Catfight is a term for an altercation between two women, typically involving scratching, slapping, hair-pulling, and shirt-shredding as opposed to punching or
wrestlingWrestling is an ancient martial art that uses grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, generally between two people, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
. However, the term is not exclusively used to indicate a fight between women, and many formal definitions do not invoke gender. Instead, it refers to any "vociferous fight." It can also be used to describe two human females insulting each other verbally or being otherwise nasty to each other. The many ways that women compare themselves to other women and compete with each other are also referred to as catfighting (or cattiness). Catfights are different from other kinds of fights involving women because they usually involve competition between two or more women, usually over men. Catfight is a term also used on occasion to describe a political campaign between two women candidates.
Catfighting has recently been on the rise in several fields of entertainment. The appeal of a catfight was facetiously explained by
Jerry SeinfeldJerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American comedian, actor and writer, whose style is often described as observational comedy...
, as "Men think if women are grabbing and clawing at each other, there's a chance they might somehow, you know... kiss." Catfights have been featured in cartoons, movies, and beer television commercials, frequently ending with the participants missing articles of clothing.
In the 1970s, interest in catfighting led to the popularity of the
women in prison filmsWomen in prison film is a subgenre of exploitation film that began in the late 1960s and continues to the present day.Their stories feature imprisoned women who are subjected to sexual and physical abuse, typically by sadistic male or female prison wardens and guards...
and
roller derbyRoller derby is an American-invented contact sport—and historically, a form of sports entertainment—based on formation roller skating around an oval track, with points scored as certain players lap members of an opposing team. In past decades, roller derby had been primarily a professional or paid...
.
Etymology
The term catfight was recorded by the
Oxford English DictionaryThe Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press , is a comprehensive dictionary of the English language...
as the title and subject of a 1824 mock heroic poem by Ebenezer Mack. It is first recorded as being used to describe a fight between women in 1854, the word cat being long established slang for a spiteful person, particularly a woman.
TV, cinema, and music
Soap operas frequently incorporate catfights into their storylines; the series of altercations between
Krystle CarringtonKrystle Carrington is a fictional character on the American TV series Dynasty. Second-only to Forsythe's character, Evans appeared in all the episodes of the series, with the exception of 4, during her last year....
(
Linda EvansLinda Evans is an American actress known primarily for her roles on television. She rose to fame as Barbara Stanwyck's daughter, Audra Barkley, on the 1960s Western, The Big Valley...
) and
Alexis ColbyAlexis Colby is a fictional character on the American TV series Dynasty....
(
Joan CollinsJoan Henrietta Collins OBE is an English actress, author, and columnist.-Early life:Collins was born in Paddington, London, the daughter of Elsa , a dance teacher and nightclub hostess, and Joseph William Collins, an agent whose clients would later include Shirley Bassey, The Beatles and Tom Jones...
) on the 1980s primetime soap
DynastyDynasty is an American prime time television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 12, 1981 to May 11, 1989. It was created by Richard and Esther Shapiro and produced by Aaron Spelling, and revolved around the Carringtons, a wealthy oil family living in Denver, Colorado...
are perhaps the most famous. Their best-known encounter occurred in 1983, when the Krystle and Alexis both ended up falling into a lily pond.
Daytime soap operas also frequently incorporate catfights into their storylines,
Catfights, both real and staged, have become a hallmark of
The Jerry Springer ShowThe Jerry Springer Show is a syndicated television tabloid talk show hosted by Jerry Springer, a former politician, broadcast in the United States and other countries...
, a television
talk showA talk show or chat show is a television or radio program where one person or group of people come together to discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host...
.
Catfights (along with lesbianism) are often commonly depicted in
exploitation filmExploitation film is a type of film that is promoted by "exploiting" often lurid subject matter. The term "exploitation" is common in film marketing, used for all types of films to mean promotion or advertising. Thus, films need something to "exploit", such as a big star, special effects, sex,...
s, particularly those which fall under the Women in prison sub-genre.
Miller LiteMiller Lite is a 4.2% abv pale lager brand sold by Miller Brewing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Sibling beers include Miller Genuine Draft and Miller High Life.-History:...
's racy
Catfight commercial in 2002 greatly raised the profile of catfights in recent pop culture. The careers of both actresses in the original commercial,
Kitana BakerKitana Baker is a model and actress based in the Los Angeles area.Born in Anaheim, California, and of Chinese, Hawaiian, German and Irish ancestry, Baker has appeared in numerous films, videos and television shows, and has worked for both E! and Playboy...
and
Tanya BallingerTanya Ballinger is a model and actress based in the Los Angeles area. Miss Ballinger biggest claim to fame has been her series of Miller Lite Catfight commercials with fellow model Kitana Baker in 2002. She would reprise her appearance in a sequel / homage to the Catfight ads in 2007 produced by...
, took off as a result of their exposure. The commercial shows an argument between the duo which escalates into a shoving match into a pool while ripping each other's clothes off and ends with them wrestling in a trough filled with concrete. It was derided by many as sexist while defended by Miller executives as "a lighthearted
spoofA parody , in contemporary usage, is a work created to mock, comment on, or poke fun at an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of guys' fantasies."
In movies,
Undercover BrotherUndercover Brother is a 2002 comedy starring Eddie Griffin and directed by Malcolm D. Lee . The screenplay is by Michael McCullers and co-executive producer John Ridley , who created the original internet animation characters. It spoofs blaxploitation films of the 1970s as well as a number of other...
featured a catfight, between
Denise RichardsDenise Lee Richards is an American actress and former fashion model. She became famous in the late 1990s, after a string of films that highlighted her sex appeal, including Starship Troopers, Wild Things, and The World Is Not Enough...
and
Aunjanue EllisAunjanue L. Ellis is an American actress known for her roles in Ray and in Undercover Brother as the catfighting Sistah Girl.Ellis was born in San Francisco, California and raised on her grandmother's farm in Mississippi...
, that was both titillating and a
parodyA parody , in contemporary usage, is a work created to mock, comment on, or poke fun at an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of titillation.
Two Days in the Valley also featured a catfight between
Teri HatcherTeri Lynn Hatcher is an American actress who is best known for her roles as Lois Lane in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, as Susan Mayer in Desperate Housewives and as Paris Carver in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies...
and
Charlize TheronCharlize Theron is a South African actress, film producer, and former fashion model. She became an American citizen in 2007....
. Other examples include
Raquel Welch-Early life:Welch was born Jo Raquel Tejada in Chicago, Illinois, the oldest of three children and the daughter of Josephine Sarah and Armando Carlos Tejada Urquizo...
's catfights in
Kansas City Bomber and
One Million Years B.C.One Million Years B.C. is a 1966 adventure film/fantasy film starring Raquel Welch set - loosely - in the time of cavemen...
Also the
gypsyThe term gypsy was a common term used to describe Romani people or Travelers.-Etymology:The Oxford English Dictionary states that a gypsy is a...
catfight in the
James BondJames Bond 007 is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. The character has also been used in the longest running and most financially successful English language film franchise to date, starting in 1962 with Dr...
film,
From Russia With LoveFrom Russia with Love is the second spy film in the James Bond series, and the second to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film was produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, and directed by Terence Young. It is based on the 1957 novel of the same name by Ian...
is considered a classic among catfight fans..
The fight between Alena Johnson and Sabine Sun in "The War Goddess", otherwise referred to as "The Amazons" is a classic example of the eroticism involved in movie catfights. The film begins with the blonde Antiope (played by Johnson) and brunette Oreitheia (played by Sun) in a topless wrestling match to crown the new Queen of the Amazons. Before the match, the women remove their robes and are covered in oil by servants as they stare at each other from a distance. The match involves full nelsons, a test of strength and a headscissors, with the women rolling around to try and gain an advantage. As this happens, the drums playing over the scene get faster and faster.
Antiope is victorious, and a theme throughout the film is Oreitheia's hatred for Antiope and her desire to be the Queen. This leads to a second fight later in the film, with both women brawling in the nude in Antiope's bedroom. The scene begins with Antiope being awoken by the sound of thunder - naturally she is sleeping naked, and sees the shadow of Oreitheia through her curtains. Oreitheia's plan to kill Antiope in her sleep with a sword is foiled, and the two have a stand-off with weapons. Antiope then says "No, we'll settle this the way we did when we were children - with our bare hands". The two discard their weapons and undress, and Oreitheia lunges at Antiope. They throw each other around the room and trade punches, with Antiope being flung across the bed and having her head bashed against the wall several times. As this takes place, the thunder booms and flashes of lightning light up the room. They have another test of strength before rolling around on the floor - their bodies remain extremely close during this part of the fight, as the two women exchange the top position. After a long struggle, Antiope ceases to resist and the two women embrace and kiss.
In song, catfights have been commemorated in "
Girl Fight Tonight!"Girl Fight Tonight" is the third single released by singer and comedian Julie Brown, the second from her only album Trapped in the Body of a White Girl. It was released in 12" and 7" vinyl formats as well as on a promotional-only CD. The song is a spoof of the traditional "call-and-response" R&B...
" (1987) by
Julie BrownJulie Ann Brown is an American actress, comedienne, novelty singer-songwriter and screenwriter. Brown is perhaps best known for her work in the 1980s, where she often played a quintessential valley girl character....
, "Cat Fight" (1999) by
Dance Hall CrashersDance Hall Crashers is a ska punk band from Berkeley, California, that formed in 1989. The band was originally made up from two of the members of seminal ska-punk band Operation Ivy...
, and "
Girlfight"Girlfight" is the first single recorded by R&B singer Brooke Valentine. It was her first single from her debut album Chain Letter. The song features Lil Jon and Big Boi from OutKast. The song is about a tension between two girls who end up in a catfight and was a minor Top 30 hit, peaking at #23....
" (2005) by
Brooke ValentineBrooke Valentine is an American R&B singer-songwriter. She started her musical career as a member of the female group Best Kept Secret. To pursue a solo career, she moved to Los Angeles, California and signed to Subliminal Entertainment/Virgin Records....
.
Wrestling announcer
Joey StylesJoseph Carmine Bonsignore better known by his ring name Joey Styles, is an American former professional wrestling play-by-play commentator and former professional in the field of advertising sales...
is known for shrieking "Catfight!" whenever two females begin brawling. The exclamation has become one of his trademarks.
Commercial catfights
There are several distributors of catfight videos on
DVDDVD, also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc,is an optical disc storage media format, and was founded in 1995. Its main uses are video and data storage...
or as downloads from the
InternetThe Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standardized Internet Protocol Suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
like Catfightfilms.com. Most of these videos feature women who are topless or completely
nudeNudity is the state of wearing no clothing.It is related to the concept of modesty and is sometimes used to refer to wearing significantly less clothing than expected by the conventions of a particular culture and situation, and in particular exposing the bare skin or intimate...
. The fights are carried out in improvised boxing rings, outdoors, in
gymThe word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
s or in apartments. Just like
Foxy boxingFoxy boxing is a entertainment sport which involves two or more women boxing in a sexualized context as a form of erotic entertainment...
these catfights appear to be more for erotic entertainment than real fights. Techniques of beating and kicking that can cause
painPhysical Pain is the unpleasant feeling common to a headache and a stubbed toe. It typically consists of negative affect and aversion, and has location, duration, intensity and a distinctive quality...
to the opponent are often merely faked and not really carried out. Sometimes it is the goal of the fight to rip the clothing off the opponent or to rip off the last garment (the
slipA slip is a woman's undergarment worn beneath a dress or skirt to help it hang smoothly and to prevent chafing of the skin from coarse fabrics such as wool...
or
thongThong may refer to:* Thong , a garment which primarily covers only the pubic area* Flip-flops, a type of footwear similar to sandals but without securing the ankles* Thong, Kent, a village in England...
). For nude catfighting sometimes the participants cover their bodies with baby oil.
Jeanne "Hollywood" Bassone (Formerly of GLOW
Gorgeous Ladies of WrestlingGorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, also known as GLOW or G.L.O.W., was a professional wrestling promotion for women, begun in 1986 and continued in various forms after it left television. Colorful characters, beautiful women, and over-the-top comedy sketches were integral to the series' success...
),
Lisa ComshawTori Sinclair is a bondage model and actress who started her career in fetish modelling in the 1990s. She has also appeared in a number of mainstream movies of the "erotic thriller" genre. Ms. Sinclair had retired from the industry after the birth of her child...
('Tori Sinclair'), Belinda Belle, and porn stars like
Devon MichaelsDevon Michaels is an American porn actress. Michaels is of Hispanic/Latin background and was raised with her two brothers near Peoria, Illinois....
, Tanya Danielle,
Tylene BuckTylene Buck is an American model and a former professional wrestling valet under the name of Major Gunns.-Modeling:...
,
Krystal SummersKristal Summers is an American pornographic actress.-BDSM star:On a referral from her cousin, adult performer Francesca Le, Summers began performing in softcore B&D videos for adult film producers/riggers Bryan Davis and Simone Devon...
, Blake Mitchell,
KaylynnKaylynn is an American pornographic actress.-Biography:Kaylynn was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and grew up in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island...
,
Lexi LamourLexi Lamour is an American pornographic actress. She was a finalist for The FAME Award's Hottest Body category in 2006. Lexi Lamour has made many mainstream appearances on television such as Sexcetera, Real Sex, Spice Network, and was a radio host on channel KSEX- External links :**...
and Kiana Dior are some of the women that fight each other on video. Bondage models like Diana Knight and Stacy Burke have also fought for videos.
Use of dirty talk is standard fare in catfighting videos. Calling each other "bitch", "whore", "slut" and "skank" is common vernacular in catfight videos. The ripping off of clothes and lingerie usually gives way to the twisting of nipples, grabbing of breasts, and pulling of pubic hair. Some catfights turn into sexfights when the two combatants try to dominate each other sexually by forcibly kissing each other and then having aggressive sex. Typical catfighting/sexfighting scenes involve lots of hard body-to-body contact with slapping and grabbing of breasts and pubic hair. Another popular catfight move is to 'facesit' the other woman and force her to lick her.
Competitive submission catfights consist of two girls, usually dressed in bikinis or sportswear, who line up and fight until one gives. This is usually a submission wrestling format with hairpulling and choking. These fights can get quite aggressive and heated, but are more of a sport that a fantasy fight. These fights rarely end in serious injury.
Equivalent terms
Scragfight has the same or similar meaning to
Catfight in
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
and
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
.