this post was submitted on 18 Jun 2024
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[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 months ago (4 children)

This is interesting to me because, as a dude in his 40s, I grew up with adults (and even cartoons) saying 'woman xxxx' being the pejorative (i.e. damn woman drivers!). It's been weird to seem to see this flip.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 months ago (1 children)

In addition to what the other reply to you said, I was talking specifically about “female” as a noun.

“females like xyz” and so on.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

That's true, but the OP's and my experience is that the adjectival use, like "woman doctor," was pejorative. I associate it with Greatest and Silent Generation relatives. We changed to say "female doctor," as it sounded more neutral.

Now, there's a movement back, and lots of younger folks now say that the latter is demeaning, and that "woman doctor" is the respectful phrasing. I know it's essentially arbitrary, and defined by usage, it's just interesting to see the evolution.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago (1 children)

IMHO fine:

  • female doctor
  • woman who is a doctor

IMHO weird:

  • woman doctor
  • a female who is a doctor

So it's not a reversal. Using “woman” like an adjective is still weird!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I'm with you, but I've been reading online that "woman doctor" is now the preferred form.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

I see, that is strange!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago

I think the difference is that one case is a collective noun and the other is a fallacy.

Contrast with using females as a collective noun which can been seen as reductive or offensive on its own without the fallacious logic.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago

Ah! Yes! I'm not the only one.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 months ago

Lol! I forget I'm older. That may also contribute to my comfortability with it!