Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Gender as synonym for sex

55 replies

BCCoach · 21/07/2023 13:11

Ok preparing to be flamed for this one and yes it’s probably a TAAT, but why do so many feminists use the recent (Psychological/Sociological/American according to OED) meaning of gender and deny the much older meaning as a synonym for biological sex, which is the one that the vast majority of people are using in the context of babies?

Gender as a synonym for sex is meaning 3a in OED and dates from 1474 while the new meaning (3b) is a US import first recorded in 1945.

What’s stopping us from reclaiming the older and, outside of academia and special interest groups, far more generally understood meaning?

OP posts:
DeanElderberry · 21/07/2023 13:46

to bear progeny, obviously, not as a substitute for bear cubs.

I know why we don't have an edit button, but sometimes regret not having one.

DeanElderberry · 21/07/2023 13:44

My copy of the OED is firm that the medieval usage is 'now only jocular' in contrast to the other usages: meaning kind or sort generally with no reference to sexual difference; the grammatical use we are all familiar with; and as a synonym of engender, the bear progeny.

All those uses are far better referenced, and remained in constant use for centuries, unlike the 'sex' version which the referencing makes clear remained rare, intermittent and generally used as a joke.

If we start using language according to obscure medieval slang definitions, words will lose all meaning. Which is of course what the genderists want, in their quest to eradicate women.

Flickersy · 21/07/2023 13:30

I think the use of sex can lead to ambiguity too, because it has two very common meanings. I.e. your biological sex and the act of sex (which in itself covers one hell of a range of activities).

One poster on the other thread mentioned a neurofen advert talking about the "gender pain gap'" in medical treatment. And I think in this case that's actually much less unambiguous than "sex pain gap", because sex pain gap could refer to either the difference in approach to medical treatment or the pain experienced by some women during sex.

Original poster
BCCoach · 21/07/2023 13:27

That’s very understandable @Helleofabore

i just really don’t like it when people jump on the gender reveal threads to ‘correct’ posters who are using the word correctly in the first place.

OP posts:
Helleofabore · 21/07/2023 13:19

Because it leads to circular discussions and because it also makes statements ambiguous. I have no desire to keeping having to clarify or ask for clarification.

And I rarely used 'gender' as a substitute myself anyway. I understand if you wish to use it, but I don't and I can only speak for myself.