Feminism and reclaiming offensive language
Green Party co-leader James Shaw is refusing to talk about his co-leader’s campaign to reclaim the C-word.
Marama Davidson repeatedly used the word at an anti-racism rally attended by families last Friday, arguing that women need to reclaim the word typically used as vulgar insult.
But she has very little parliamentary support.
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But Ms Davidson won’t back down.
“So I can be called [the C-word] in a death threat, but I’m not allowed to say it myself at a protest rally? I’m really happy to stand behind what I said.”
She said part of her responsibility as a leader is using her platform to resist misogyny and men using words against women.
“Is reclaiming the C-word now part of the Greens’ kaupapa? Nah, it’s just something I said at a protest rally,” she said.
Ms Davidson does have the support of some of the caucus on this, but it’s not them she needs it from. This was a speech designed to shock – a radical move speaking to the party activists.
But it won’t sit well with James Shaw, who’s been trying to reframe the Greens as a sensible government partner.