Warning and beware. If someone says it around you see it as a blessing. Avoid them! At least you know who you are dealing with. It indicates someone who doesn’t see women as human beings. It reveals a certain mentality. What is it? Men who call women or girls “females.” I wrote about this issue last year and my initial beliefs have come to fruition. Read it here.
This is my personal experience, but I’ve noticed some men who call women females usually do it to dehumanize and disrespect women. Either they disapprove of her or want to manipulate her. These people have a grudge against women and are usually:
- bitter because they haven’t accomplished their goals
- angry because they feel powerless
- jealous because women have surpassed them
- entitled because they feel like they should “have” any woman.
Before someone makes a false equivalence, because y’all always do; let’s acknowledge that you will rarely hear women identify men as males. Why? Because women see men as human beings. Unfortunately, because of thousands of years of sexism and misogyny, sometimes that view isn’t reciprocated.
When we call women females it is extremely dangerous women’s mental, emotional, financial and physical health. Again, it strips us of who we are and our identity if we don’t conform. You see, people who use this kind of language don’t see women as human beings, but as objects that must be used and abused for their advantage.
If men think calling a woman a female is OK ask them how do they feel when a man calls him a “boy?” It strips a man of his of age, manhood, experience and identity. I feel the same way when I’m called a female.
By the way, there is a reason many men call women “females.” I doubt it is from the police or military service (a very small percentage of this country actually served and I am a veteran). It is because they’ve adopted prison terminology, dress and mentality. As we can see, it is fashionable to emulate prison culture because a large part of our society actually lives or lived in it.
As Maya Angelou said, “When someone shows you who they are believe them; the first time.” So please avoid people who deep down despise your existence or see you as less than a woman. We women are more than females. We are whole human beings. Because of our humanity, we must be seen as human. Honestly, who wants to deal with someone who thinks like an inmate or prisoner? I’ve done my PSA for the day. “Now you know and knowing is half the battle.” G.I. Joe
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Thanks for reading. The only limit you have is the one you have placed on yourself. Think and be limitless.
Thank you! I can’t stand when men do that!
Thank you for reading.
All of you really need to let go of all of this politically correct nonsense!! Sound like a bunch of wimps that enjoy feeling like victims of everything!! What else is a black woman going to come up with to get upset about!!!
I can understand using the word “female” in certain circumstances, such as for simplicity, to group women and girls under the category of female.
But when specifically referring to women, I would find it awkward and almost disrespectful to refer to them as simply “females.” I don’t normally hear other men refer to women as just females, but I would take notice of it if a man made a habit of it.
Unfortunately, many women (too many, in fact) ue “female” in the same way and for the same reasons. Never liked it, no matter who it’s coming from, and never will.
Sorry - *use* female
i just use the word females so I don’t have to spell out women and girls. To me it’s just a time saver.
So men and women should call you “boy” to save time.
I have no problem with women calling men and boys as a collective “males” . It’s not an insult. Girls and women are both shorter words but when you’re talking about both “females” is shorter! As in “those women and girls” use the ladies restroom compared to “females” use the ladies restroom at the end of the hallway. An 8 year old is not a woman and a 40 year old is not a girl.
Uh….”females” = 7 letters vs “girls” and “women” both words have 5 letters a piece. So, WHERE are you saving time in typing them out? Inquiring minds wanna know….
My thoughts exactly lol. I’m guessing someone can’t count or respect women smh.
Except female and boy aren’t equivalent terms. You should ask instead if we should call them males…
And most men and boys wouldn’t care. We are males. You can call me one all day long and I wouldn’t care. I think it’s much ado about nothing. Calling a grown man a boy is impugning his manhood. Calling him a male just denotes his gender. As female denotes yours!
Calling women “females” also leaves the impression of language incoherence.
Referring to someone as just “female” begs the question: female “WHAT”? Female pilots? Female bloggers? Female cats?
But notably, not “female humans”. Because…well, we have a term for this (WOMEN). Which leaves referring to humans as “females” coming across as a weirdly incomplete thought process.
Most people seem to readily understand that absurdity by using “men”, and not “males”, unless followed by some qualifying noun (because again…a male “WHAT”?).
I’ve always said this and have corrected anyone who used in a sentence when addressing women. It strikes a nerve with me just like calling someone sweetie or honey.
I hope you don’t live in the south because down here they “honey” and “sweety” you to death!
This is a hugely offensive term to me. We are women and ladies who are female by gender, not by polite and respectful terminology. For those who don’t require polite and respectful terminology when addressing or referring to them, go on then. I expect and require those things.
Hello Bougie Black Girl,
Insightful and wonderful post. I agree with you fully. I make a point to avoid scum with that twisted mentality including people who are relative to me genetically. Bottom line my standards are very high and I choose to focus on health, education, and wealth building. Once again thank you for sharing your views.
I called Humana Insurance today. I asked for the agents license number before proceeding ( which they are supposed to know by heart and offer up willingly in Texas) and spoke to the most condescending prig I have ever spoken with over the phone. If he wasn’t saying ‘look here girl’ he was telling me that someone probably ‘had a crush on me’ and that’s who was calling me and not the insurance company. I intend to file suit. I called to conduct business not be treated like a child. His excuse for talking to me like that ‘I been in the insurance business 40 years’. ‘I’m a senior citizen’..?? His excuse for his coworker not stopping the calls to me ‘ she’s a single mother, your just trying to cause her problems’. What an azz.
I served in the US Air Force; everyone is either male or female. I still use the term when I speak professionally because it’s what I learned. The intent is not to debumanize. Most all species are male or female -some are both. I can, however, agree that some people do use the term to debumanize.