There was a time when someone getting angry would stuff their face into a pillow, slam a door, or mutter to themselves that time will answer everything. But the new generation is all about instant gratification. Their anger does not have time to settle like old wine in a cellar. In fact, there is no time. And for that reason, the new generation swears. But a superficial interpretation of this rising culture of vulgarity only goes so far. To get to the root of what drives a certain segment of this generation to direct so much of their energy towards swearing, we would have to dig into their psyche, into their future, into their shifting power dynamics, and, unavoidably, into politics.
That is why the recent arrest of a college student for spreading videos containing highly abusive material about the Bangladesh Prime Minister and other prominent government officials is more than just an indictment of one young man’s coarse language. Because social media is the breeding ground for this new culture of resentment and derision, which has its roots in a deep psychological shift, we must ask ourselves the question: why are they doing this? Why is the new generation so angry, and what does this anger have to do with power, politics, and protest?
In some cases, the anger has taken to the streets; in others, it has been funnelled through digital channels in the form of social media posts. State repression, economic inequality, corruption, unemployment, an insecure future, and a perceived lack of viable political options may all be factors. But regardless of the specific causes, it is clear that in each case, a segment of Bangladesh’s youth no longer wishes to speak the language of the establishment.
South Asian cultures have long emphasised the virtue of age and authority. The elderly were revered, and even the most powerful figures were rarely openly criticised. While there are still many things people owe to older generations, respect, loyalty, and protection are earned. What many young people believe is that age or position alone is no longer a reason for blind faith and fear. This is where the politics of swearing come into play, enabling younger generations to challenge the established power structures. For them, insults in local parlance become the ultimate weapon against a privileged elite who has long enjoyed disproportionate control over resources.
The politics of swearing are important because traditional tools of political expression are not always available to everyone. The ability to publish editorials, make speeches on national television, hold office, run for office, and lead coalitions is often controlled by those in power. A mobile phone and internet access, however, are relatively widespread. Thus, everyone can participate in the digital space and draw attention to themselves and the issues they raise. In this way, swearing can function as a cheap resource to draw on when normal communication channels are closed.
From a sociological point of view, this development can be seen as a manifestation of generational confrontation and a feeling of deprivation among the young. People tend to accept inequality more easily when they perceive their achievements and opportunities as roughly comparable to their efforts and qualifications. When these expectations are unmet, however, frustrations flare up, fueling unrest and the search for new ways of expression. In this context, young people’s use of slang, ridicule, mockery, and even swearing can be seen as a reaction to power, which cannot be controlled through conventional means. Another factor fueling the situation is the changing relationship between education, information, and employment. While the educational bubble is growing, so is the feeling of inadequacy, particularly among youth. Many are exposed to constant comparisons with others’ lives on social media, which only fuels the sense of their own deprivation. And while young people are being prepared for a future in which their qualifications will allow them to secure a stable job, the situation in the labour market is such that they cannot choose at will.
Perhaps the most momentous change lies in the shifting dynamics between fear and power. There was once a time when talking out loud about powerful people had to be done with caution. The digital generation has transformed this relationship – it comments, mocks, satirises and reacts immediately. This can be a democratising force. Yet it can also be corrosive. The right to speak to power without fear is not the same as reducing every political disagreement to abuse. The greater danger is that the profanity used to protest the state today may become the everyday language of aggression aimed at friends, family members, women, the vulnerable and those with opposing views. What has started as the language of resistance can soon become the language of ordinary cruelty. People undoubtedly have the right to anger. But if, in expressing it, we allow our language to become increasingly brutal, we may run the risk of damaging not power, but the social relationships with which we live with one another.
Swearing may unite people. It may get you likes on social media or make you a star on YouTube. But what will really change society for the better is not insult but argument, agitation, organisation, and a call for action. Screaming at the head of state will not cut off his head. So, perhaps, the real question is not why young people swear. It is why they cannot feel that without swearing, their anger would not be strong enough. And if we do not answer this question, we will not get anywhere. In fact, profanity is the ugliest possible politics. It is untrue, irrational, and, in most cases, completely unnecessary. Nevertheless, we need to stop and think about it.
Perhaps we need to listen more closely to what these young people are saying. Those who have no voice, no channel of communication, no microphone in front of which they can speak, shout, and show the world their problems. It does not mean that we should support swearing. Moreover, it does not mean that we should start swearing for ourselves. We need to understand that behind these words, there is often a feeling of anger and frustration due to injustice, which needs to be addressed. Listening to swearing, we may hear the anger of people who have no other way to express it. It may be disrespectful, rude, vulgar, and garbled. But it can also be the cry of the voiceless, the oppressed, the ignored, and the despised.
So, if we want to live in a world where people do not curse each other, first of all, we need to create a world in which people do not feel the need to curse. Maybe it’s time to stop fighting this new wave of digital purism and instead pay attention to the real reasons for it. Perhaps, instead of fighting against swearing, we should fight against the causes of swearing. We can dismiss this new wave of judgment as rude and unreasonable. Nevertheless, can we afford to ignore it?
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author
The writer is an Associate Professor, Department of Communication and Journalism, University of Chittagong; Doctoral Research Scholar, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Jadavpur University, India. Email: [email protected]
