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Is "female" offensive? (lemmy.world)

submitted 8 months ago by Trincapinones@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

287 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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 ^^

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[–] neidu2@feddit.nl 119 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (4 children)

Not really offensive on its own, but it carries a reductive and dehumanizing vibe, depending on how it's used. And the ones who use "female" instead of "woman" are often incels and/or misogynists, giving the term a bad conotation.

Also, Ferengis...

[–] r00ty@kbin.life 31 points 8 months ago

I always think of the ferengis when people use men to describe men, and females to describe women.

[–] bappity@lemmy.world 29 points 8 months ago

this! an example of someone always using it in a such a way is Andrew Tate. watch any of his videos where he mentions girls and you'll immediately understand

[–] unreachable@lemmy.world 22 points 8 months ago (2 children)

[–] PlainSimpleGarak@lemm.ee 2 points 8 months ago

Episode is so stupid, I can't not laugh.

[–] LordOfLocksley@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago

Jeez, mark that NSFW please