Sometimes, there can be slang terms or specific words that are more controversial in the English language and yet are not without their merits. For instance, there could be language that isn’t suited for mixed-company or confident language choices that violate certain federal laws, such as certain swear words being on public television.
An example of a language contingent on context and culture would be ‘locker room talk,’ whether it’s between men or women. In general, this term indicates language and communication that is only appropriate within certain specific boundaries. Anyone familiar with locker room talk knows that it is typically crass, inappropriate, and can even be offensive if engaged outside of the regular confines of its typical boundaries. This is usually in a locker room setting, hence the name, but takes place most commonly between people of the same sex in very informal, relaxed ‘safe’ zones.
That being said, it’s not always easy to know what term is offensive or not. Instead, it’s sometimes difficult to know what words have a place in some kind of social setting and which are purely derogatory and have little to no merit. One such word that you may have found yourself wondering about is the term PAWG.
What does the word PWAG mean? Is it derogatory? What settings can you use this term in, or is there ever a justifiable use? Here is everything you need to know about the word PAWG.
What Does PAWG Mean?
It’s not unrealistic not to be familiar with the term PAWG, if you have never heard it used. This term is 100% slang and is an acronym for four words. This term became a fast and easy way of describing women and is generally considered negative.
The word itself, PAWG, stands for Phat Ass White Girl. The acronym itself is either spoken or written to mean this, and even though there can be other acronyms that happen to have the same letters, this is the generally understood meaning.
For instance, if you were to turn the words Protected Areas Working Group, into the acronym PAWG, you would have to take special precautions and efforts to ensure that it was not related to Phat Ass White Girl. Generally speaking, PAWG will always be identified with this particular meaning.
Is PAWG Derogatory?
Now that you know what PAWG stands for, the question remains, is PAWG derogatory or not? This is a loaded question and needs explanation. Yes, this term is derogatory, but it doesn’t make it a negative term. To understand that better, let’s look at how the term is used as a positive term.
The term PAWG, while derogatory, is used to describe a woman who is considered to be societally attractive. This would translate into use as a positive thing when a person objectifies a woman’s body but does so in a way that reveres rather than tears her down.
The unfortunate truth is that while this term could by many people be seen as a compliment, its very nature is pure objectivity which is derogatory. So yes, it is derogatory, but it is not used to highlight a negative feature of a woman but instead a positive and desirable one.
When Should the Word PAWG Be Used?
So if PAWG itself is a derogatory term but works as a slang term to highlight a woman’s desirable or ‘positive’ physical aspect, when should it be used? This question takes some thought because it’s necessarily a clear-cut situation. While the short answer could be ‘never’, it takes some unpacking to see why this is the case.
Yes, this term should never be used in mix-company and would most likely qualify for what was earlier discussed as ‘locker-room talk.’ However, a term like PAWG carries a level of objectification that makes it questionable for use in controlled, safe environments.
This is simple, PAWG does promote a woman, but only in a purely objectifying and sexual way. So no, this term isn’t necessarily saying anything negative about a woman, but it’s saying something about a woman in a very negative and sexist way.
Conclusion
Words like PAWG work to keep women subjugated to regular sexual objectification and shouldn’t be seen as anything other than derogatory. Whether or not this word should be a part of your vocabulary is a question that only you can answer. While it should not be used carelessly, there could be an argument that the derogatory nature of the word makes it unsuitable for nearly all social situations.
