Hags, as its subtitle makes clear, is a study of The Demonisation of Middle-aged Women. Author Victoria Smith explains that her purpose is not to reappropriate the word ‘hag’, nor to self-identify with the characteristics it evokes: “This book is not a celebration of our hag status.” (In contrast, Sharon Blackie — who trademarked the portmanteau word ‘hagitude’ — and fashion designer Batsheva Hay are self-proclaimed hags.)
Smith opposes the concept of linguistic reclamation, arguing that the process is impossible, as some men continue to use the contested terms as pejoratives: “call yourself what you like, but when others call you a witch or a slut, they mean it. We can act as though the words can be fully reclaimed, but they can’t. Those who dislike and fear us are using them too.” Karen Stollznow made a similar observation in her book about about another misogynistic term: “Unfortunately, the ways women try to reclaim bitch do not diminish its stigmatizing power in the hands of others, and especially men.”
Smith opposes the concept of linguistic reclamation, arguing that the process is impossible, as some men continue to use the contested terms as pejoratives: “call yourself what you like, but when others call you a witch or a slut, they mean it. We can act as though the words can be fully reclaimed, but they can’t. Those who dislike and fear us are using them too.” Karen Stollznow made a similar observation in her book about about another misogynistic term: “Unfortunately, the ways women try to reclaim bitch do not diminish its stigmatizing power in the hands of others, and especially men.”
Smith’s book shares its theme with The Crone, written by Barbara G. Walker in 1985, and the two books also have similar chapter headings. Mary Daly, in Gyn/Ecology (1978), sought to reclaim ‘hag’, along with related terms such as ‘witch’, ‘harpy’, ‘crone’, and ‘spinster’.
Hags is one of a handful of recent feminist books whose titles refer to misogynistic insults. Other examples include Harpy by Caroline Magennis, Slags on Stage by Katie Beswick, In Defence of Witches by Mona Chollet (which includes a chapter on Shattering the Image of the ‘Old Hag’), Bimbo by Ashley James, and several books that tackle the word ‘slut’ (I Am Not a Slut, This Is What a Feminist Slut Looks Like, Wordslut, and Sluts).
Hags is one of a handful of recent feminist books whose titles refer to misogynistic insults. Other examples include Harpy by Caroline Magennis, Slags on Stage by Katie Beswick, In Defence of Witches by Mona Chollet (which includes a chapter on Shattering the Image of the ‘Old Hag’), Bimbo by Ashley James, and several books that tackle the word ‘slut’ (I Am Not a Slut, This Is What a Feminist Slut Looks Like, Wordslut, and Sluts).
