the word “suck” goes mainstream - as in “this sucks” December 14, 2007
I’ve noticed more and more children, at younger and younger ages, saying that things “suck.”
Although I sometimes say it, to other adults in very casual conversation, I’m a little unnerved by its increasing mainstream usage, considering the provenance of the word, which most kids likely don’t know or understand.
I mentioned this to my 16 year old son the other day and he said everyone says it now, even to teachers.
This bothers me a lot. This is yet another example of how children’s lives are being sexualized in all kinds of ways at younger and younger ages, as well as how vulgarity is now a-okay in every setting.
And as much as I am a huge fan, I sort of blame The Simpsons for this particular word hitting the bigtime with the littles.
Your thoughts?
Personally, I don’t think even adults think about it in a “sexual” way when they say it, and I don’t see it as one of the elements that is “sexualizing” our children early (yes there are many, I just don’t think this is one of them) I see this on the same level as saying “heck” “darn” “shoot” all watered down forms of cuss words, that just don’t get a kid in trouble. Society has accepted it as a non offense word, therefore kids are going to say it. my two cents anyway. And I don’t know if you can just blame the Simpsons
I absolutely think it is an inappropriate word for a kid. I remember someone posting on the blab that they couldn’t understnd why his kid was sent home for wearing a “Simon says ‘You Suck” shirt, I think it was a 5th grader (yes, I know who this was, but it’s not really relevant). I was shocked that he didn’t get it and how people didn’t think it was inappropriate. I would certainly disipline a kid for using it. (No, I don’t have kids, but I can have opinions, can’t I!?!)
I think the word has become desexualized, rather than children becoming sexualized.
But I still think it’s an inappropriate word for kids to use.
I agree with MGal. I think it has lost a lot of its sexual connotations. But I am pretty relaxed about swear words in general when it comes to my kids. I just try to teach them that people might only hear the words that they are using and not the point they are trying to make if they choose certain words to express themselves.
I thought the phrase was from Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer, something about sucking eggs? (No, seriously.)
I hear it a lot from the boys’ friends, but our boys are not allowed to say it. We don’t freak out, but we tell them it’s vulgar and they should say instead, for example, “that’s a bummer.” I don’t think they’ve asked what “suck” means exactly, but we tell them what all the forbidden words mean when they ask.
That reminds me - a couple of age ten-ish girls, fresh from the church party across the street - came over to trick or treat this year. One of them said she was a pimp, and the other had on tons of makeup and said that she was a “dance girl,” or something like that. Yuck! These kids today!!
My son’s teacher has the kids replace the word with vacuum. as in “this homework vacuums!” It seems to have had the effect of helping my son be more aware of his language. And it is silly and laughter is helpful for everything.
I try to let my guys know that slang can be lazy. Often there is a more expressive way to say the same thing. They repeat this back to me when I bang my toe and swear. Can’t do much about non- family members though.
Interesting take on the word: http://www.slate.com/id/2146866/
I’m old enough to remember the original meaning behind the word, and it bothers me, too, that it’s become so commonplace, especially when I hear it issue from the mouths of preschoolers. I’m certainly fluent in “French,” but I never added this word to my off-color vocabulary for some reason.
The Slate article linked above is fascinating and makes the excellent point that many words used routinely today have become divorced from their origins–that this is the nature of language development. In another generation or so, no one will bat an eye at “sucks.” I don’t think it should be used in the classroom–but then I really don’t approve of how casual/disrespectful high school classrooms seem to have become–but I don’t particularly object to my teenage kids saying this.
I don’t think it’s appropriate for kids, but I also don’t think it is an example of sexualizing them. If they knew the orgin maybe, but I doubt you could find many below teens that know that.
as long as anything related to sex remains considered taboo and “dirty” by the mainstream then words like “suck” — any words associated with a sex act– will be deemed “naughty.” in fact, lots of words related to bodily functions have or have had negative connotations– when i was a kid “fart” was a “cuss” word. i’ve encouraged full freedom of speech with my son since he’s had speech. as a result he “cusses” far less than me. I’m using quotes because as i’ve always told him (and my students) there is no such thing as a “bad” word, only bad intent. of course there are some words that are still hot-buttons like fag and nigger but even those were reclaimed by certain groups to make a point. getting back to the sex thing– really how did the act that prompted the the word that has the negative connotation ever get deemed “dirty” in the first place. it’s all about labels and misplaced weight. remember when single moms were sluts and whores? time to take back the suck.
“I think the word has become desexualized, rather than children becoming sexualized.”
That’s the way I see it as well. The original meaning has been almost entirely replaced by the new usage.
If I’m not mistaken, the negative connotation came by it being associated with a homosexual act. At least that’s what I remember when I was growing up - at that time (maybe now, too, I don’t know) it was popular for the tougher guys to torment smaller boys with that phrase, implying they were gay and liked to do that with other boys. Back then, it was _way_ less mainstream than it is now and it was taken as a huge insult to be “accused” of being gay or of doing such a thing. Anyway, that’s why I always assumed it was a “bad” word, because of the venom behind it.
I don’t recall ever hearing a girl say it to another person, or it said to a girl. Only boy to boy. Which is kinda ironic when you think about it..
I don’t see it as being sexualized.
I do see it as a prime example of Smart Mouth, especially coming from someone under, say, 10 or so. I would not accept a kid using that language with me, but then again, I am the Big Meanie who insists that kids refer to me as “Mrs. Linger,” instead of by my first name. Major pet peeve of mine, young children calling me “Laura” without my say-so first.
I don’t use or allow my students that word in my classes. (I teach 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.) I also don’t allow the word “stupid” either.
I’m just strict I guess, but I believe that there are better, more specific words to use to express one’s feelings about a particular subject
Katie, I share your concern.
I don’t think sexualization has anything to do with it - I’m not aware of any sexual connotations in its current usage. I do think it’s an example of vulgarity becoming more acceptable.
I asked my 13 year old about this today. He did not really know what the word meant, but would not consider it acceptable to say at school. My 16 year old says that everyone, including her younger teachers, says it at school (this is, by the way, a Catholic school!).
Well, do you talk about Jazz in your household? What do you think that refers to?
http://www.apassion4jazz.net/etymology.html
Suzanne…very interesting word development. i checked out your link. I had NO idea so many words we use today had such…uh…interesting ….origins. More reason to not think too deeply about these things.
I never use it because I see it as so sex-negative. I say “That’s lousy” rather than “that sucks” because I think lice are a Bad Thing and oral sex is a Good Thing.
to Dale…okeeey…I guess this just never kept me up at night. I use the word “sucks” because I picked it up from other people. The sexual content never even crossed my mind until I read it here.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=suck
there some idea that there’s a jazz-related origin. and further back a sucker, one deceived, or someone like a brown-nose.