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.

Quick. Go and google what the England female rugby team is called and prepare to be seriously professionally offended 🌹

Ok, I'll bite OP.

What would you prefer? The Hamsters? The Wombles? The Red Pandas?

As PP have said, it's just branding, and stops confusion when listening on the radio as to which ' England' is being spoken about.

For what it's worth I think the men's team are probably all in a huddle in the changing room saying " It's not fair! Why can't we be the sabre toothed tigers?!"

It's not sexism, but what we're all missing is that it's cultural appropriation! I mean, lions or lionesses have nothing to do with England. We stuck them on out badge having nicked them from Africa, because all our own animals are...well, a bit shit. I mean, what have we got, the natterjack toad!!

We should rename ourselves after an iconic English animal, the pigeons, and the pigeonesses (unless there's a proper word for a female pigeon.)

Lions/lionesses is just a celebration of our imperialist past. Might as well make the goalposts out of ivory and be done with it.

@Lifecraft I second you!

Badgers? Hedgehogs?

We've had Lions on heraldry since the 11th century brought over by the French ( I think) so it's hardly cultural appropriation.

Oh give it up.... always get someone that has to make an issue out of nothing... do people honestly have nothing better to do 😴😴

But... so what? Why is that sexist?

The Male team is referred to as the “England Team”. It’s like they don’t see the women’s as the real “England team” so use this cringe pet name.

PMSL at a few posters on this thread.

Some girls on here are just so uptight.

Lighten up girls.

I am looking at YOU @hithere12 @greenlloon and @Passthecherrycoke

Girls just wanna have fun dontcha know.

Girls rock.

And 9 out of 10 posters on here think the OP is talking crap.

Including me.

As you were girls............

Especially for @Hithere12

Enjoy.

You may enjoy this one too....

This is one of my FAVOURITE songs of all time.

Thank you Cyndi Lauper.

Last one.

Especially for @Hithere12

Well ideally to be non-sexist they should be called something where the default is female, as well as something very english. So that's... chickens, cows, ... erm...

Or maybe bees?

Yes @LadyBumclock "come on you chickens" has a certain ring to it 😂

What do I know anyway ......I'm Scottish and committed the cardinal sin tonight of cheering on an England team 😳😂

Personally I'd rather be referred to as a lioness than a female footballer
😁

Literally cannot believe I am reading this...

Yes YABVU. England Mens team have always been Three Lions. I am proud of the England Womens team and you can bet your arse that every single player in that team are proud to be known as the Lionesses.

Wish I was a lioness.

🦁 shame there is no lioness emoji....

OH MY GOD

You are posting music videos from FORTY YEARS AGO to prove “girls” isn’t sexist/patronising 😂😂😂😂

I’m only 28 and would cringe if I was called a “girl” never mind being menopausal and called it.

Lots of teams are named after animals. The Kiwis, the Wallabies, the Springboks. The lionesses gives the team a strong and iconic identity.

In 1966 the World Cup mascot was a lion. I think it's fair to say it's associated with the England football team.

The "girls" thing doesn't bother me. "The boys did well", " great performance from the girls". Both get used a lot

Going on the non imperialist naming vibe I’ve come up with this - The Vixens!

Named after the lovely indigenous fox 😆. Honestly I think they’ve jumped on the marketing bandwagon and it’s working for them. The associations with a lion/ess is fierce, strong, brave, aggressive, team player. In nature the female is smarter, faster and more successful than her male counterparts. So maybe it’s savvy marketing and satire rolled into one!

I don’t like the ‘ess’ suffix. To me it does have connotations of not being the default, being this sub-version of the real thing that needs a special name. We are moving away from actress now, and calling all actors ‘actors’. Why do female lions need a diminutive? Why can’t they just be lions?

Dear lord - really? Give yourself a bloody shake OP and thank yourself you don't have anything more worrying to angst about

Well ideally to be non-sexist they should be called something where the default is female, as well as something very english. So that's... chickens, cows chicken is the name of both sexes with hen as a female and roster or cock for male

Wow really? I never think of a cockerel as a chicken! Chickens are laydeez! (in my mind...)

OP please ignore the bullying tone from some on this thread. Lionesses is, indisputably, factually, a sexist term, you are not wrong. I happen not to mind it in this instance for various reasons, but being told to get a life and you have too much time on your hands / get offended at anything is missing the point totally. Sexism and patriarchy are embedded in a million small things like this, that's why they should be on interest to everyone.

Therefore I have joined the 9% and given you a YANBU! :)