It’s a bit chicken and egg to me, in terms of ableism.
Do we call infertile men “impotent” because they lack power? The Latin root of potencia (I don’t know Latin but I know Spanish) suggests that’s the case.
So a lib who lacks power, calming their sense of alienation by rage posting on Reddit… yes they are impotent.
After going through that exercise I don’t think it is ableist but the other angel on the other shoulder says if I need to explore the concept that much then maybe it was ableist all along.
I have an open mind and I am interested in further opinion on this.
Is calling someone impotent, as in “powerless”, an ableist slur due to the fact impotent is also used as an insult for men who cannot get someone pregnant or occasionally for men who suffer erectile disfunction?
The etymological argument coupled with the fact laughing at the erectile function of cis men is kind of “punching up” makes me feel like we are gucci.
Not one is an ableist slur either, except maybe for impotence. Good guy Hexbear.
Impotent can definitely refer to how political useless and ineffective liberalism is without any medical connotation.
Yeah honestly that’s why I said maybe.
It’s a bit chicken and egg to me, in terms of ableism.
Do we call infertile men “impotent” because they lack power? The Latin root of potencia (I don’t know Latin but I know Spanish) suggests that’s the case.
So a lib who lacks power, calming their sense of alienation by rage posting on Reddit… yes they are impotent.
After going through that exercise I don’t think it is ableist but the other angel on the other shoulder says if I need to explore the concept that much then maybe it was ableist all along.
I have an open mind and I am interested in further opinion on this.
Is calling someone impotent, as in “powerless”, an ableist slur due to the fact impotent is also used as an insult for men who cannot get someone pregnant or occasionally for men who suffer erectile disfunction?
The etymological argument coupled with the fact laughing at the erectile function of cis men is kind of “punching up” makes me feel like we are gucci.
Thoughts?
yeah, it means powerless. the erectile dysfunction thing is a euphemism and kind of a gross one (power = impregnation)
I've never used it. I don't mind if anyone else does, but it feels kinda icky to me and there are hundreds of better insults
I pronounce the power one like "im-potent" whereas I pronounce the sperm one kind of like "impetent."
Hope that helps? Probably not too useful via text though.