Adrian Northrup

Although the First Amendment protects an individual’s right to freedom of speech, the unique nature of broadcast and print media requires some level of restriction to protect audiences from unnecessary lewd, indecent and obscene language.

The guidelines set by the Fedreal Communications Commission, and subsequently by network TV’s Standards and Practices departments, are especially important when pertaining to children, unsuspecting and impressionable viewers or listeners.

Under FCC rules, indecent language is generally not acceptable on network television, especially during the “family hours” of 6 to 8 p.m.

Indecent language is currently defined as any language or material that, in context, depicts or describes sexual or excretory organs or activities.

Under the definition of indecent language I can print the word “bitch” as many times as I want, I but can’t say s—.
The so-called standards of indecent language protect children from poop but allow impressionable listeners and viewers to learn that calling a woman a bitch is not only socially acceptable, but normal and sometimes funny. Essentially, by allowing “bitch” and not “s—“, the FCC exposes children to the idea that it is OK to degrade women.

It’s the guys’ locker room in broadcast.

The definition is based on what the FCC calls “community standards” – the standard values of the average broadcast viewer or listener and what said viewer or listener deems inappropriate for children.

But it does not take into consideration the connotations of words. The FCC considers the word “bitch” to be an offensive epithet, a mean name, because “bitch” is the proper name for a female dog. But, according the Oxford English Dictionary, and, I would argue, many contemporary users of the word, “bitch” also has come to represent a nasty woman of questionable morals – a prostitute and a whore.

The term “whore” has clear sexual activities associated with it and should be deemed indecent language because of its connotations.

I argue that when a TV-show character calls another a bitch, the average viewer is not thinking, “hmm, I wonder why he called her a female dog?”

By choosing to allow the word “bitch” during primetime television, the FCC is not upholding and protecting its own ideal of “community standards.” Defining the word “bitch” as an epithet with sexual connotations marks the word “offensive,” meaning the average broadcast viewer or listener does indeed consider the word problematic. The FCC is ignoring it’s own definition of community standards.

I also argue that s— is s—. Calling someone a s—head or a piece of s— has no further connotation than equating said person to a pile of excrement.

Now I personally wouldn’t want a child of mine running around calling neighbors s—heads, but do our children really need protection from poop? Is it morally wrong within the constraints of our society? Defecating is definitely a private matter, but it is a biological fact of life.

Although it may be personally offensive to talk about excrement for some, it is definitely not morally offensive in American society as a whole.

The FCC is decidedly choosing not to restrict all lewd language, and in many cases, scriptwriters will negotiate when coarse language is appropriate, but the standards and morals that are protected are skewed.

If the FCC is going to protect children, then it needs to re-evaluate what children need protecting from.

Quite frankly, I would rather hear my children say neither word, but if I had to chose, I prefer the naughty word for poop over learning that it is OK to, even in jest, call a woman a whore.
Should both words be banned from network TV? No; there are emotional situations that call for strong words. Should both words be allowed? No; children are innocent bystanders and often victims of an adult’s “artistic vision.” Both words should be regulated.

“Bitch” and “s—” should be banned from primetime or “family” hours and children’s programming for the protection of children. Beyond those limitations, if “bitch” is morally OK, “s—” should be, too.

The FCC is not solely responsible for maintaining the idea that it is OK to call women bitches. By not filing complaints with the FCC, the average viewers and listeners are passively allowing “bitch” to remain appropriate in all situations and “s—” appropriate in none.

This locker-room broadcast mentality is not just degrading to women, it’s bulls—.