Bovine feminism
Nov. 9th, 2006 10:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
todayiamadaisyToday, let us contemplate the cow. While we've all heard about those showy female insects who eat their menfolk, I think we've forgotten about the contribution made to feminism by the humble cow. If I said, "Look at those horses over there", you might see some stallions and some mares. A herd of pigs may contain boars and sows. A herd of cows, however, can be made up of bulls... and cows.
Although there is a word - "cattle" - which serves the same group purpose as "horses" or "pigs", I find it interesting that the term for a female cow can also be used to convey the collective. (In fact, I remember a novelty song a few years ago called "Cows with guns", in which the lead cow was consistently referred to as "he".) Perhaps it's because one of the most important functions of the cow in our society - milk production - can only be undertaken by female cows.
In short, cows: striking a blow for the sisterhood.
Although there is a word - "cattle" - which serves the same group purpose as "horses" or "pigs", I find it interesting that the term for a female cow can also be used to convey the collective. (In fact, I remember a novelty song a few years ago called "Cows with guns", in which the lead cow was consistently referred to as "he".) Perhaps it's because one of the most important functions of the cow in our society - milk production - can only be undertaken by female cows.
In short, cows: striking a blow for the sisterhood.
