To think that “Irish twins” is an offensive term?

[CroissantwithCheese]

I read a thread on an American pregnancy forum about the term “Irish twins”. The OP posted some gushing statement hoping she was pregnant and that it would mean she had Irish twins. A commenter said it was offensive and I deeply agree. It was an idiom apparently created in the US in the 1800s, referring to the large families of Irish immigrants. It was derogatory, stereotyping the Irish for not having any sort of family planning and not using contraception. But this was hardly their fault as the church had banned contraception. The term has now become some sort of cutesy way of referring to two children born within a year of each other, and seems to be completely accepted. How can that be accepted and not considered offensive?!

[RiversDisguise]

Are you serious?

Why get upset about an idiom used in a foreign country?

There must be other things you can expend your menral energy on?

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

Yes it is and it has been debated several times on MN in the last few years. You will have lots of people coming to tell you their granny’s cousins dog was an Irish setter and didn’t flinch when the phrase was said so it clearly couldn’t be offensive

[ZippyBungleandGeorge]

I've never heard this before and would have assumed they were talking about Jedward

[flipflop67]

I'm Irish. Doesn't offend me.

[goose1964]

I've never heard that, it's as offensive as siamese twins you never hear that these days. Americans on the whole aren't as racially sensitive as other countries

[ZippyBungleandGeorge]

@goose1964 was that irony?

[Alsohuman]

How much contraception was available in the 1800s? Seriously?

Just another opportunity for professional offence takers to have their feathers ruffled. On behalf of my Irish ancestors, I refuse to be offended.

[edgeofheaven]

Yes it’s a common phrase in the US. It means siblings born in the same year. Remember that a very large percentage of Americans have Irish ancestry, so it’s not as “othering” as you may think.

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

would have assumed they were talking about Jedward

[SwedishEdith]

It's not only used in America. I've heard it here. It's the usual "immigrants/Catholics [insert oursider group of choice]" breed like rabbits view. Of course it's offensive.

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

On behalf of my Irish ancestors, I refuse to be offended.

See?

[3luckystars]

I'm Irish and it doesn't offend me at all.

Are you Irish?

[Bluntness100]

Gosh do you just go online looking for stuff to be offended about?

[thetonsillolith]

My family are Irish. I have lots of cousins. Many of my cousins are close in age to their siblings. So yeah it may be offensive but it's also true.

[Alsohuman]

Of course neither OP, nor her supporter are Irish, those of us who are have more sense.

[FannyFeatures]

I don't think it's offensive but do think it's another crappy twee term used by parents who think they're something special.

If you are not Irish and you are carrying a single baby you are not having Irish twins. You're having a plain old run of the mill baby, just like millions of other women.

[Phuquocdreams]

I’ve seen the debate on Mumsnet before and it was the first time I heard it was thought offensive. I’m Irish living in Ireland and have used it myself, I’ve never heard anyone say it was offensive (other than on Mumsnet)

[Passthecherrycoke]

I can see why it’s offensive, but it’s hardly up there in the list tbh.

But what I find more weird is you somehow expecting to police the PC-ness or otherwise of a foreign forum from the other side of the world 😭 seems a bit colonial

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

So yeah it may be offensive but it's also true.

True in what way? Twins means two babies born of the same pregnancy. If they’re Irish then they’re Irish twins. Otherwise, it’s not true at all. They’re just siblings like any other set.

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

Of course neither OP, nor her supporter are Irish

Who is her supporter?

[Icandothisallday]

I was born and raised in Derry. Never even heard it.

But we do have lots of kids in my extended family born within 12 months of eachother.

I am not offended by people commenting on that.

I am also not sure of your explanation. What contraception were people using in the 1800s?

To be honest I get fed up of Irish jokes, people not understanding the political climate of NI, not understanding the struggle Ireland has had at the hands of other countries, then commenting as though they know it all, cause they have seen the news

This honestly doesnt bother me. It may bother some.

[Yubaba]

I’m Irish and I do find it offensive

[Annasgirl]

I'm Irish and its not offensive. We say it ourselves as a joke, particularly as it is more popular now with older mums who want to have their precious 2 close together because the fertility window is closing1111

[RandomAmanda]

I have two brothers, both Irish, born in January and December of the same year

[Passthecherrycoke]

Well I guess it was true in terms of Irish people having large families and continuous pregnancies in the olden days. Like most catholic countries, but I suppose most British/ Americans would be more familiar with the Irish than say, the spanish or Italians