Is this word offensive

[Noidea2114]

Sorry can't link the news thread.
There was a scuffle on a football game and the pundit reporting described the scuffle as 'Handbags'.
He has now been suspended by the BBC.
Am I missing something why this is offensive.

Was the scuffle between Louis Vuitton & Ted Baker?

It's only offensive because everyone has to be offended by everything these days. Bloody ridiculous. Cant believe he was suspended for that. Dont know what the world is coming to

I had never heard of "handbag" being used for anything other than an actual handbag, but I just found this...

"In British slang a fight where the protagonists are unable or unwilling to seriously hurt each other is commonly refered to as a handbag fight, in reference to the way girls fight by hitting each other with their handbags."

I assume the person was suspended for being sexist. Personally, I think it's a lot of fuss over nothing.

@Aquamarine1029

I had never heard of "handbag" being used for anything other than an actual handbag, but I just found this...

"In British slang a fight where the protagonists are unable or unwilling to seriously hurt each other is commonly refered to as a handbag fight, in reference to the way girls fight by hitting each other with their handbags."

I assume the person was suspended for being sexist. Personally, I think it's a lot of fuss over nothing.

Yeh it comes from the saying handbags at dawn

What a massive over reaction.

Amazed that is offensive. Tempted to think the BBC needed some redundancies and so are scouring everything employees say and do for excuses to let people go.

I do find it offensive. Its basically saying that behaving so pathetically that theyre like women. Its the same as saying runs like a girl. If you haven't seen the runs like a girl video, look it up and then come back and say its ok to use women and girls as derogatory insults.

Utter nonsense. Everything, absolutely everything is offensive these days!

@Othering

I do find it offensive. Its basically saying that behaving so pathetically that theyre like women. Its the same as saying runs like a girl. If you haven't seen the runs like a girl video, look it up and then come back and say its ok to use women and girls as derogatory insults.

I agree.

@Othering

I do find it offensive. Its basically saying that behaving so pathetically that theyre like women. Its the same as saying runs like a girl. If you haven't seen the runs like a girl video, look it up and then come back and say its ok to use women and girls as derogatory insults.

I don't think there's any insinuation that its pathetic? In my mind handbags is just another way of saying a fight, not A pathetic fight, not fighting like a girl as if girls can't or don't fight.

Here we go, there'll be a load of posts now saying "Hmph everyone finds everything offensive these days...yada yada".

Things have to evolve people!

That said, I don't think it was a sackable offence.

Oh FFS seriously!

@Othering

I do find it offensive. Its basically saying that behaving so pathetically that theyre like women. Its the same as saying runs like a girl. If you haven't seen the runs like a girl video, look it up and then come back and say its ok to use women and girls as derogatory insults.

How is having a fight but not wanting to murder or seriously injure the other person “pathetic”? I’d call it humane and superior to getting into a fight wanting to maim or kill.

For crying out loud, this is beyond pathetic. Is there really nothing more important for people to worry about?

The phrase is handbags at dawn isn’t it? It’s used to describe a fight over something pathetic and trivial i.e something women would fight over. Because, you know, women are just silly little creatures.

I really doubt it was deleted for being sexist. - the most deadly insult for a man is to imply he isn't manly.

That's exactly what it's saying. Its only women who have traditionally carried a handbag and it's used as a derisory insult towards men.....as in, you're so pathetic that you even fight like a girl.

I'm not actually offended so much as weary. Language is important. Its one of the main ways we communicate. There are so many words and phrases to draw upon, why must we still have to resort to using women and girls as the ultimate put down.

@Regularsizedrudy

The phrase is handbags at dawn isn’t it? It’s used to describe a fight over something pathetic and trivial i.e something women would fight over. Because, you know, women are just silly little creatures.

Nope. The reason for the "fight" is irrelevant. "Handbags" means the combatants don't want to get hurt or hurt the opponent, a pretend fight. Harks back to when women scrapped in clubs using their handbags which unless they carried bricks around couldn't cause much damage.

@BananaPop2020

For crying out loud, this is beyond pathetic. Is there really nothing more important for people to worry about?

Everyday sexism IS important though. Its possible to worry about more than one thing at once.

You are spectacularly missing the point.

There is a difference between being offensive and being slightly sexist. I consider this slightly sexist and maybe deserves a word in the ear.

Anyone who finds this really offensive needs to get over themselves.

And I'll be the first for the mumsnet bingo

Some people are just too easily offended these days

It's misogyny and a bit toxic-masculinity too.
I'm not 'offended' but language matters.

It's not a the word itself that's offensive, it's the casual sexism that is offensive. It was right that he was suspended.

They're saying it's a pathetic fight, therefore a womanly fight. As pp said, it's like "runs like a girl". Just because this stuff has been around for yonks, and we're used to it, doesn't make it remotely ok.

Our wee daughters hear stuff like this every day, as do our sons, and opinions are formed and hardened, drip by drip, until adulthood.

We can do better - and broadcasters certainly should.