Is there a name for this thing that seems to happen all the time on feminist threads? It happens on other subjects too,, but it's very noticeable on feminism.

[BertrandRussell]

Somebody will post about something they've observed. Something that only every happens to women, for example. Like being called a girl, as a 45 year old professional woman. And another poster will say that "Oh, people use "boy" to describe 45 year old professional men all the time"
Which is simply, observably, NOT TRUE.

On the thread about gendered endearments, people are suggesting that "mate" is non gendered.
Which is simply, observably, NOT TRUE.

Is there a name for it? If not, should we invent one? The Blinker Fallacy?

Oh and I meant to say I wish there was a name for it, it would make it a lot easier to call people out on it like 'hey, stop fannifying this discussion' or whatever...

well, the first theory you give, thinking that my experience = normal experience is narrow mindedness, to give it a polite term.

Oh yes Absolutely but that's not what we're looking for a name for.

In my circle of friends men and women DO call each other mate so it may be that the posters aren't totally making it up.

HOWEVER I recognise I was lucky to grow up at a time and in a scene where no one thought twice about men and women being friends, we hung out in large mixed groups.

And, I would be being willfully blind or stupid to not realise that this is not how the rest of the world tends to operate - strangers call my OH mate, not me.

Bubbly boy? That's got to be imagined though hasn't it?!

Bubbly boy? That's got to be imagined though hasn't it?!

When I started uni my grandparents came to visit me in my new campus accommodation. I have this funny memory of my grandad saying "alright love" to one female housemate and "alright mate" to the other female housemate - the lesbian who wore a very short haircut and men's clothing... He clearly thought she was a bloke!

Bubbly boy? That's got to be imagined though hasn't it?!

Try reading the thread.

I read that as "bully boy" then realised there is no equivalent phrase for females...
Honestly, I'm conflicted, there are many negative gendered phrases that only apply to men or only apply to women, and positive ones.
I'm not convinced it's all stacked against women.

Very interesting article about gendered language and unconscious bias by Siri Hustvedt: lithub.com/knausgaard-writes-like-a-woman/

No one said it was all stacked against women did they deydodoo? People are insisting that gendered language doesn't exist at all - which is patent nonsense.

No one said it was all stacked against women did they deydodoo?

Not in this thread, maybe, but it is often said on this and other forums.

"I'm not convinced it's all stacked against women."

That's almost another example!

I did say in my first post I'm somewhat guilty of it myself