The Ocean Grove Women’s Club met at 89 Mt. Carmel Way as early as 1922. They last met in 1994. But now Pegi Costantino (who is the homeowner at that address along with Tom) and some friends are planning to recreate that club. Their first get-together will be on March 1, 2014 when they are going to have an “organizational meeting to reopen the OG Women’s Club.”
IRVING AARONSON AND HIS COMMANDERS from their “Roaring Twenties Album”
89 Mount Carmel was the Woman’s Club. I even have a sign, with that spelling that was in the basement, from the 1930’s. So we decided to stick with that since it is historically accurate. Everyone is welcome. March 1 is an organizational meeting and so what shakes out from that will provide more direction. In my mind’s eye, I see it more as a gathering place for women, but with events open to all. But the consensus of the group may go in a different direction.
Pegi—-Just curious: Can a man join your Woman’s Club? It occurs to me that you might have to forget about the “b” word and instead tell us all how to define “woman.” ——Paul (ps Blogfinger is sending a male reporter to your meeting. Will he be welcome and can he rummage through the “switch” bins?)
Who knew this would cause such a ruckus?? The soon to be OG Woman’s Club is intended to be a gathering place. There is no plan to fit into any prior club agenda. It is to be a place to make new friends and do fun things. That includes a place to relax, chat it up, and let our hair down (or up if we are doing a hair thing!). Having a place to gripe (I fear of re-using the B word for additional repercussions) and get support is one part of what a gathering place is all about. Perhaps in this case, when you are having a bad day, it will come to mean, Bring It To Club Headquarters, where you will find a friend or two to lighten the load. Looking forward to meeting you all.
When used as a noun, I do find the word bitch offensive (unless, of course, it’s being applied to an actual female canine). However, I have to admit that it doesn’t bother me at all when it is used as a verb, as it is in this case.
Paul, mea culpan
I confused women’s club with losing weight club.
Dummy me.
In some circle, B I T C H stands for
Beauty In Total Control (of) Herself
Would be interesting to hear what the women in our lives would say.
Ken: Re “Weigh in”—– The Free Dictionary says: “to offer an opinion in a discussion or argument” Are you so fearful of the wrath of women that you would shake in your boots about saying, “weigh in?” C’mon Ken—-man up! Don’t back off from the feminist word police. (A female person berated me a couple of years ago for saying “lady” instead of “woman” in Blogfinger.)
Oh Paul,
“…weigh in..”
Even for you that’s atrocious.
Sorry Radar, but there is no way I am going to do that poll; Besides, I can’t tell the sex of BF poll voters unless they mail me photo ID’s like all good voters should.
However, I do wish some women would weigh in on this war of words.
A reminder: the club formation was hailed as “noble effort.” On the use of the word “bitch” you may have a good Blogfinger survey. And not to be interpreted as infringing upon our freedom of speech, could the survey be limited to just women?
Not sure the mission of the original O.G. Woman’s Club – or any “Woman’s Club” and this new one are the same. Might want to check Wikipedia to see what these clubs are all about.
Now if a Mens Club were to form would ” Bastard” on a poster cause a ruckus?
My understanding is that the poster is using the word “bitch” as a verb – to complain. I am also told that the phrase “switch and bitch” is somewhat trendy, but perhaps not commonly known, referring to a gathering of women to exchange household items and talk about common issues (husbands, boyfriends, kids, work, etc). Anyway, that’s really all I know about it. I wish Pegi and all her friends, old and new, good luck on this new adventure.
I hesitated to let this topic get aired out on Blogfinger, but we are about the use of words. In addition, the designers of that Women’s Club poster specifically chose that word for public dissemination, and it is a word that has been evolving in its usage.
Some of you may say that freedom of speech should not extend everywhere in our society. In the New York Times I suspect that they would not allow that word, and they have the choice, just as I do on Blogfinger. But I think most of us are sympathetic to being tolerant of speech.
I am sure that Radar is right about how many people feel about this word. On the other hand, I recently saw the word used by an eminent white writer on his Facebook page. And we all have seen the word used in rap music, movies, videos and in everyday dialogue.
Some people think that it is hip to use that word as a noun or an adjective. Its use is not confined any longer to the African-American community, although it sure predominates there.
So we did allow the poster, but if some of you want to talk about the “word,” then go for it. I know that we could have an interesting debate, but one risk is that we will detract from the Women’s Club’s actual message.
Well TCos, not recognizing how the word “bitch” is offensive to many women is unfortunately a continuing problem.
IMRadar – I’m curious. Which words do you feel are a poor choice and why?
Noble effort Pegi.
Poor choice of words.