I am not a native English speaker and I have sometimes referred to people as male and female (as that is what I have been taught) but I have received some backlash in some cases, especially for the word “female”, is there some negative thought in the word which I am unaware of?

I don’t know if this is the best place to ask, if it’s not appropriate I have no problem to delete it ^^

  • ComradeR
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    32
    arrow-down
    4
    ·
    10 months ago

    “I have a female friend.” (As in “I have a friend that’s a woman.”) “I’ve talked with a female today.” (As in “I’ve talked with a woman today.”)

    The first one is fine, because isn’t using the word as an adjective. The second one is derogatory, because it is being used as a substantive.

      • dillydogg@lemmy.one
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        edit-2
        9 months ago

        What do you mean by facts? How is female defined by you? Because I doubt you genetically test for XX chromosomes before you say female, right?

        I think there are plenty of words that can be factual, but also unkind. And that is all that this is about. I would at the very least find it odd if someone used “human specimen” instead of calling me a man, though it is factual. I think trying to use the words that describe people the way they see themselves instead of hanging onto some logical ideal is a normal transition languages make over time and is a kinder way to be.