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Original poster

Would you consider "wingman" a sexist term?

34 replies

BertrandRussell · 08/06/2016 12:48

I've just signed up to a company that sends you ground coffee every couple of weeks- and I've just had a email saying "Hi, I'm Ashley your P a c t coffee wingman"

Sexist? Or just icky?

OP posts:
ChocChocPorridge · 08/06/2016 13:09

Hmmmm..

Well, in the way that it's a pilot thing, no (although of course it does assume a man), in the way that it's used these days in a pickup situation - it's borderline simply because of the connotations - certainly icky.

BTW. Sterling work in other areas on mumsnet Bertrand. I feel like we need status lines so you could have 'when buying shoes?' as yours.

deydododatdodontdeydo · 08/06/2016 13:08

I thought it was a friend a bloke took with him on a night out to help him pull:

The origin of which is a pilot whose aircraft is positioned behind and outside the leading aircraft in a formation.
Which is a gendered term, probably female wingmen these days so they should be changing it. I think wingmate is also used.

Don't see the relevance to coffee though Confused

Original poster
BertrandRussell · 08/06/2016 13:05

It certainly used to be a bloke you took out with you to help you pull. To distract your "target" girl's friends, even to soften her up by telling her how wonderful you were. Wingman's reward was getting off with the presumably slightly less attractive friend.

OP posts:
SwedishEdith · 08/06/2016 13:03

Don't' even know what it means so Ashley fails at the first hurdle for me.

DrDreReturns · 08/06/2016 12:59

I thought it was a friend a bloke took with him on a night out to help him pull:

www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Wingman

mamapants · 08/06/2016 12:57

How is it sexist? I don't understand

dementedma · 08/06/2016 12:56

Dunno shrugs if Ashley is a bloke then he's a wingman!

Original poster
BertrandRussell · 08/06/2016 12:51

Ok. When I was a young woman it most definitely was a sexist term- do women use it too now?

OP posts:
dementedma · 08/06/2016 12:49

Cringy but not sexist