Many interesting points here. I don't think that "whore" "slut" and "bitch" are as gender specific as you think. I have certainly heard them all used about men. Also, I don't think the first two are usually a slur at all. "Whore" is just another word for prostitute (it does piss me off when people use it for non-professionals) while "slut" means that you are sexually liberated & enjoy sex for its own sake. They certaily can be used with disapproval, but I hear them used more as non-emotive factual words or in the case of "slut" as a compliment. Maybe thats says something about the crowd I hang out with, but I still think it is important to remember that these words are not offensive in themselves, even though someone's attitude might be.