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 ^^

  • jsomae@lemmy.ml
    98·
    8 months ago

    Others in this thread will tell you it’s only acceptable as an adjective or for animals. That’s not true. Here are some non-adjective uses that most people wouldn’t consider misogynistic on the surface:

    • A female changing room (noun adjunct)
    • Female-only spaces. (noun)
    • Sorry, this shelter is only for females. (noun)
    • This procedure is not recommended for females. (noun)
    • Only females are eligible for this award. (noun)
    • “Is the person you’re going out with tonight a male or a female?” (noun, my mom said this)
    • “A male character has no stats difference compared to a female.” (Probably an adjective but arguably not)

    That said, “I am a single man looking for a female” is pretty gross usage. Also, please note that some of these examples may be transphobic in nature.

    • triplenadir@lemmygrad.ml
      2·
      8 months ago

      the only examples here which don’t sound completely gross are the ones where you misunderstood the part of speech…

      • jsomae@lemmy.ml
        1·
        8 months ago

        which ones did I misunderstand the part of speech?

        “female-only” is an adjective phrase where “female” is a noun. Compare “lion-only zoo.” Adjectives don’t work here (× big-only zoo)

        • triplenadir@lemmygrad.ml
          1·
          8 months ago

          A female changing room (noun adjunct)

          Noun adjunct is a noun functioning as an adjective.

          “A male character has no stats difference compared to a female.” (Probably an adjective but arguably not)

          “female [character]” definitely an adjective

          “female-only” is an adjective phrase where “female” is a noun. Compare “lion-only zoo.” Adjectives don’t work here (× big-only zoo)

          Yes “female-only” sounds gross.

          • jsomae@lemmy.ml
            11·
            8 months ago

            A noun adjunct is a noun functioning as an adjective. By contrast, in “a female scientist,” female is an adjective and not a noun adjunct.

            To me, “female-only spaces” sounds like conventional English and I much prefer it to “woman-only” which sounds gross to me. Google NGrams agrees.

            I agree with you regarding the character example.