The word “lionesses” makes me cringe

[bottledjoyy]

I’m sorry, I know this is irrational but something about it just makes me cringe so much. I enjoyed watching the women’s football and am all for it, but for some reason the term “Lionesses” makes me shudder with cringe.
I feel like it just makes it feel a bit infantilising? I know it’s Three Lions but not like we constantly refers to the men’s team as “the lions”. I dunno it just seems patronising and cringe.

Just me? Haha

No, me too - diminishing!

Oh god me too. Seems sexist too

yabvu

How do you feel about the Roses, Tourists, Lakers, Canaries, Bucaneers, Dolphins, Red Sox, Bafana Bafana, incidentally?

I've said exactly the same. Add to that the Australian women being called the Matildas - awful.

I think it might be more of a women's football thing? The Aussie are the Matildas.

likely nothing they are all american so most of us wouldn't know if they were men's or women's teams or what they even play

No one in Australia seems to mind their men’s team being called the Socceroos. I think you’re being a bit precious.

Eh they've been the lionesses long before the main stream media interest.

I just feel like it sounds so cringe and primary school-ish. Why not just refer to them as England like the men?

It’s just the name of female lions. Personally I like it but I like actress too and head mistress etc.
female words are just as good as make ones infact better imo

Aren't lionesses a lot better than lions at bringing home the goods? Makes sense to me

Lionesses are definitely better than lions!

Me too OP! I thought I was alone on this one. I don't even know why, I just find it really cringeworthy.

Me three! It's infantlising and makes them sound less than

I like it. Doesn't make me cringe.

I like the Matildas too. I hadn't realised that the Aussie men were called the socceroos, but that is brilliant. Lovely name.

I agree, OP, it makes me cringe too. I've never been able to bring myself to refer to them as that. And it's true, we don't call the men's team 'The Lions'.

I thought it was because lionesses are more active and more interesting than male lions. They are the ones who hunt.

Well they wouldn't be as the British and Irish Lions is a rugby team, the name can't be used for two different sports.

Oh I thought I was the only one who cringed at this!

There is something patronising about it. And all the supposed support but hardly anyone will show up to watch women's league football.

I understand why you feel like that but as a lionesses does the majority of hunting, is much faster than the male and definitely not subservient to a lion I personally we wouldn't mind that word as a nickname.

Can't please all the people - here's a Wiki List of various England Women's FC Team names - so what name would thoust preferest - plenty to choose from.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_women%27s_association_football_clubs_in_England

Well gosh, who knew! The England women's rugby team is actually American.

pssst. Do you think they know?

I thought it was just me! It's awful.

Is it unusual for national football teams to be referred to like that? It doesn't seem odd to me but I'm used to men's rugby where you have the likes of

The All-Blacks
The Springboks
The Wallabies
The Cherry Blossoms
Los Pumas
Etc.

Then again, I suppose "Lionesses" is quite a clunky word to say.

With you OP. Just awful.