to think the term lionesses is sexist

[greenlloon]

or at least its odd as we dont call the men lions we call them england we should call the women England but also adding an ess to a noun an be considered sexist by many. it has just struck me as odd.

I'm far from an expert, but taking the branding point made up-thread ...... maybe they actually want to be known by a different name colloquially.

But I think this is one of those "pick your battle" moments OP ...... out of everything which remains sexist in this world in general, and in sport & football in particular, this isn't near the top of my list to get excited about.

Yes but when talking about the Male players they aren’t constantly referred to as the “lions”. I work in journalism and when the World Cup was on I didn’t once see the Male players referred to as “lions”, whereas every broadcaster is calling the female players “lionesses”.

If your situation is true then it makes it worst tbh, the male football team are consistently referred to as lions, it's an FA thing, the guardian et al consistently refer to the male football team as Lions as it makes headlines win or lose.

To try and be outraged on this IDPOL stack, considering the FA are trying to promote womens football and build up the team to be synonymous with the male team and terminology is just looking for outrage.

@bingbongnoise who cares? I don’t particularly care what someone who uses the phrase “all the LOLZ” thinks and sure OP doesn’t either.

@greenlloon

Get a hobby. Seriously. You seem to have waaaaaaaay too much time on your hands, and virtually 19 out of 20 posters disagree with you!!

@Passthecherrycoke

And I don't care what a girl like YOU thinks.

shrugs

That's it .The world has gone completely bonkers if we're supposed to be offended by our women's football team being called lionesses. no one said we should be offended in fact i an title designed to get attention but in the op just called it a bit odd

Not really adding much to the thread are you?

Sadly I think what she’s adding to the thread is making “the girls” look a bit thick

If your situation is true then it makes it worst tbh, the male football team are consistently referred to as lions, it's an FA thing, the guardian et al consistently refer to the male football team as Lions as it makes headlines win or lose.
please find an article where they are referred to as lions not the three lions

I think someone is simply being a goady mcgoady pants

The -ess ending to words is sexist in itself. because it suggests the basic/default version is male, and the female version needs a special marker. Hence trying not to use words like actress and waitress because they're not necessary.

However even as a raging feminist I would quite like to be called a lioness. They are cool, they are better than male lions as PPs have pointed out, and it does give everyone a handy and easy way to reference the women's team which I think has really added to the interest in the current world cup.

There are some -ess words that are just great words. Like sorceress, ogress and abbess. I quite like lioness because it combines the traditionally feminine with strength and fierceness.

Under 21's are the 'young lions'

Get a hobby. Seriously. You seem to have waaaaaaaay too much time on your hands, and virtually 19 out of 20 posters disagree with you!! what sort of person would make a comment like this you think im wasting my time so much so you feel its worth youre time reading a mumsnet thread about it and saying im wasting my time. i can do what i like do you think women should only do certain things not what they like if i like posting on mumsnet that is my right and you will not stop me.

I don’t recall the England male team referred to as the lions ? It’s just England

They have been the Lionesses for as long as I can remember, I played football growing up and played for Gunness junior Ironesses and aspired to play for Doncaster Belles. Is that also sexist? That the team names are feminine compared to their male counterparts of Scunthorpe junior Iron and Doncaster junior Rovers?

If your situation is true then it makes it worst tbh, the male football team are consistently referred to as lions, it's an FA thing, the guardian et al consistently refer to the male football team as Lions as it makes headlines win or lose

No. They don’t. They do occasionally but not every time they refer to the team. And they don’t call the players “lions”. They call them the “England team”

Lions aren’t even from England :o

Dragons are from wales though

Get a hobby. Seriously. You seem to have waaaaaaaay too much time on your hands, and virtually 19 out of 20 posters disagree with you!!

What does that prove 😂 90% of men in the Middle East think gay marriage should be illegal and women should cover up head to toe, are they correct?

A popular opinion doesn’t equal a correct opinion.

I think you are being sexist OP, as you’re implying that the feminine form of something is automatically inferior, that lioness is somehow lesser than lion.

In sport, being referred to as any type of feline is a massive compliment. Male or female. Because cat species are such remarkable creatures with amazing physical abilities. Can you jump onto something four or five times your own height from a semi-seated position OP? Are you the fastest land creature on earth? Can you bring down something many times your size?

Plus there is the way lion and lionesses choreograph their hunts to act in concert and can even bring down elephants if the pride is big enough. That’s a pretty good example of team work and strategic thinking. Lionesses is a brilliant name for people engaged in a team sport.

I don't think it's sexist and I don't think there's anything odd about it. The branding and affectionate nickname has worked.

If someone says 'England's playing' you first narrow down the sport and then, if necessary, find out if it's the men or the women. 'The Lionesses are playing' leaves no doubt about their unique identity. It's noble and distinctive.

If I was cheering them on though I'd shout 'Come on you Lions' after the badge.

Hithere12
I’m 48 & happy to be be called a girl.

Op
how, as you have suggested is naming our women’s football team England, to match the men, less sexist than being given their own identity within what was a male dominated sport for many years.

please find an article where they are referred to as lions not the three lions

No, the onus is on you in this situation to prove that no male team has been referred to as lions.

You want to imply reading between the lines.

Isn't it the rugby boys that are called the Lions?

Is it sexist? Nope.

Are they ace? Yes.

Roll on SPOTY and hopefully they'll storm the stage singing Three Lions on the shirt!

I'd love to be called a lioness. Fabulous strong female.

No, the onus is on you in this situation to prove that no male team has been referred to as lions. no the onus is on you to back up what you said