Today, the word, geuzennaam is still used in the Dutch
language whenever disparaging terms are re-appropriated as a badge of
pride. (I saw you were writing from Amsterdam, so maybe you already
know this, but it might be useful to others on the list :-)
Basically, the collection of geuzennaam (it is an older thread in our
work) grew out of our own desire as women to explore our stereotypes.
(it's connected to our uniforms and the paperdolls) And the project
started out simple, as a circulating list of words being added to and
translated across different languages amongst women. It was a
catalyst for discussion. Some words known by older women had faded
out of use. To be a bluestocking or crumpet, is not so common any
more. So, the list is a kind of changing sociological portrait.
And the t-shirts were first done at a Do-it-yourself exhibition. We
simply had the list of words on sticky back vinyl, shirts, an
ironing board and a label with the Geuzennaam definition which could
be sewn on. The women who were there immediately got it, and while
pilfering through cloth and words, you would hear things like "oh
this is mine"...or " no this one... this one is even better". They
chose for themselves . And we were able to explore ideas of
stereotypes, cliches and "hurtful names", in a way which we never
could have, if we said: "Now, lets talk about how women have been
disparaged through words." But at the same time, that is exactly
what we were discussing while making our shirts and simultaneously
bringing those words into our temporary possession.