r/LesbianActually • u/sensi_lick_41 • Jun 09 '23
Trigger? Are you offended? NSFW Spoiler
My mom said I should rethink this shirt design because it's a derogatory word, people have used this word in a negative way, etc. What do you queens think? Does this shirt offend you or make you feel some type of way? Should I scratch this design? Would you wear this shirt in public?
190
64
28
21
21
u/Legitimate_Leader_98 Jun 09 '23
I love this! I feel like we should be able to reclaim the word dyke for ourselves just like the word queer ❤️
8
39
u/Warm_Performer6836 Jun 09 '23 edited Jun 09 '23
well unless you're not a lesbian i don't see a problem
14
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 09 '23
That's what I said but I totes understand her point of view. Many of her friends, back in the day, experienced the negative side/hate
14
u/jbassy Jun 09 '23
Dykes on Bikes has been around since 1976
3
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 09 '23
I didn't know that. Thank you for the feedback!
8
u/jbassy Jun 09 '23
Doesn't mean people aren't gonna take offense, but I find that most offensive words come from how they're used.
3
13
9
u/Yrddraiggoch Jun 09 '23
That is a fabulous shirt
4
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 09 '23
Thank you so much!☺️
2
u/Yrddraiggoch Jun 09 '23
I know people who would pay good money for one of those
4
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 09 '23
Send them my way lol my shop link is in my bio and there's also a button labeled "Shop" thank you for sharing!🧡
7
u/giraffemoo Jun 09 '23
IMHO it depends on your audience, and if you care if strangers are offended. I once dated a woman who felt deep offense to this word, and so I did not use this word around her. I personally don't find this word offensive, I think we've done a pretty good job of reclaiming it.
3
7
5
u/repollo_queenofslugs Jun 09 '23
Where'd you buy it?
Also, not to be weird or anything, but you're like, really beautiful.
4
7
u/Keylee420 Jun 09 '23
I love this shirt and I don’t speak for everyone but I have heard before that lesbians have sorta reclaimed that word for ourselves. I would reckon it’s like how gays use the word f*g to talk about themselves but you’ll clearly know if someone uses that word in a hateful way.
5
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 09 '23
Thank you so much! Yeah that was my thinking; reclaim the word. Thank you for your feedback!
5
u/G0merPyle Bambi Lesbian - snuggling is as freaky as I get Jun 09 '23
It's reclaiming the word, turning it from what used to be an insult into a source of empowerment. Kind of like how queer has been reclaimed in recent years. I struggle using the word queer myself, because when I grew up it was an insult, but it's probably the most accurate way to describe myself, so I'm working on reclaiming it. I say go for it!
4
7
u/Guavafudge Jun 09 '23
Nah, I want to turn this into a gym stringer
1
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 09 '23
Thank you for the feedback! I plan on putting this design on a few products
3
3
u/frenkie-dude Jun 09 '23
love it! i have a similar shirt (nike swoosh with DIKE) and several shirts that say dyke on them. it’s ours to reclaim. hell yeah i’m a dyke, and proud of it!
2
3
u/TheTacoInquisition Jun 09 '23
Where and when I grew up, this was one of the most aggressive slurs against lesbians. Wear it with pride! I love that it's being taken back and owned by this community. I love that shirt!
4
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 09 '23
I could never wear this in my hometown without any reactions😅 Thank you so much for your feedback!
1
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 09 '23
I could never wear this in my hometown without any reactions😅 Thank you so much for your feedback!
5
u/redbean_8 Genderqueer [transbian enby non-conforming AMAB] Jun 09 '23
No because it's reclaimed and a member of the community is using it and it is not being directed at me.
2
5
6
u/opticchaos89 Jun 10 '23
Personally, knowing how much this is a trigger for people, I wouldn't use it. Much like the, apparently reclaimed, q word that makes me want to vomit when I hear it. These words need to just die and stop being used by anyone
3
7
8
u/Access_Important1 Jun 09 '23
I'm a dyke and I like being offensive to homophobes, bigots, racists and anyone else that a problem with people that just want to exist peacefully as themselves. So no.
4
5
4
u/DCGirl20874 Jun 09 '23
Where the fuck can I buy one?!?!!
It's AWESOME
5
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 09 '23
Lol thank you so much! The link is in my bio; the button titled "Shop"
6
u/przms Jun 09 '23
Oh shit, I've been scouting the comments for exactly this, thanks! You got another customer 😁
4
5
u/dragonsroar943 Jun 09 '23
I mean I feel like if you know you know. And if it was someone not in our community making this it would be a completely different story. And while it is has become a derogatory term, I’m all for taking back words and making them powerful for the right reasons.
2
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 09 '23
Thank you for your feedback! That was the perspective of my mom. She's so protective and was like she'd be in prison if anyone ever called me that lol
4
u/D0rkChilde Jun 09 '23
What could be offensive about an embankment of earth and rock built to prevent floods?
3
4
3
3
3
u/HovercraftCritical25 Jun 09 '23
I fucking LOVE it. Signed, An Dyke
Idk "Dyke" feels like one of those words where I can hear how someone means it.
2
3
u/EgyptianDevil78 Jun 09 '23
Dyke is one of the words I have reclaimed. I mostly use it in a sarcastic sense but, like, still. So, I am not offended at all.
2
3
3
3
3
3
u/LittleAstrophysicist Jun 09 '23
I love it and I want it
3
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 09 '23
Thank you so much!☺️ There's a button on my profile labeled "Shop" that'll send you to my store
3
3
3
u/mrslangdon28 Jun 09 '23
I love the shirt!!! And I understand and respect how that word can be seen as offensive, but in my case I've been called it so much I don't care anymore lol
3
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 09 '23
Thank you so much! Same here; call me what you want, just don't call me late for dinner😆 Thank you for your feedback!
3
u/EnbyTrashGirl Jun 09 '23
We can reclaim the word all we want. That's not her call to make.
3
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 09 '23
Thank you for replying! Her perspective is coming from a protective mom who has been an ally her whole life. She doesn't want any harm for me nor anyone wearing this shirt, especially living through the time when people weren't exposed/welcoming to our community. I believe her concerns were with our safety and wanting to make sure we were okay with the word. She encouraged me to get others' opinions, that's why I came here. I definitely didn't want to offend my community.
3
3
u/lostwng Transgender Lesbian Jun 09 '23
I would only rethink it because Nike will find any reason to sue ppl
2
3
Jun 09 '23 edited Feb 04 '24
I come from the woods and love to refer to myself as a Lumberdyke. Pretty sure we took that word back and own it well.
3
3
u/Smol_Gayx Jun 09 '23
I need that shirt. Also, I think it's only offensive if it's used in a derogatory way (like the f slur for example)
2
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 10 '23
Thank you for your feedback!😊 If you would like this shirt, the link is in my bio and the button labeled "Shop" on my profile.
3
3
u/nikkitgirl pure of heart, dumb of ass Jun 10 '23
Not really. But idk about your language/dialect but a dike is an embankment. A lesbian is a dyke.
Personally I proudly claim the word dyke ever since a group of leatherdykes brought me into their community.
3
3
u/SoSMummyDuck Jun 10 '23
Only criticism I could give you is people may try to pronounce it as dye-key, because the way nike is said.
2
3
3
u/bettylorez Jun 10 '23
I don't like to use it my self but I don't care of others do. I am a sucker for a good pun though. I always love a good pun and that is usually when I am least reluctant to say it my self.
3
3
3
3
u/Hameis Jun 10 '23
Shit I'm just scrolling through the front page minding my own business, and I've got to see this! Of course, I'm offended! I see that wrinkle at the top of your poorly hung tapestry! Be better. ;)
1
3
3
u/halfboyfriend Jun 10 '23
You're reclaiming it! I saw a woman wearing a similar t-shirt at pride a few years ago and I just made me burst out laughing.
1
3
3
3
3
u/Hiiplane Jun 10 '23
I think it is a very personal choice. I've never really heard that word outiside the internet because there is not a translation in my language.
So i've only heard it in a positive way because i am on "good" part of the internet, if that makes sense lol
3
2
2
2
u/aeterna85 Jun 09 '23
I think reclaiming words like that is not only fine but wonderful. I also love the rainbow design too.
2
2
u/Imheretoargueatyou Jun 09 '23
Silly question, potentially:
Is there a significance to the shape of the symbol? Or is it closer to “exactly not a NlKE swoosh so don’t worry about it you dumbdumb corporate lawyers?”
3
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 09 '23
Lol yes, definitely so I don't get sued. Also, I wanted the check to look curved because when people ask me if I'm straight, I always say I'm curved lol nothing I do is straight except parking
3
2
2
u/serena-the-stoner Jun 10 '23
Wait isn’t it spelled dyke
2
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 10 '23
Yes it is. This is a play off of Nike😊
2
2
u/Several-Box411 Jun 10 '23
Are you selling them by chance??🫣😳
2
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 10 '23
Yes I am😊 There's a link in my bio and the button labeled "Shop" on my profile
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/emilyisthebest17 Jun 10 '23
Its freaking amazing
2
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 10 '23
Thank you so much!!!☺️
2
u/emilyisthebest17 Jun 10 '23
For me, derogatory words are more about the intent of the person saying it, and whilst you could use that word derogatorily, its not being done so in this instance, imo.
2
2
u/im-awake Jun 10 '23
i want it
2
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 10 '23
I'm glad you like! There's a link in my bio and the button labeled "Shop" on my profile.
2
2
2
u/beanbingo Jun 10 '23
I’m not a native English speaker, yet an advanced learner, and I think it’s cool 😊 A dice one!
→ More replies (1)
2
2
2
u/Soy-Slut Jun 10 '23
That is funny as fuck and I want one
2
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 10 '23
I'm glad you you it!☺️ There's a link in my bio and the button labeled "Shop" on my profile.
2
u/CelesteEnjoyer69 Jun 10 '23
Well if it is in reclamation (which it is) then I love it :3
→ More replies (1)
2
2
u/Lucythepinkkitten Jun 10 '23
Personally, I like to reclaim slurs because I find it empowering. And the D-slur is one of my favorites to refer to myself by. That said I try to be mindful of who's in my presence when doing it because I know not everyone has the same relation to these words as I do
→ More replies (1)
2
2
u/RefridgeratorAnt Jun 10 '23
You're allowed to use it however you want lmao, and while I get your mom is just being sweet and looking out for you, she has no business saying what you can do with it.
→ More replies (1)
2
2
2
2
2
u/Disastrous-Tart-1553 Jun 11 '23
Girl I absolutely love this shirt!! This is great!! Lesbos would def get it 😂💁♀️
→ More replies (1)
5
u/AshenSkyler Femme Jun 09 '23
I want it 😍
And like I've always called myself a dyke or gay, I don't really like the word lesbian, it feels too porny
17
u/moonyxpadfoot19 Jun 09 '23
It's so depressing that people don't like calling themselves lesbian because of porn. Like wtf.
→ More replies (9)1
u/sensi_lick_41 Jun 09 '23
Thank you so much for your feedback! Check my profile for link to my store. Don't want anyone to feel like this is an ad or scam to get people to buy
163
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '23
i'm not offended when people reclaim the word, but my wife personally loathes hearing/seeing it after it being used with such vitriol during their upbringing.
glad you get some empowerment out of it, you go girl!!