to not want dh to call his daughters hussies

[Notsuretoday]

We walked past our daughters' school bus stop today and the girls, who are 13 and 11, were jokingly posing. Dh laughed and said "the girls stand at the bus stop like hussies". I was instantly dismayed at the use of the word, about which dh got annoyed because he feels it's just an antiquated word and not offensive. I disagree and find it inappropriate. Consulting online dictionaries hasn't helped because we can both find things to back up what we think. I have to add that I am not English so the finer nuances of meaning might be lost on me. So now it's over to Mumsnet - who is right?

[ImperialBlether]

I thought it meant prostitutes, so I wouldn't be happy, no.

[ImperialBlether]

Or maybe not prostitute, thinking about it, but 'woman of loose morals.' Which is worse, really!

Ask him for the male equivalent word.

[TheGirlAtTheRockShow]

I would not be happy! It is antiquated but does mean prostitute as far as I am aware. Being antiquated doesn't make it ok.

[ApocalypseThen]

Completely inappropriate. Not just an outdated word, but an outdated concept designed to control and humiliate women and girls.

[Floggingmolly]

How were they "posing"? if they were pole dancing he had a point

[WitchWay]

Not very nice,but he did say "standing about like hussies" not "look at those two hussies, standing about".

He used a metaphor, he didn't call them hussies.

[ImperialBlether]

Just read the dictionary definition, which says you are both right.

1. a brazen or immoral woman.

1. a mischievous, impudent, or ill-behaved girl.

[slightlyworriednc]

I agree with your DH- it's antiquated and not nearly as offensive as some words. It's more 'tart' than 'slag'...even less so, if that makes sense.

My nan would call me a 'brazen hussy' with a wink, if I wore a short skirt or something. What she'd mean is, 'that would have been frowned up on in my day, but I admire your confidence'. If said with a smile, I really don't think it's meant in the way you're taking it.

I didn't know it meant prostitute.

[WD41]

Yanbu

[WineWineWine]

When he says they are standing there like hussies, what does he mean?
I suspect that he intends it to be derogatory, comparable to prostitues.

It is offensive and inappropriate.

[ApocalypseThen]

That suggests that he has any business using those kinds of words at all and it's all fine because he's taking his misogyny old skool.

[thisusernameisunavailable]

It may be old fashion and outdated, meaning is still the same.
I would ask him although the word is old fashioned, what is the meaning, and why does he think that is an acceptable word to use to describe any female let alone his young children.

[backbystealth]

Inappropriate yes but if he just said it off the top of his head and jokily I think it's forgiveable - he clearly didn't know he was being offensive.

[halamadrid]

I agree with WitchWay. He said standing like hussies so if they were posing and standing like hussies then that is what they were doing. He didn't say they are hussies.

[Notsuretoday]

They were posing "model-style", hands on hips, throwing hair back kind of thing

[Notsuretoday]

But how do hussies pose?

[Aridane]

I must be way off as I thought it meant a saucy girl or an effectionate term for coquette. But giving your husband , the benefit of the doubt, maybe he thought the same?

[daisyswirl]

Sorry..read title really quickly and thought it said huskies! I was sat here thinking eh?

[FlipFl0pp]

Well personally I'd put the word hussy in the same category as madam (as in she's a little madam not here's your bag madam). So not particularly pleasant but not in the same league as slag/tart etc

[Nomama]

Impudent young girls.

As with many English words there are multiple meanings. If they were throwing a few model poses then they were being coquettish, teases, proper little madams, etc.

[WitchWay]

he didn't use a megaphone, he used a simile.

Minx might have been better than hussy, but then again...

[WitchWay]

Megaphone AAARGH autocorrect METAPHOR

[Nomama]

Oh I don't know, WitchWay, that works for me

He didn't use a megaphone, he was only talking to OP!

[Montegomongoose]

It's irrelevant whether its slag or madam; he used a word with connotations of sexual attractiveness about girls of 11 and 13.

How would he feel about other men looking at your daughters in a sexual leering fashion?

I would be very unimpressed with anyone who referred to young girls as hussies.