Question for women?

Question

Does it bother you when someone (usually a man) refers to you as a "female" instead of a "woman"? My husband does this when talking about women friends...he calls them female friends. For some reason, this makes me think of a female dog or cow or some other animal. All species have females, but only humans have women. Does this make sense? This isn't something I sit and stew over day in and day out, but it does bother me a little.

I used my husband only as an example... I'm also referring to, for example, men on here who post questions directed to females, or who refer to women as females in their posts. :)

Answer 1

I feel strange being referred to in that manner as well. I started to hear this from my older teenagers and then from my middle school students. I explained to them, that this is not respectful. I think that it is a subtle way to refer to woman as objects. I told my sons that in my presence they will not refer to girls or women in this manner and informed them of the appropriate way and suggested to my daughter that she didn't accept that type of language. There was a time that even referring to a woman as "that woman" was disrespectful. My mother corrected me to say "that lady" or " that gentleman" when not sure of a name. We were also referred to as the "fairer sex". Some women took exception to that as well. I also try to explain to my middle school that respect comes in many forms.

Answer 2

I think it is politically correct to refer to us as females instead of women. However, if it bothers you, let him know and why. I don't particularly have a problem with it. At least he is decent when referring to his friends. It could be a LOT worse!

Answer 3

He might be saying it to make it be less threatening to you that he has women friends. Some women are very jealous and would be very upset over this. So by saying they are female it is a distancing. Don't worry about it so much.

Answer 4

It doesn't bother me, in fact it never occurred to me to be bothered by it. But my friend used to get offended when I called her baby an it, even before she (the baby) was born. I think it's the same sort of thing.

Answer 5

nope.... thinkl about it.. on the gov. forms you have to fill out it say female or male... not man or woman. You can call your husbands guy friend male friends ifit makes you feel any better.

Answer 6

i think that he uses that term because he feels uncomfortable saying "girl friends". I'm guessing that you wouldn't feel too great about him saying that either.