To have noticed that men who refer to women as 'females'

[applemac]

Usually turn out to be losers. And why is this?

[ShatnersBassoon]

I've never come across it in real life, only heard the dad on Friday Night Dinner saying it

I assume they say it because they don't know whether to say women or ladies.

[Vitalstatistix]

because their choice of words is part of who they are. 'Females' is said with contempt, isn't it? - I know the sort of thing you mean. Who you are shows in how you talk. You can get the measure of someone very quickly by their choice of words.

[ProfYaffle]

Yy, I find it desperately irritating.

[SaucyJack]

Never thought about it, but you're probably right.

What is so fricking hard about calling women women?

New MN campaign?

[outofcontrol2014]

I think it is usually a sign of sexism.

I find 'ladies' a bit patronising. That may be because an old boss of mine in the NHS used to call women 'ladies' and it was meant condescendingly.

'Women' is better!

[Gawjushun]

The men's rights lot love using females. I guess because it's dehumanising? It reminds me of sexing animals.

[Lottapianos]

Completely agree OP, but I've heard quite a few women say this too. They are also giant losers of course - the type that think certain women are slags and asking for it because of how they dress or behave. Ugh.

[MummyBeerest]

Those guys are gross. I did once call a guy on it when he said females are crazy.

"Maybe because they don't like being called females? Are you an extraterrestial?"

Didn't listen for a reply.

[EvansOvalPiesYumYum]

Yep - it's always annoyed me. Could never quite put my finger on why, before, but reading Vital's explanation, that probably just about sums it up. It seems to be said with contempt.

Thank you, now I know I'm not alone in finding it irritating

[AMumInScotland]

It's dismissive, and gives me the impression that they think of women more as animals than as people.

And yes, 'ladies' is always patronising. Ladies occupy a space where the important thing is to be lady-like.

[Andrewofgg]

I only use it when I mean women and girls of any age. Which rarely arises.

[Andrewofgg]

Having said that I use female as an adjective ("The USA has not yet had a female President) where "woman" would also fit. If that is objectionable please say so and I will stop.

[weebarra]

Yes, I have a female (!) friend who does this, but it tends to be women who she perceives as trying to seduce her partner, or similar.

[DuelingFanjo]

'Females' always seems to be used by people who say they are not rape apologists but clearly demonstrate they are by the things they say or write on the internet.

[skylark2]

"Females" is odd.

"Female" is probably the best word to use if you're referring to the gender but all ages.

Basically I use "female" in situations where if I was talking about the other gender I'd use "male".

[Aduaz]

There isn't anything wrong with saying female, or indeed male, or man, woman, lady, bloke, guy, girl. If someone wants to insult you they'll find a word that makes it very clear they want to insult you.

[AMumInScotland]

I'd say it's fine as an adjective, it only becomes a problem when you use it as a noun.

Like, 'black people' is different from 'blacks'

[Winterbells]

Female as an adjective is acceptable in certain contexts but using it in place of "women" in normal conversation is wrong. It's dehumanising and rude. Especially when someone uses "females" (to mean "women") and then uses "men" in the same sentence!

[KingJoffreysBloodshotEye]

There was a proper woman hater on Live At The Apollo last night.

Forgotten his name. Straight, but quite effeminate.

Said a few things which had 'women hater' written all over them.

Another guy on Mock The Week is also a proper misogynist.

I notice it loads now, thanks to MN. I'll look out for people saying 'females'. Not something I've noticed.

[PetulaGordino]

i find it curious when it is used to refer to things for women e.g. "female toilets" (obviously the same is used for the men's so "male toilets"), because that reads to me as though the loos themselves are female/male. of course it's usually because it's clearer to people for whom english is a second language, and covers all ages too, but i still find it odd

but yes, when used on its own to refer to women (rather than as an adjective) i always want to say "female what?"

[applemac]

It's funny how most of the people who say these things aren't even aware of it.

[applemac]

Aware of their general attitude towards women I mean...

[BertieBotts]

YY it's reminiscient of "blacks" or "coloureds" - it's pointing out the difference (ie, inferiority) compared to one's own whiteness or maleness.

They're not aware of it because they take it for granted and assume everyone feels the same way as they do.

[ApocalypseThen]

This is an interesting blog post (from
a very good blog) on this topic:

quiteirregular.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/we-dont-need-to-talk-about-females/

[Greengrow]

It just tends to be a working class phrase.