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?!

My dad himself is an actual Irish 'twin' and 2 siblings further down the line are too.

He is certainly not offended by the term and uses it himself.

I think its quite funny. Hardly a false stereotype. I come from a massive Irish family.
I do know that its a bit borderline offensive though, so I only use it with a wink to people who I know would take it in the right spirit

I never cease to be amazed at the things people take offence over.

It do you get Irish triplets or quads

Yes there were even Irish sextuplets 10 years ago.

I'm Irish. Don't care.

What's not to love about the phrase? It means ye've a healthy sex life and are in the prime of your life. In this age of decreasing fertility, it's nothing but a compliment.

Please don't be offended on my behalf.

I also think its good that there is a nod to the twin like feeling of having babies so close together. It is definitely not like having children of a bigger age gap

Intothe
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Ican- I’m going to leave it there with you. We won’t agree on this one.

Puppymonkey. Yes, and again I’m not stupid. I was very simply responding to you explaining to me that my sister and I can’t be Irish twins because we missed the cut off. You then asked if I understood the joke.

I don’t normally engage in this type of argument, but I have a personal over sensitivity about people talking down to me. I may have over reacted here and I should have ignored

I am now very annoyed at myself for getting into a row on the internet with a total stranger, and will need a big gin and tonic to recover😇🤣

Ican- I’m going to leave it there with you. We won’t agree on this one.

Ok. But find it odd there no comment on your phrasing being offensive, when you insist if someone is offended by a phrase, its default definitely offensive to all.

I'm kinda proud of the fact one tiny nation has had on the world. We are legends.

If anything, the term says more about religion in Ireland, than anything, because there's a lot of catholicism. I don't think it suggests daftness at all (other than being too religious to use contraception).

proud of the *impact

Ican- I’m going to leave it there with you. We won’t agree on this one.

Dippy, now you’re talking my language.

Lol. Still no response when you are told you use offensive phrasing.

Excellent debate.

I think Irish people take it as a compliment to be honest!

It’s not seen as a compliment in our family more of a cause of celebration, merriment, toast .. (mainly off the men!)

I’ve never felt or been told it was a slur.

Yup - when a pregnancy is announced, the first to be congratulated is the MAN! 'Ah fair play to ya Tony!' 'You've still got it!'

Ex-fucking-actly! So why why is the phraseIrishtwins? When families of all nationalities would have had babies with small age gaps? Because it nicely fitted in with the stereotype being peddled of Irish people having no control of themselves and breeding like rabbits. It is offensive.

This 100%

I'm kinda proud of the fact one tiny nation has had on the world. We are legends

Arah! There's more to be worrying about.

If you were to coin a phrase stereotyping the English, it would be 'English siblings - born exactly 2.8 years apart'.

Ican- I have responded several times to your posts on this and you dont accept them. That’s fine, that’s your prerogerative, but it’s clear for all to see we would go in endless circles and still never agree. You may find that enjoyable, I don’t. So I’m not going to waste my time. Continue goading if it pleases you. I’m ignoring you now.

I also think its good that there is a nod to the twin like feeling of having babies so close together

This and I think this is how the women in my family see it whilst the men just congratulate themselves as being studs