To think that “Irish twins” is an offensive term?

[CroissantwithCheese]

I read a thread on an American pregnancy forum about the term “Irish twins”. The OP posted some gushing statement hoping she was pregnant and that it would mean she had Irish twins. A commenter said it was offensive and I deeply agree. It was an idiom apparently created in the US in the 1800s, referring to the large families of Irish immigrants. It was derogatory, stereotyping the Irish for not having any sort of family planning and not using contraception. But this was hardly their fault as the church had banned contraception. The term has now become some sort of cutesy way of referring to two children born within a year of each other, and seems to be completely accepted. How can that be accepted and not considered offensive?!

I’m Irish and I do find it offensive

Can I ask why?

'I've never heard this before and would have assumed they were talking about Jedward'

@ZippyBungleandGeorge I thought of Jedward too.

I'm not in the least bit offended by the terms Irish twins or Siamese twins.

The term 'Siamese twins' just comes from the fact that the first internationally-known conjoined twins were born in, what was then, Siam.

Would you expect someone named Baker to be offended that someone else has a Baker's Cyst?

People are too easily offended today. It's your problem if you are over-sensitive.

I'm Irish. Not offended. Only ever heard it used in Ireland by Irish people.

Not to be confused with Irish jokes which are as outdated as any other racist 'joke'.

Doesn't bother me either.

But...the church did ban contraception and Irish people did have large families...! it's not really a stereotype so much as a reference to a time when there were a lot of large families with babies close in age in Ireland.

I personally don't think it's offensive but seeing as some people do I'll stop using it.

so much as a reference to a time when there were a lot of large families with babies close in age in Ireland.

And do you think that was a happy thing that Irish people (particularly Irish women) enjoyed being reminded of by having this phrase coined about them?

I have two boys who were born within 9 months of each other, ds 3 was 2 months premature, DD's have 11 months between them.
None are twins and given I have a quarter of Irish in me, I wouldn't call them Irish or twins.

I have never heard the phrase before and would not have been offended by it if I had. But its really a first world issue - there are waaaay more things to get worried about in this world today...

I think its a denigrating turn of phrase.

I first heard it from some Irish sisters when I was on holiday in Spain in the late 70s and was amused at the explanation (and kind of jealous because the sisters were so close and not just in age!) I have used it ever since (which isn’t often because I haven’t come across many since). I must admit to wondering if it’s offensive. If it is I won’t use it again.

it's as offensive as siamese twins you never hear that these days.

Siamese twins is hardly the same though. That's only a phrase that came into being because Chang and Eng Bunker were so well known as 'the Siamese twins' and it was such a rare condition.

Not at all the same as one that has a dig at large Irish families, and is mostly used now in a negative way.

Yea, I agree with pp. People are way too overly sensitive these days.... Saying someone has Irish twins is not meant to be a bad thing, I have heard the term used by many, who guess what...are IRISH! There are way worse things in life to ponder...GEEZ.

I'm Irish and consider it an offensive stereotype. Because it is.

Who’s it denigrating? I doubt many Irish women ever give it a thought @ILoveMaxiBondi, but you seem to be hellbent on being offended on our behalf.

If you feel the need to virtual signal there plenty of far more worthwhile subjects.

I'm Irish, I live in Ireland and I have Irish twins born 10 months apart. I spread out number 2 and 3 though and there is 15 months between them.

To be honest the term Irish twins was the nicest thing people said at the time!

I don't find it offensive at all.

East river I’ve reported your deliberately goad “having a paddy” comment.

Irish, living in Ireland with a Catholic upbringing. I use the term myself as do lots of people I know. Find some other group to get offended on behalf of please. My brother and sister are Irish twins. He used to cry for the 4 days they were the same age. I think it's a nice phrase.

I doubt many Irish women ever give it a thought @ILoveMaxiBondi, but you seem to be hellbent on being offended on our behalf.

Nah, just on my own Irish behalf.

I’m Welsh so have no axe to grind. But stereotyping people by their nationality is always a bit off isn’t it?

“My brother and sister are Irish twins. He used to cry for the 4 days they were the same age.” 🤣 this really made me laugh. Hope he’s over it now!

and I have Irish twins born 10 months apart.

Wow! A ten month labour!

You have Irish siblings.

I’m Irish and to be honest I do find it slightly derogatory because it plays into the stereotype that Irish people were/ are incapable of running heir lives properly because they are either drunk or misguidedly over-religious.

If someone said it to me (I think I’ve had it said to me actually, because DS1 & 2 are v. close in age) I would think they were an idiot but I wouldn’t tell them so.