To have noticed that men who refer to women as 'females'

[applemac]

Usually turn out to be losers. And why is this?

Thanks for this. "Everyone" it is.

Winter

WI = Women's Institute.

TWG = Townswomen's Guild.

It is definitely not a class thing; I find myself correcting students where the intake is not working class.

Haven't read the whole thread so if someone said this, sorry. I hate this fad for referring to people as being 'a male' or 'female'. These are pronouns. Meant to be followed by a noun eg 'ferret' or whatever. If you are referring to someone's gender, it's man or woman. GRRRRRRR. Okay, language rant over.

police always say "a female" and "females".

Yeah, but they also say "Three males; two IC1s and an IC3." I think you have to let them off that

The last time I typed out a newsletter, I removed all the gender descriptors from "Our lady vicar" and "The village policewoman", etc. No-one seems to have noticed ... I hope the vicar did, though!

I think some men are using it because they've been told not to say 'ladies' but are just struggling to find the correct replacement.

Just answer "female what?"

To refer to a person by their sex is rude

As a male, I do face a dilemma, I would usually use the word women but I have been told off for referring to a friend as a woman, she preferred the word lady. I pointed out that lady could be considered derogatory but I've never talked her round.

In the army, any written orders usually referred to women as female soldiers as in "female soldiers are not allowed in male accommodation."

I think woman is correct personally.

Honestly, if an individual asks you to refer to them by a word that is not generally offensive, you just do it. For future reference, I prefer to be called a "person" if there's some particular reason you can't use my name.

I have to say I don't care that much what exact words are used, although I absolutely agree that the language used says a lot about a person. I prefer to give free rein but reserve the right to make a judgement on it.

Tobyjugg

It's fine in that case, if as I assume you'd address a men's group as gentlemen.

I have no problem with "ladies" when it's used alongside or equivalent to "gentlemen" in a formal greeting.

I just object to those who have an intrinsic fear of addressing a grown adult female as a woman. I'm not a "girl" and I'm certainly not a "lady", and I don't find it complimentary to be described in such belittling or patronising terms.

They're off to a bad start when they treat half the human race like another, inferior species.

I don't think I've ever come across a person who refers to a woman as a female. I'd probably laugh and think they were strange if they did.

Where I'm from in the US everyone is called guys, as in "Those guys", "you guys".

After that, it's usually girls if they're under 30, I don't think we use "women" around here unless they're older women.

But you certainly wouldn't refer to women as ladies outside a condescending lecture. Kind of like how we call our daughters "Young lady" when scolding them.

But usually it's just a neutral "guys" to refer to any group of people.

Saucy Yes, I would.

Saucy Yes, I would address a men's group as gentlemen.

So, feminists may have a problem being refered to as females?

Well, feminism was never called Females' Lib or the Females' Movement.

Come to think of it, I don't recall any "females' magazines" like Female's Own, Females' World or Female. Websites don't invite me to browse Females' Clothing. My doctor doesn't give me leaflets on Females' Health.

Point made yet, derivative?

I don't think it's a class thing, either.

Something that really annoys me is the use of the word 'guys' to describe a mixed-sex group.

Ooh I went on a lunch date with someone who said 'females'. Not in a nasty way though. I asked him about it and he said he had been told off (by a female) for using girls and wondered if ladies was better. I said errr women works just fine, thanks. I didn't see him again, I was totally perplexed by his confusion.

garlic isn't there /wasn't there a part of the DM called FeMail?
think that might prove the point though

"Met any females?", Dad from Friday Night Dinner. Might they be aping this, as a joke only understood by viewers of said show? Just a thought.

My personal experience here in the US is that it's a cultural thing. I've heard black people (men and women) use it, almost exclusively. In fact, I have a close male friend who I asked about it one time, and he affirmed it was cultural. He uses it, and he's very nice and respectful of women. It makes me cringe a bit, but I wouldn't judge someone using it as a loser or misogynist or anything.

I've only heard guys used as a mixed gender noun by women. I use people.

YANBU. I hate it when women refer to other females as well though.

Toby..IMO just don't say "good evening females" and it's fine.