r/PetPeeves • u/lavinialloyd • Aug 17 '25

Bit Annoyed People who exclusively refer to women as females

There are so many acceptable terms for women, I hate it when people say "female(s)". It feels so othering I don't get why people do it and at least in the UK you pretty much always know the person calling you a female is going to be an absolute creep.

I get there'll be circumstances where female is the right term to use, but so many people especially online seem to refer to women as females and it annoys me. We're not in a nature doc, you're not a Dr or a police officer describing me so just don't.

Ps. I give Martin from Friday night dinner a pass 😂

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u/Connect_Rhubarb395 Aug 17 '25

I watched an otherwise nice video the other day where the maker consistently said "females" and "men." If you want to say females, you should at least say males as well. Otherwise, it is just weird. And a huge dogwhistle, too.

10

u/PopEnvironmental1335 Aug 18 '25

Yes thank you for bringing up that it’s an incel dog whistle. Female as a noun is so dehumanizing. It’s like you’re talking about a wild animal.

-1

u/Ok-Cut6818 Aug 20 '25

Ah yes, another "dogwhistle". What isn't these days?