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Is "female" offensive? (lemmy.world)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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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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[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago (2 children)

My wife tells me that using as an adjective is just as bad and that I should always say "woman", e.g. a woman politician and never a female politician.

I generally disagree and it seems fine and not disrespectful at all. But it's somehat less up to me - I'm not a female.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago

My wife tells me that using as an adjective is just as bad and that I should always say “woman”, e.g. a woman politician and never a female politician.

Using a noun as an adjective is just weird, honestly.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I think that a good rule of thumb is: would you say “male doctor” or “male politician”? If not, is the professional’s gender relevant? Probably not, in which case it sounds pejorative to include it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

In some cases I would, and I would find it awkward to say "man doctor" or "man politician". I don't think it works at all, and I disagree with her that this really is the way most people try to avoid the naming.

But, kinda like pronoun; I guess I try to listen and be sensitive on things like how women and minorities saybtheyre sensitive about, including labels and etc.