repetitive use of the N word and F slur, among others). It felt unnecessary as a comparison and to be said… multiple… times.

Massive miss for me.

Thanks to Cambridge University Press, Dreamscape Media, and Netgalley for the ARC of the audiobook version of this book.

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went into this expecting a thoughtful deep dive into the history, evolution, and reclamation of the word “bitch,” and in some ways, that’s what the book aimed to do. It covers a wide range of slurs and offensive language, especially those used against women, and examines how language reflects power, gender roles, and cultural norms.

But I’m from the Deep South in the U.S., and hearing a white woman with an Australian accent casually say the “n” word out loud, not once but multiple times, was incredibly jarring. It felt gratuitous and completely unnecessary. I don’t think it would have hit the same way on the page, but in audio, it stopped me cold. At a certain point, I stopped caring about the point the book was trying to make because I found myself bracing for the next time the author or narrator might drop the word again. It started to feel like certain passages were just building up to that moment.

There are many ways to talk about reclaimed slurs and misogynistic language without repeatedly using the most loaded racial slur in American history. Of all the examples the author could have chosen, that one, and the fact that it was included more than once, was a poor editorial decision, especially for an audiobook.

Narration-wise, the performance itself was fine. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed and had no issues with the pacing or clarity. But that doesn’t make up for how much the content lost me.

This book had potential, but the way it handled sensitive language completely derailed the experience for me. I can’t recommend the audiobook, and I hope future editions handle this kind of content with more care. I gave it two stars because some of it was interesting. Taboo language is the author’s niche interest so I am probably an outlier among her readers for being surprised by the slurs. YMMV

I received free access to this audiobook through NetGalley.

[Chelsea Pittman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really interesting history on the word bitch. I think everyone will find, at least, one piece of information entertaining.

The word has gone through many changes but one thing remains the same. The word has been used negatively towards women.

It’s hard to really decide what to do going forward. Is it harmful to use as a woman? Can we reclaim it to be a positive thing? I’m not sure!

The length isn’t too bad but there’s a lot of info and history so you might want to break it up across a few days.

I enjoyed hearing the history. The author narrated the book and her voice was nice to listen to. Thank you to NetGalley, Karen Stollznow, and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen! I have written this review voluntarily.

[Windsor Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

received this as an audiobook from NetGalley for review. This book was great! It’s a deep dive on how a simple word for female dog from the 1000’s became such a divisive insult today. The author takes us through the exhaustive one thousand year history of bitch and all of it’s uses and spellings. Almost from the creation of the word, it’s been used as an insult to women.

It was pretty cool listening to Australian author, Karen Stollznow, read the book in her snarky accent (the accent wasn’t snarky, the way she read was). Her narration really added to the experience for me. Several year ago, I wrote an essay on why I dislike this word, but my heart has changed a bit recently. I don’t mind it as much as a term of endearment, but I still hate it when it is used to insult women. Or even worse, insult a man by comparing him to a woman, which is incredibly insulting to women. Stollznow writes an exhaustive, yet fun history of the word and why its use is often so offensive. She also delves into the histories of many other curse words (I’m not going to list them bc algorithm) and how they relate back to bitch.

This is a really fun read. If you enjoy nonfiction feminist books, you’ll love this one. It’s about time someone wrote a history about every misogynist’s favorite word to put a woman “in her place.”

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recieved an audio copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had high hopes going into the book as it seemed like a topic I usually like to learn about. I expected something similar to “wordslut” which I really enjoyed.

This focused on the history of the word, different contexts through history, some break down of the word c*nt, intersection issues facing LGBTQ+ people and people of colour.

Some topics were well done and interesting, but nearing the end this felt a bit tired. Especially topics such as the use of bitch in the media was okay but not ground breaking.

As an aside- while maybe serving a purpose in the physical copy to compare slurs, it was jarring to hear the n-word MANY times. I get she was trying to make a point, but in the audio version especially it was obvious how overused it was.

[Off Service Book Recs · Rating 4 out of 5]

No word has had as much as a metamorphosis and cultural relevance as that of a female dog; a lover; a son; a woman of ill repute; a badass: a b*tch. It's been remolded, renewed, reclaimed, and reformed through century after century; a noun, a verb, an exclamation, a sizzling adjective, a pejorative, and so dependent on time and place that it's easy enough to use it in a sentence and get a completely different meaning every single time. Just in time for your next b*tchin' internet deep dive, Karen Stollznow takes the reader on an entomological Ms. Frizzle-esque journey through history to trace the journey of a word and its wide-spread evolution, from a simple descriptor, to a title, to an insult, to a word of power so drenched in feminism, gender, race and sexuality that it's hard to separate the slur from the supercharged battle cry. Oft censored, occasionally banned, this book is definitely one for the b*tches.

I love a good jaunt into the history of [insert thing], and this was precisely the kind of book that made for an excellent stroll through the airport and on a long car ride - it left me with a lot of food for thought, provided enlightening and engaging historical review, and also had a deeper discussion over the way we breathe power into words, and the grander repercussions a word's use can have on a sociological and even geopolitical level. I thought this book was a great mix of food for thought and charming journey through a word which I certainly use liberally and without thought throughout most of my day (the number of times I show up somewhere and say "It's Brittney b*tch" should be studied), and I have found myself thinking a little harder about the words I say and the meaning attached to them. B*tches beware, this was a fun read and is a great choice of book for those who need little palate cleanser for their dirty mouths between other books!

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced listening copy of Bitch: The Journey of a Word by Karen Stollznow. I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts here.

This was an interesting look at the humble beginnings of an oft uttered curse word that has been through a number of transformations and continues to evolve. I had no idea it was as old as it was or that it was one of the 'first' modern curses. I appreciated the breakdown of language through the last 500+ years and the time spent showing how many words change over time.

I think this could have been a shorter read (or in my case listen) as it felt the various cultural offshoots (Jazz / misogyny/ movies/ rap / feminism / reclamation / etc.) all ended up in the same spot: despite its original use, it always lands back at being a gendered insult with no male equivalent. I don't dispute this notion, but restating the premise didn't enhance the argument.

I do appreciate that the book didn't offer a solutions ("Just stop using the word") or a path forward (e.g. coordinated reclamation) as there does not appear to be an easy way to de-stigmatize the word. I appreciate being left with the information and the opportunity to have a think about how words impact others, regardless of intention, usage, and ample context. Some things just sound off-putting even with the most generous interpretation.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here’s some fun facts I learned in Bitch: The Journey of a Word by Karen Stollznow

-B!tch has been a part of our vocabulary longer that f%ck.
-It has existed, in some capacity and definition, Old English
-It has referred to female dogs almost as long as it has been used against women.
-Suffragette was meant to be derogatory as the -ette makes it diminutive. Suffragist is considered to be the neutral term.
-A prize winning British racehorse was named Filho Da Puta (son of a bitch in Portuguese). The stable owner discovered his wife’s infidelity when it was time to name the foal.
-There is not, nor has there ever been, an equivalent word applied to men.​
-Klingon, the language invented for an alien race in Star Trek, has no official profanities. All profanities were happily fan made.

From the original spelling, linguistic history, pop culture references, linguistic cousins, and how it’s permeated languages all across the globe, this colorful word has a long and storied history.

I LOVED this on audio. My fear is that the life breathed into this by having it read to you may be lost on the page. If it feels dry in print, switch to the audiobook. You’ll have a lot more fun. There’s something especially hilarious about someone academically reading hiphop lyrics.

[Steff Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll admit, I was a little surprised at how much information there was in this book. The fact that the word Bitch has so much of a history is fascinating and wild to me all at once. I really enjoyed delving into the intricacies of this, The Journey of a Word being such a fun idea for a book. Admittedly, this isn't the kind of book that you pick up and read all the way through in one sitting, at least as far as I'm concerned. There's only so much of this information that I'm going to want to read through all at once.

I also think that this works really well as an audiobook. It's kind of like an extra long podcast, in a way. Cause this isn't a book that I feel I'd really want to sit down and just read. You don't pick it up for it's entertainment appeal, but you can turn on the audiobook to listen to while you're doing chores. Honestly, it's rather perfect for that. I really appreciated being able to have it on when I'm kind of attuning to other things, to listen in the background and learn as I go. And that's what we do with podcasts a lot of the time, isn't it?

Anyway, while I don't see myself really ever picking this up and reading it again, I did appreciate the experience.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a masterful breakdown (and takedown) of the word "bitch."

Stollznow waltzes us through the history of the term, how it's been used, and what it means across different times, places, and people. Ultimately, I found this text deeply satisfying: confirming most of my held beliefs about the word and why we shouldn't use it, while also adding nuance and context that I wasn't aware of. I appreciated the intersections of class and race, as well.

I recently reviewed another book, a YA novel, where I bemoaned the use of the word. This text just cements my perspective. What great timing! "Bitch" does have its place in history and on occasion even in modern vernacular, but it's largely a deeply sexist word, and mostly we still use it that way. Here's some of my favourite exceptions: bitchin'! Nightbitch! Bad bitch (thanks Bey!) and Bitch Magazine!

The narration by the author was superb. Absolutely no complaints. Stellar delivery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advance copy of the audibook.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an academic approach to the word bitch. It looks at its origin, the history of its use, compares and contrasts it with other words from around the world, and ultimately sums up its impact over time, and in modern day. The book is clearly well researched, and extremely informative. The narration was done by the author, and you can tell that she is used to presenting lectures. She is easy to listen to, and follow along with the line of reasoning she is presenting. The only thing I wish would have been included a little bit more is the use of spelling during the narration. At times during the beginning of the book the narration included the spelling of the early forms of bitch. I would have liked to have more of that in some of the later examples, and even some of the non English words. Overall this was a well produced audiobook, and I definitely feel like I've walked away learning quite a bit.

**I received a copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

[Spandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars*

I found the book a fascinating listen—especially in how it explored the history and evolution of the word “bitch” and its cultural and social implications. The audiobook narration was strong and engaging, making the dense material easier to follow.

I especially appreciated how the author linked this word to other gendered terms still prevalent today, offering insightful commentary on language, power, and perception. It really made me reflect on how much of our language is rooted in outdated biases.

That said, some sections felt a bit dry and repetitive, and I occasionally found myself tuning out. Still, if you're interested in feminist linguistics, cultural history, or gender in science and society, this is definitely worth picking up.

Thanks NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

[Lyndsay Durbin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This was definitely an interesting listen and I was intrigued enough throughout, however, I don't think I was necessarily always interested in some of the history that Karen took the reader through. I was also very shocked to hear Stollznow say the N-word several times throughout the audio that she narrates.

There was a focus on a number of various related topics and a long journey through the use and history of the word Bitch. A lot of focus on how the word has evolved in various misogynistic contexts. Also some interesting callouts in regards to similar curse words and their histories as well as how certain groups of people try to "re-claim" the curse word or slur for their communities.

[Síle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Karen Stollznow, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for giving me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Karen’s an Aussie? Consider me a fan already.

This book turned out to be a surprisingly insightful deep dive into the word bitch, a word I thought I understood until Karen peeled back all the layers. Turns out, the meaning behind it is far more complex than most of us realise.

It’s smart, educational, and really well delivered. I learned a lot, and I appreciated the thoughtful way the topic was handled. Also, hats off to Karen for narrating it herself. She did a fab job.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for allowing me access to an advanced audiobook.

I was browsing NetGalley when I came across this book. Obviously, the title caught my attention and I needed to investigate. I’m generally a fiction reader but I love finding books like this one!

I knew there was sexism/misogyny behind many rude terms for women, but I didn’t realize how complicated the history was. The author did a fantastic job explaining the history of the word bitch as well as other negative words used against women. I learned so much listening to the book and now I want to do my own research.

[Emmy P · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did an ALC of this one and while the narration was fine, there were a few moments of 👀.

This was like reading a dictionary definition of the concept and history of a word, so if you are into historical reiterating come right this way.

I personally could have used some further cultural context to certain comparisons, and would have loved a touch of feminist theory mixed in, but I can see where if you came for the raw facts you would enjoy hearing all the highlights about the genesis of such a word without the context.

If you want to indulge on literary fun facts this one will do it for you. Now I'm off to find a pub quiz about Btch.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bitch: The Journey of a Word is a bold, brilliant exploration of language, power, and identity. Karen Stollznow deftly unpacks the history and evolution of one of the English language’s most charged and controversial terms, revealing how words shape, and are shaped by, culture, politics, and gender. With sharp insight, wit, and compassion, Stollznow traces the word’s journey from insult to empowerment, inviting readers to rethink not just “bitch,” but the way language polices and liberates us. A must-read for anyone interested in language, feminism, culture, or the politics of speech.

[Stuart J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karens non-fiction books are always informative and enlightening reads. Her writing style, while in-depth and concise, is very approachable and easy to take in. Her latest book 'Bitch: The Journey of a Word' is no exception and is a wonderful read! This book doesn't delve solely on the history of the word but exposes the reader to the complexities surrounding the words' usage and it's varied meanings through culture and time. I highly recommend giving this book a read -- you won't be disappointed!

[Hilarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was full of interesting information about the history of the word, and its use in multiple different contexts. It did get repetitive at times. I'd also recommend reading the print version instead of the audiobook. The author recorded it herself. She frequently mispronounced names (including pretty famous ones like Simone de Beauvoir) and absolutely massacred any words that were not in English. It was cringe inducing and it affected the credibility of the author.

Full disclosure: I received a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Yiyi (Gigi) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book takes a look at the history and usage of the word bitch, how it’s been used against and by women, and how its meaning has shifted in different communities and time periods.

One section that stood out to me was when the author questioned whether women should reclaim the word bitch. I would’ve liked to see that explored more.

Overall, I didn’t feel like the book added much that hasn’t already been said elsewhere. It felt a little dry and repetitive at times, and while some points were interesting, they weren’t always fleshed out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[MMJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Bitch” is an extremely old word, over a thousand years old! Amazing! The variety of ways it’s been used, how it’s evolved, how it’s been weaponised and reclaimed, it’s all covered here and done very well.
If you love the study of words, this will be right up your alley. The author’s research is impeccable and she successfully wove it all together to make a fascinating, informative and entertaining audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the free ALC. Opinions stated here are wholly my own.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolutely fascinating look into the etymology of bitch in all its forms including its recent reclamation. I had the pleasure of listening to this and the author does a fantastic job of narrating and making the content event more engaging than I expected. This is a quick read and explores the misogyny of how so many profanities are linked to women as compared to men. Definitely recommend for word nerds, but also anyone looking to learn more.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and to Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy.

[Sam Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect a book about one word to be so eye opening, but Bitch: The Journey of a Word truly is. Karen explores the history and weight of the word with such detail. It is part language and part social commentary, and all of it feels relevant and necessary. She does not shy away from the word's messiness, and that is what makes it so compelling. This book made me think differently, not just about language but about the power it holds in our everyday lives. Recommended!

[Arabella T · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook is an absolute standout. Karen Stollznow’s narration is pitch-perfect. Her delivery is clear, engaging, and full of personality, striking just the right balance between scholarly insight and accessible storytelling. Her Australian-American accent brings the history of this complex word to life, making the listening experience feel like a conversation with a whip-smart friend. A fantastic listen from start to finish.

Thanks to NetGalley and CUP for the book!

[Sally P · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completely drew me in. Bitch is clever, thought-provoking, and often really funny. Karen Stollznow has a great way of explaining big ideas without ever sounding dry or academic. And the narration is excellent. I love her accent so much. As far as any negative reviews, some people will always bristle at a deep dive into language and power, but that’s exactly why this book matters. It’s not just about a word, it’s about who gets to use it, and why.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about the history of a word and the development through out the ages. Filled with interesting facts, changes in spelling as well as how the word developed meaning and changed. Definitely full of wit and humor as well as a well researched and written book. Thank you to Karen Stollznow, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley