Along those lines, it's occurred to me (in observing the theater of identity politics that is the Democratic primary this year) that there's actually more legitimacy (to a degree, of course) to sexism than there is to racism. I can't emphasize the 'degree' part enough, because it definitely shouldn't be taken too far, but I think we can all acknowledge that there are actual biological differences that affect personality between the genders, while the same is not true for the races. I think privately, people will speak of the differences of working in a female environment vs. a male one, and so on. (for those who don't know it, I'm female myself, so I feel that I know of what I speak.) There's really no room for that kind of discussion at all on the issue of race though because there's no biological difference between the races and anyone who thinks otherwise is definitely a bigot.

The “n word” is a derogative work referring to a whole group of people based on entirely on race, with no distinction. The “b word” is used to describe negative traits exhibited in one's personality. Certainly it's a derogatory label, but if someone calls someone else a bitch, it's due to the way that person is choosing to behave.

I'd never use that n-word. But there are some people who I would call a bitch and even those people I wouldn't call them a bitch all the time (well maybe there are a couple full-time bitches I know).

But then again I don't generally go around calling anyone names and my use of “bitch” is sparse.

Similarly, did the uproar over Imus extend to the last word of his comment or more the hyphenated one preceding?

Yes.

When I hear the word 'bitch,' I think of a colleague of my husband's, who was a business manager, who had a sign on her desk that read:

Boys,
I'm
Taking
Charge
Here

That word does tend to show up when women assert power, I liked her proactive “get over it” retort.