U.S. Television Networks Contract Word Aversion

Having recently posted about a linguistic phenomenon called "word aversion", I had to chuckle when I read the April 2nd issue of The Week magazine. According to The Week, television networks in the U.S. have banned a Kotex tampon commercial that uses the word "vagina".

Give me a break.

These same networks allow the repeated use of numerous "swear" words during prime-time television shows (not to mention the fact that the topics on many of these shows include sex, drugs and various bodily functions). Have you ever watched Two and a Half Men or How I Met Your Mother?

And beside the point, some forms of sexual education are now taught in public schools as early as kindergarten. Parts of the human anatomy should not be considered taboo words.

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P.S. Here is a great cartoon about word aversion spotted on Language Log.

I have to agree about the word "slacks". I would even go with "trousers" over "slacks".