this post was submitted on 05 May 2024
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[–] Omniraptor@lemm.ee 15 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (3 children)

I always wondered why some nerds (affectionate) use the terms males/females. Maybe they're copying some science fiction book they read?

[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 52 points 6 months ago (3 children)

Up until like 7 years ago, the word lacked major misogynistic connotation. It used to be fairly common in certain subsects, including nerds, and it all but died in them. I wonder when “female” will become kosher again. This century is unlikely, given the Tate taint. The evolution of language is fascinating.

[–] Anise@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] Omniraptor@lemm.ee 1 points 6 months ago

But they've been around for way longer than seven years no?

[–] meowMix2525@lemm.ee 7 points 6 months ago

I think we just realized how overly clinical and dehumanizing it is and it just became an easy tell that that person probably, whether they realize it or not, doesn't really see women as equally human to men, like women are only the sex characteristics that make them biologically female.

To be clear, im referring to the phenomenon where someone, despite frequently using the word 'men', is seemingly only able to refer to women as 'females'. You almost never see 'males' used in that standalone way outside of clinical contexts. So yeah, blame those people for ruining it, not the rest of us for wising up to it.

[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 13 points 6 months ago

Sometimes it's just a non-native speaker thing

[–] Anise@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I use it to distinguish sex and gender. Only some females have to deal with periods and pregnancy, but all women have to deal with social mysogeny. In this context I would use women because it's a gender issue not a sex issue.

[–] Omniraptor@lemm.ee 3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I think it might also be an age thing, if you're in high school/late teenager and talking about your female peers it's a neutral sounding term for when "girls" is too casual and "women" makes them seem too old.