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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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The term "men in dresses"

358 replies

AuntMsVanillaRose · 12/09/2018 08:22

Trans-excluders like to say that they're absolutely fine with boys who don't fit in with gender stereotypes. And I, not one of you, am fine with children not fitting gender stereotypes. But I don't think that is true of all of you. Why is "man in a dress" used as an insult by so many of you?

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Ereshkigal · 13/09/2018 18:19

Are we still allowed to post biscuits or do they count as breakfast chit chat?

GulagsMyArse · 13/09/2018 18:23

come on, how can you even ask. really

Nope, biscuits are evil and exclusionary, they should be sent to...... wait for it ........

GulagsMyArse · 13/09/2018 18:23

a gulag

MadamBatty · 13/09/2018 18:24

Goulashes? Galoshes? Guacamole ?

Ereshkigal · 13/09/2018 21:23

Gula gula

silentcrow · 13/09/2018 21:41

This whole "man in a dress" thing has been tickling my brain, and I've realised where I've seen it used most before - in historical or fantasy novels where there's a strong religious faction in a culture of warriors. It's an insult, written by male authors in the main, from the mouths of "manly men" such as knights and kings and aimed at men who engage in political scheming without getting their hands dirty. Priests, eunuchs, grand viziers, all hiding behind their robes of office. It's a term of contempt from a man, not generally said by women (because said man in a dress still has more power). Maybe Cersei Lannister would have said it - before the walk of shame, anyway. Grin

Interesting shorthand for an author to choose.

AngryAttackKittens · 13/09/2018 21:45

From women it's mostly just a simple observation, in the same way we'd say "that man is very tall" or "that woman has red hair".

FloralBunting · 13/09/2018 22:28

Yes. I've heard men use it scornfully on a very few occasions, usually about clerics, as an example of their contempt - for a male to be in a dress for them is a noteworthy insult precisely because of their feelings about women.

If I have ever used it, and I don't suggest I've never said it, it's not been a pejorative, it's been a simple descriptive when a person is attempting to convince me of something which isn't true and requiring my agreement.

So, in those cases, as when you are trying to convince a child that Father Christmas is sitting in the grotto ready to hear their Christmas list and they say, "That's not Father Christmas! That just Uncle Des with a pillow in his jacket!" I may well have said "That's a man. In a dress."

The operative here is not actually on what the man may be wearing. It's a phrase expressing that I understand that whatever artifice may be overlaid, I can see the facts a mile off.

I've not said it to anyone's face, usually it would have been if I've been shown footage of someone. It's rarely needed, tbh. Most people would just say something like "Pull the other one." Or "Don't be such a silly sod" to the person who informed them of the 'alternate reality' they were supposed to buy into.

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