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AIBU?

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Original poster

'Females.'

163 replies

Toenailz · 24/11/2024 04:47

Anyone else cringe when people refer to women as 'females' in the context of completely casual conversation? And also wonder where the fuck it started and why it's become so popular?

Usually utilised by men referring to women as 'females' and, on here, usually by scorned women referring to another woman that their DH is being in some way inappropriate with, as 'another female' or 'a female'.

Yeah yeah, the correct biological terms and all, but can't help feeling this has a rather sexist connotation to reduce women to less, as usual?

OP posts:
GretchenWienersHair · 24/11/2024 07:56

YANBU. I once saw someone on Twitter say “men use ‘females’ when they want to say ‘bitches’”, and honestly it checks out. Look at any sentence you see online with the word “females” instead of “women” and replace it with “bitches” and their tone and meaning comes through so much more clearly.

Chillilounger · 24/11/2024 07:56

I do it to differentiate as the meaning of the word women has changed and sometimes that's an important distinction to make. Other times it doesn't matter at all, and then I would probably say woman.

Hateam · 24/11/2024 07:53

It must be endlessly draining going through life actively looking for ways to be offended.

Trumped · 24/11/2024 07:44

Workhardcryharder · 24/11/2024 07:28

We are desperately trying to get people to listen to us when we say that calling trans women just “women” undermines the struggles we go through etc, and saying how we want to be referred to our sex instead of “person with womb” etc.

Now calling the term “females” misogynistic is a sure way to get people to stop listening

All part of the agenda. Males feel threatened & upset about the increasing use of the correct term female as they can never be female which is why the word infuriates certain individuals!

Bridgetomalley · 24/11/2024 07:32

I'm sorry but I don't understand the outrage about the use of " female". I didn't even know until very very recently this was now regarded by some people as apparently unacceptable.

I do think the use of the word " girl" to describe adult women is derogatory, demeaning and insulting . And it's disappointing to see it wheeled out ad nauseum on MN. Bad enough when men use it to minimise and infantilise women but so disappointing that so many women do this to themselves.

Workhardcryharder · 24/11/2024 07:28

We are desperately trying to get people to listen to us when we say that calling trans women just “women” undermines the struggles we go through etc, and saying how we want to be referred to our sex instead of “person with womb” etc.

Now calling the term “females” misogynistic is a sure way to get people to stop listening

Trumped · 24/11/2024 07:26

I think female is great as it completely invalidate the she/her & they/them pronouns which thankfully are gone out of fashion.
But it also overrides the males identifying as "women" as males can never be females. Job done with a simple, scientifically & biologically correct word. The gender activists hate the terms males
& female as it debunks their ideological theories 🤣

knitnerd90 · 24/11/2024 07:16

Sounds either like an incel or a Ferengi from Star Trek.

BilboBlaggin · 24/11/2024 07:14

I'm assuming you've just fed the thread about the fiance private messaging a client who is 'a female'. I read that and wondered why OP hadn't written woman 🤷🏼‍♀️

Trumped · 24/11/2024 07:12

Frozensun · 24/11/2024 07:07

Yeah, but my point is that there are adults/older people also neurodiverse who will use the terms in the same way. Ergo, context.

Show quote history

And they are correct. In this day & age it is more important than ever to differentiate female from woman as males can never be female (no matter how much they imagine they are!)

DustyLee123 · 24/11/2024 07:10

I don’t notice it, but I’d say it’s coming from Friday Night Dinner.

Frozensun · 24/11/2024 07:07

Toenailz · 24/11/2024 05:54

The context of which was fairly well described in the opening post.

I'm not sure referencing an autistic child under 10 is really in the context of the thread. Besides which, he uses 'male and female' you say - not just female for women, whilst using 'men' for well, men.

Show quote history

Yeah, but my point is that there are adults/older people also neurodiverse who will use the terms in the same way. Ergo, context.

Trumped · 24/11/2024 07:01

@Toenailz you do know what a woman is right?
A woman is an adult female so female is absolutely fitting when talking about women.

A man is an adult born male so males is also the correct term when talking about men.

Trumped · 24/11/2024 06:57

Yabu because males are now identifying as women & girls. The term female nips that in the bud immediately as males can never be female. The term female is very powerful as it invalidates gender identity.
I love the term female & I am delighted to see it's use becoming very mainstream giving the 🖕 to gender ideology activists & their bolloxology. After all there are only two sex male & female.. The term male is also becoming much more used in general convo & in the media.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 24/11/2024 06:48

Jasmine82 · 24/11/2024 05:28

It’s dehumanising, I’ve always hated it and if mentioned, you just get the eye roll. Female could be anything- animal, bird etc

This.

But I end up talking about "male people" and "female people" a lot, particularly when discussing feminism, because the words "men" and "women" have now been redefined to mean gender rather than sex.

NineDaysQueen · 24/11/2024 06:44

Better than the collective 'you guys' which seems to be the common way of addresseing anyone today

Michelle12A · 24/11/2024 06:43

Loads of people call men males here

Birdscratch · 24/11/2024 06:21

It’s quite helpful because, when used by men, it’s shorthand for ‘I’m a misogynist.’ It shows you exactly who they are. Women who use the word ladies (when they’re not talking about the loo) quite often have a lot of internalised misogyny.

TheKneesOfTheBees · 24/11/2024 06:15

Octavia64 · 24/11/2024 05:18

My dad, who would be 80 if he were still alive used to use this term.

Not sure I like it.

Mine too, and he would've been 94. He had really strange opinions, he was all for equality as long as women behaved more like men!

Original poster
Toenailz · 24/11/2024 06:08

Classiclemon · 24/11/2024 05:42

There's a whole sub Reddit about this 'menandfemales'.

Sounds like I need to read this.. but maybe it'll just give me the fucking rage. 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Toenailz · 24/11/2024 06:07

Terfandsurf · 24/11/2024 06:05

What a load of crap. You need a hobby, OP.

Maybe that hobby includes being rather interested in the state of misogyny in 2024.

Or maybe, it includes perusing Mumsnet, much like yourself. It's of course the most important thing to do 6am on a Sunday morning for us both, it seems..

OP posts:
Terfandsurf · 24/11/2024 06:05

What a load of crap. You need a hobby, OP.

Original poster
Toenailz · 24/11/2024 06:05

IsANameImportant · 24/11/2024 05:16

I get exactly why you mean. It’s like women are being reduced to as a biological specimen. Examined i der a microscope as another species. My FIL uses the term and it creeps me out. Probably ireational but ot just feels wrong.

Yeah, that's the exact feeling I get.

First time I ever heard it uttered in real life was by a man.. 'Females in bikini's'. Says it all, really. Grim.

OP posts:
Coolasfeck · 24/11/2024 06:00

I think it’s a popular term in the incel movement. You can almost imagine a misogynist spitting out ‘females!’ with venom online.

Original poster
Toenailz · 24/11/2024 05:54

Frozensun · 24/11/2024 05:46

It depends on context. I have a grandson who is under 10 and is autistic. He uses male & female - not because of any derogatory intent but because scientifically these are the titles used.

The context of which was fairly well described in the opening post.

I'm not sure referencing an autistic child under 10 is really in the context of the thread. Besides which, he uses 'male and female' you say - not just female for women, whilst using 'men' for well, men.

OP posts:
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