The easy way to understand and remember is that “female” is an adjective the vast majority of the time, and it’s usually misogynists and incels using it as a noun.
I think mysoginists just have a lot of spotlight on them, or are vocal. I hadn’t been aware of “female” being used as a slur before it was pointed out here on Lemmy. I think “female” as a noun is still used neutrally far more often than as a slur.
As an adult female human, I have never been called a “female” in a positive or neutral tone. The key point is that you basically never hear people calling men “males” anywhere outside of scientific discussion.
I accept your experience as valid. However, I do see men and boys being collectively refered to as “males”. I propose that the disparity may be explained by the places we frequent. But I also agree that the “males” noun don’t seem to be used as often. This, coupled with how the “female” noun is used as a slur by misogynists, make it clear to me why women are offended by it, and it’s why I’ve stopped using it.
Guess I got caught in it. Just looked it up and didn’t realize until now that female wasn’t an acceptable word to use. TIL. Thanks!
The easy way to understand and remember is that “female” is an adjective the vast majority of the time, and it’s usually misogynists and incels using it as a noun.
I think mysoginists just have a lot of spotlight on them, or are vocal. I hadn’t been aware of “female” being used as a slur before it was pointed out here on Lemmy. I think “female” as a noun is still used neutrally far more often than as a slur.
As an adult female human, I have never been called a “female” in a positive or neutral tone. The key point is that you basically never hear people calling men “males” anywhere outside of scientific discussion.
I accept your experience as valid. However, I do see men and boys being collectively refered to as “males”. I propose that the disparity may be explained by the places we frequent. But I also agree that the “males” noun don’t seem to be used as often. This, coupled with how the “female” noun is used as a slur by misogynists, make it clear to me why women are offended by it, and it’s why I’ve stopped using it.