Women who refer to cars/boats as 'she' Grrr.

[DrNortherner]

Just spent 10 days in Spain with dh's Dad and step mum. His step Mum is lovely, however she does a few things that irk me, including referring to her parents as 'Mummy and Daddy' She's 62 FFS.

Anyway, the whole time we were there she referred to her car as 'she' - she needs petrol, have you locked her? etc
and also to boats in the harbour - Oh she's a beauty.

Nobody does this anymore do they?

What can I say to her next time she does this?

[jennyvstheworld]

Whatever you say, it's unlikely that you will convince her that there is a problem. As you say, she's 62...

My Nan, when she was alive, always refrred to pretty and vibrant things as being very gay....

[MrsReasonable]

I thought boats, like countries, were meant to be referred to as 'she'. Correct, if outdated.

[NevermindtheNargles]

Wasn't there a thread on here the other day complaining about inanimate objects always being 'he' (teddies and such)?

[NevermindtheNargles]

Wasn't there a thread on here the other day complaining about inanimate objects always being 'he' (teddies and such)?

[fluffles]

is there a reason why this tradition is non-feminist?
i am not sure i do it myself (probably i use 'it') but i'm aware of the tradition and never thought to object before....?

[flowery]

Why do you need to say anything to her? What's wrong with it exactly? And is there a reason a woman saying it is worse than a man saying it?

I often stumble across threads in this section feeling as though I should be outraged about something but must be missing the point because I am not.

[BertieBotts]

I've been meaning to post about this for ages! Why are cars and boats and things always referred to as "she"? I remember my dad telling me why when I was little but can't remember what he said.

I know it's considered "correct" as MrsReasonable says, but why? Where does it come from? And is it sexist?

[DrNortherner]

Well, imo it stems back to men calling innaminate objects as 'she' as they own and control them, like a woman.....

[ProfessionallyOffendedGoblin]

Or have a relationship with them.

[ProfessionallyOffendedGoblin]

'I often stumble across threads in this section feeling as though I should be outraged about something but must be missing the point because I am not'

You are not alone in this, but sometimes the discussion is enlightening.

[jennyvstheworld]

So, if I've got this right, we can't call inanimate things 'he' because that's sexist (see the other thread) and we can't call them 'she' becasue that's sexist.

It seems to me that some people have a remarkable capacity for outrage.

[upahill]

So, if I've got this right, we can't call inanimate things 'he' because that's sexist (see the other thread) and we can't call them 'she' becasue that's sexist. It seems to me that some people have a remarkable capacity for outrage.

Good point well put!

[ProfessionallyOffendedGoblin]

I suppose it's quite handy that we can use 'it' then.

[jennyvstheworld]

Yes, let's sterilize our language and culture remove all hints of anthropomorphism where ever we find them! That's the answer

[bestfootforwards]

I think there a bigger things to worry about tbh

And as someone who sails I have just had a little snigger at the idea that men call boats she because they 'own and control' the boat. More likely they call the boat she because they are/ were well aware the boat owns and controls them .

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Non-sexist explanation.

[TrillianAstra]

If you find it annoying when inanimate objects are called anything other than "it" than YANBU (it's a bloody boat, it has no reproductive capacity!) but it's not really a feminist issue.

If you would rather boats were called "he" rather than "she" then I challenge you to explain how this is more feminist.

[steamedtreaclesponge]

I quite like that boats are called 'she'. Certainly it's never struck me as being a bad thing - I always thought of it more as a term of endearment.

[stealthsquiggle]

but boats are referred to as being female, aren't they ? Where on earth do you get the idea that "nobody does this any more", OP?

As for cars and other things - I have had male and female cars (the ones with enough character to have names) and my DC have a great and glorious mixture of boys and girls amongst their cuddly animals. I would definitely describe myself as a feminist and I really don't see the problem.

[pommedechocolat]

LA macchina, LA barca.

[AMumInScotland]

I call steam engines "he", and often refer to animals as "he" - the squirrel that comes into our garden, a dumb butterfly that came in and got stuck the other day. If you attribute a personality to something, then you tend to refer to it as he/she because "it" is not personal enough.

That doesn't make it sexist, just anthropomorphic.

Oh and "Mummy and Daddy" is a cultural thing, not necessarily about age - in some areas/classes that's just the normal thing to call your parents. No point getting angry about it, she's not being infantile.

[upahill]

My boss always names his boats after women that have been important to him. His first one was Louise after his sister that died young. His latest is named after his first grandchild. He has also had boats named after his wives and daughters.

Nothing sexist about that.