At least 10 or 15 years ago was when I first got informed about it. It’s likely been problematic for much longer. Its really not that hard to use the word “women” instead. Usually when people refer to men they use the word “men”, so it’s only fair to use women also. Females feels a bit icky tbf. Like women are a different species or something.
The problem is when people use “female” and “men”.
Male and female are sort of dehumanizing words. Great to use in science, but awkward to use in casual conversation. It’s like telling someone “Your epidermis looks so smooth”.
When you use “females” in combination with more appropriate word for males (e.g., “men”), you end up sounding like an incel or something.
And since people generally don’t use “males” when talking about men casually, even just using “females” outside an academic context is enough to make it sound a lot like how an incel would speak.
So “females” isn’t a bad word, but incels use it in a way that demeans women. If you use it in a non-scientific context, you’ll probably end up sounding like an incel.
(All the "you"s are meant to be the “general you”; I’m not trying to pick on anyone in particular)
Hence, this thread where someone pointed out that the word choice might have unintentional implications, which triggered a few oversensitive incels who percieved it as an attack on their choice to speak dismissively of women.
For someone who insists that context is the determinant of appropriateness, you sure don’t seem to be considering that women might have a different context for the term. XD
I was just giving you some context. It isn’t some new complaint that’s just popped up. It’s also not a huge deal. You do you if you want to keep using the word “females” instead of women.
Re: the Streisand effect. Anyone getting excited that they’ve found a new “trigger” and choosing to use it despite someone else calmly suggesting that a different word is better isn’t really worth any consideration.
At least 10 or 15 years ago was when I first got informed about it. It’s likely been problematic for much longer. Its really not that hard to use the word “women” instead. Usually when people refer to men they use the word “men”, so it’s only fair to use women also. Females feels a bit icky tbf. Like women are a different species or something.
The term women is used in derogatory ways by misogynists too. No word is safe. Yeesh.
Trying to change this is only going to make it worse, Streisand effect kind of thing.
Dude you have a dozen people saying “use a different word” and you just keep fighting back that you want to keep using it and they’re wrong.
Go ahead buddy, keep using “females.” I can guarantee they won’t be using you.
The problem is when people use “female” and “men”.
Male and female are sort of dehumanizing words. Great to use in science, but awkward to use in casual conversation. It’s like telling someone “Your epidermis looks so smooth”.
When you use “females” in combination with more appropriate word for males (e.g., “men”), you end up sounding like an incel or something.
And since people generally don’t use “males” when talking about men casually, even just using “females” outside an academic context is enough to make it sound a lot like how an incel would speak.
So “females” isn’t a bad word, but incels use it in a way that demeans women. If you use it in a non-scientific context, you’ll probably end up sounding like an incel.
(All the "you"s are meant to be the “general you”; I’m not trying to pick on anyone in particular)
I have a female friend group and male friend group.
Men and women sounds weird there, boy and girl can be taken wrong.
Lots of people use the terms in every day use, I don’t know why it’s being claimed it’s not. People slip up, make mistakes.
This just seems like an entire reverse white night scenario. People getting mad over nothing or just wanting to be angry about something.
The gendered terms there are adjectives which describe the two friend groups. Sounds fine.
But using “female” by itself to refer to a woman should be avoided unless the speaker actually wants to sound like a Ferengi.
No moral conflict or language policing necessary, just an awareness of the tonal implications of one’s word choices.
Right people are human and make mistakes, so to accidentally use the term interchangeable is perfectly acceptable.
People are trying to make an issue out of nothing, the only op-Ed’s on this is a decade old at this point.
It’s not a thing, and never will be. Use context to help you instead of just deciding a word is suddenly derogatory.
Hence, this thread where someone pointed out that the word choice might have unintentional implications, which triggered a few oversensitive incels who percieved it as an attack on their choice to speak dismissively of women.
Nah, it’s the reverse, it’s a red flag for men to avoid women who try to say it’s misogynistic and not appropriate.
Context makes it okay or not, not the word itself.
Theres also more people explaining why it’s okay instead of people defending it, so I don’t know what your point was there.
For someone who insists that context is the determinant of appropriateness, you sure don’t seem to be considering that women might have a different context for the term. XD
I was just giving you some context. It isn’t some new complaint that’s just popped up. It’s also not a huge deal. You do you if you want to keep using the word “females” instead of women.
Re: the Streisand effect. Anyone getting excited that they’ve found a new “trigger” and choosing to use it despite someone else calmly suggesting that a different word is better isn’t really worth any consideration.