Is "female" offensive?

Trincapinones@lemmy.world to Asklemmy@lemmy.ml – 246 points –

I am not a native English speaker and I have sometimes referred to people as male and female (as that is what I have been taught) but I have received some backlash in some cases, especially for the word "female", is there some negative thought in the word which I am unaware of?

I don't know if this is the best place to ask, if it's not appropriate I have no problem to delete it ^^

277

You are viewing a single comment

"I have a female friend." (As in "I have a friend that's a woman.") "I've talked with a female today." (As in "I've talked with a woman today.")

The first one is fine, because isn't using the word as an adjective. The second one is derogatory, because it is being used as a substantive.

So stating a fact is derogatory?

Where the fuck do y'all get your information?

Found the incel lol

Considering I read the initial statement to my mom (60) and she said wtf?

Y'all just assume. Hope ya don't go through life with that kind of outlook you will never make friends

"My mom said it's OK" is just telling on yourself, my dude.

You're great at twisting words to suit your narrative.

Literally said what the fuck is wrong with these people. And I concur.

Went into this knowing exactly what I would be dealing with, a bunch of idiots who have never been told to shut the fuck up.

Lmao this incel can't stop commenting in here 😂

What do you mean by facts? How is female defined by you? Because I doubt you genetically test for XX chromosomes before you say female, right?

I think there are plenty of words that can be factual, but also unkind. And that is all that this is about. I would at the very least find it odd if someone used "human specimen" instead of calling me a man, though it is factual. I think trying to use the words that describe people the way they see themselves instead of hanging onto some logical ideal is a normal transition languages make over time and is a kinder way to be.