An anti-ode to feisty

There was a time I’m sure when calling someone “feisty” could be a compliment, probably back in the time of flappers, or cars that wound-up.

It’s officially time to retire the word.

Feisty is defined as 1. Full of animation, energy, or courage; spirited; spunky; plucky. 2. Ill-tempered; pugnacious. 3. Troublesome; difficult.

Mostly “feisty” has come to be a way of describing powerless people who have the audacity to act like their opinions matter.    

Tellingly “feisty” is used today to describe women 100 times more often than it is used to describe men.

There have been a few examples of male politicians being called feisty in this federal election campaign, but Green Party leader Elizabeth May gets the label so much more often.

Reducing any woman who is informed, educated and passionate to “feisty” should be like that Georgia Senator calling the Obama’s “uppity”.

It’s insulting, dated and completely unnecessary.