• Orphie Baby@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    44
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Okay, but depending on how “female” is said, it is often used in a derogatory way by incels and misogynists.

  • lobster_irl@kbin.social
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    26
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    I don’t think I’ve ever been referred to as female outside of someone being creepy… I also haven’t heard men referred to as „males“ outside of bad romance novels either. You may now downvote :P

    • Skyrkazm@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      1 year ago

      No downvotes today.

      The only real crime here is that we haven’t upgraded as humanity. To refer to each other as “specimens” for true equality :troll.png:

  • KimiNoJohn@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    14
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    1 year ago

    What’s wrong with using the term female? I really don’t know but I’ve heard that you shouldn’t do it

    • dreadgoat@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      23
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      It can be dehumanizing since “female” could refer to any sexual creature, not necessarily a human being.

      So in the context of biology, female is appropriate. We may be talking about the properties of ovaries, the effects of high estrogen, the process of pregnancy and childbirth. We may be talking about human females, but potentially also just females in general.

      But in the context of people, female is inappropriate, and it is better to use terms that affirm the subject is human: woman; girl; lady. A woman is (usually) a female, but a female isn’t always a woman, isn’t always a human, and so by referring to women as “female” you subtly suggest that their humanity is absent or unimportant.

      • KimiNoJohn@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        12
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Just checked the definitions and read some articles on the internet. Thanks I understand now.

    • Doug [he/him]@midwest.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      21
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      Nothing or a lot depending on use.

      If it’s being used where “male” could/would be used all is well.

      If not it’s often dehumanizing.

    • Hextic@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      12
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      “female protagonist” good

      “I talked to a female today” bad

      Short version but depends if you’re talking about a specific person(s) or describing the person.

    • Nima@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      1 year ago

      In my opinion, it’s more of a lab type word when talking about biology or anatomy.

      But it’s not actually all that offensive. Women have so many negative terms used to describe us already. Female can stay neutral. And I will continue to use it.

      People give way too much power to small vocal minorities. Don’t let incel neckbeards make another negative term to describe our sex.

    • Uno@monyet.cc
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      7
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      It has the potential to be dehumanizing if used as a noun, because it’s usually a scientific word reserved for non-human animals.

      Moreover, it’s use is often considered sexist because people will write messages such as “men and females” showcasing a double standard in which male people are deserving of enough respect and humanity to stray away from the scientific “males” whereas female people are not.

      Generally, accepted usage of “female” includes the following

      • as an adjective (ex: my female supervisor)
      • if you also use “male” as a noun
      • non-human animals
      • military settings & forms
    • SirSerSur@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      Simply put, it implies a lack of regard towards the subject as human. Saying «Female» over «Woman», «Lady» or «Girl» invokes images of animals rather than humans.

      Same goes for men, but its a lot more uncommon and sometimes actually a positive, as «Male» invokes virility. Its honestly a weird double standard.

  • islandofcaucasus@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    10
    ·
    1 year ago

    This one has always been weird for me because I was in the military before female became an incel term and we regularly referred to women as females. Female officer, female berthing, female uniform standards…