Op-Ed

Licentious. What a fucker of a word. It conjures the cop-out opening for essays and speeches often recommended to elementary-school kids who are given their first writing assignments. The opening goes like this: “According to Webster’s dictionary, the definition of licentious is ‘promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters….’” From there, you contradict the definition or suggest that the word somehow has a greater meaning. I Googled this word, and coincidentally, the first result was a link to the Miriam Webster’s online dictionary entry. Of all the search terms I have ever Googled, as far as I can recall, this was the first time a dictionary entry showed up at the top of the list, or on the list at all. So let’s run with it.

According to Webster’s dictionary, the definition of licentious is “promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters. Archaic disregarding accepted rules or conventions especially in grammar or literary style.” But to me, the word “licentious” means much more than that. I believe that the very existence of this word, nestled unassumingly in the middle of the L’s, halfway through the alphabet, smack dead in the center of the 200,000 (give or take a few thousand) words that comprise the English vocabulary, is exactly the kind of word that could also divide an entire population into two. Each camp could be color coded. Oh, just for the hell of it, let’s pick red and blue.

“Licentious” is an artifice borne from prurience-averse societal mores. It is a judgmental and dismissive adjective. It is a word that lends itself to quantification, inherently revealing its oppressive or constrictive nature of which human beings will naturally attempt to pry themselves free. Can a person or a person’s behavior be a little licentious? Or is there a clear line to be drawn where when crossed, someone goes from being appropriately sexually active or appropriately archaic into full blown licentiousness. By the official definition, licentious behavior is “promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters.” But how would the implications of the word change if “and” in that clause was replaced with “or?” I just right-clicked on the word in this essay to look up the synonyms. The synonyms listed were: dissolute, profligate, immoral, wicked, and shameless. “Promiscuous” and/or “Unprincipled” were not among this list, nor do any of these synonyms imply directly or explicitly anything sexual. Therefore it must be inferred that all these synonyms are wrapped up under the official definition of the word. Bummer.

“Licentious” is implicitly sexist. My google search showed that it is used in official instances like police reports documenting women arrested for prostitution. Where else? I’m sure there is a Baptist preacher who has pulled the word out more than a few times, accessorized by an accusatorially extended forefinger.

While my search was not exhaustive, I could not find the word used to describe male-related sexual crimes. I suppose one must use a stronger word than “licentious” or “unprincipled” to describe a serial rapist. Rape is abhorrent, prostitution is merely “licentious” or “shameful.” The word is not just an adjective. It is a label. It’s a scarlet letter. A sticker. It is a word that says “You are bad. You are worse than me. There are rules of conduct that other people follow and you broke those rules and therefore you are, you know, shameful, wicked, unprincipled.” There is no good that can ever come from the use of this word. I feel bad for “licentious.” Its Latin root translated mean “freedom.” This word is crying out to be reclaimed from the bastardization that is its current definition. Who will join me in the first annual Licentious Pride parade? Actually, looks like we will have to have a Bastardization Pride parade as well.

Beth Massa is Beth Massa is an expat American who lives, works and writes in Amsterdam. She was both 37 and 38 in the same year. She hopes to do it again this year. By day she works for Microsoft. By night she is asleep. She enjoys the gym when it is closed and the bar when it is open. That's not entirely true. She also liked the gym when it is open. She just doesn't go often enough. All tomorrow's parties always came one day too early.
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