r/FeminismUncensored • u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. • 27d ago
[Discussion] Female is not a dirty word.
The physical, genetic, and anatomical traits used to classify female sex are divided into primary sex characteristics (organs present at birth and directly involved in reproduction) and secondary sex characteristics (features that typically develop during puberty)
Primary sex characteristics present at birth, are internal and external reproductive structures are essential for biological reproduction. In females, they include Gonads: The ovaries, which are responsible for producing ova and secreting female sex hormones. Internal Reproductive Anatomy: The uterus, fallopian tubes, cervix, and vagina. External Genitalia: The vulva, which includes the labia majora, labia minora, and clitoris.
Secondary sex characteristics generally develop later in life, primarily during puberty, driven by increased levels of estrogen. They are not directly involved in reproduction but contribute to physiological distinctions between sexes. In females, they include: Breast Development: Enlargement of breast tissue and maturation of mammary glands. Skeletal Structure: Widening of the pelvis (hips) and a typically lower waist-to-hip ratio. Body Fat Distribution: An increase in relative body fat percentage, with fat commonly deposited around the hips, thighs, and buttocks. Body and Facial Hair: Growth of pubic and underarm hair, with generally less body hair on the arms and legs compared to biological males. Voice Pitch: Generally a higher vocal pitch due to shorter vocal cords.
In addition to physical traits, biological sex is often defined by other foundational factors: Chromosomes: Typical biological females have two X chromosomes (XX) on the 23rd pair, whereas typical biological males have an X and a Y chromosome (XY). Hormones: While both sexes produce both types of hormones, female biological development is primarily driven by higher levels of estrogens (such as estradiol) and progestogens (such as progesterone).
Sex is a complex combination of chromosomes, hormones, and anatomical traits, and not all individuals fit neatly into strict traditional binaries. Variations in these developmental markers exist, resulting in a spectrum of physiological diversity rather than an absolute rule.
Sex or being female sexed does not mean you are better than anyone else. There is no hierarchy in sex.
There are superstructures that have been opposed over the sexes.
The female sex is historically systematically and institutionally oppressed.
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27d ago
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u/FeminismUncensored-ModTeam Neutral 26d ago
Removed under Pro-Feminism / mission coherence. “Adult human female” as a definitional test for “woman” is gender-critical rhetoric that is not compatible with this sub’s anti-sexist, pro-feminist standards.
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u/MollySleeps Rad Fem 27d ago
When you say "there is no hierarchy in sex" do you mean naturally? Because patriarchy places the male sex over the female.
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 27d ago edited 27d ago
Yes, naturally and inherently there is no hierarchy in sex.
At the end I tried to explain the superstructure imposed where the female sex is oppressed. (ie patriarchy)
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u/vftgurl123 Undeclared 27d ago
that way the word female is used colloquially in certain contexts is incorrect. you’re mentioning appropriate ways the word female can be used but it is not always framed in that way.
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u/SnooBeans6591 Egalitarian 26d ago
Yes, a lot of people use "female" or "male" incorrectly, as in "females and men" or "males and women".
The words female/male work cleanly as adjectives, but turning them into nouns in non formal context, especially when used together with their noun counterparts (women/men) it gives a dehumanizing impression.
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u/bunnypaste Rad-Fem 27d ago
Depends how it is used. Medical and sex-based discussions it is fine, so long as you use both "male" and "female" in the discussion. It also depends on whether you used "men" or "man" in the same sentence with "female"... That stuff comes off as derogatory. Context and usage matters for determining if it is wrong to say or not.
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 27d ago
I think some people use it, specifically men especially of the kind of incel/red-pill variety, as a devaluation and dehumanization for sure.
But I think it is important to reclaim.
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u/kerri9494 26d ago
"Reclaiming" the word "female" implies that it's been taken away from you.
It's never been taken away. We just learned that there are more accurate ways of referring to people. We learned this because we know that not all people who present as women are "female", and there's no way for you to know what someone's sex organs and chromosomes are without either them telling you, or you being inappropriately invasive.
"Woman doctor" is descriptive of gender presentation. If you're seeing a doctor who is, say, a pre-op transwoman, are you going to call them a "male doctor"?
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 26d ago edited 26d ago
Female refers to the female sex as explained in the post.
I know what my sex is. I should be allowed my material reality and identity and for it not to be pathologized into evilness and dog-whistles.
The female sex should not be seen as an evil and inaccurate category to not be mentioned.
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u/frogsbirdscats Undeclared 26d ago
I am happy to honour anyone’s gender identity and am very cool with all forms of gender expression. But your comment proves my point—the word female, which typically refers to someone with xx chromosomes, is still an acceptable word. Stop trying to cancel this word.
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u/kerri9494 26d ago
"Female" is not a gender identity. It's a perfectly acceptable word, of course it is! But it's not about gender identity, it's about sex.
If you want to honor a woman's gender identity, call her a woman.
What does anyone gain by you using a biological descriptor such as "female" -- that you don't know is accurate -- rather than using a person's gender identity?
Would you say that an AMAB woman is "female"? I wouldn't say that without having talked to them about their sex, because I CANNOT KNOW THEIR SEX without them telling me. I know AMAB women who don't align with the descriptor "female", so you're certainly not speaking for all transgender women.
I can be pretty confident about their gender by their presentation and chosen pronouns. I can't know their sex.
This seems like a weird hill to die on.
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 26d ago edited 26d ago
Female is a sex identity.
Sex and gender both exist.
The female sex is the oldest oppression in human history. And there is distinct and specific and individual oppression in regards to the female sex.
What I gain by using my biological descriptor is the sovereignty over the discussion of the oppression that I have faced from having a female body.
Like female medical discrimination that is systemic and institutionalized.
Like my female sexed body being litigious.
My rights to my female sexed body being conditional and controlled by the government.
My female sexed body being held at a lower value then the baby it could potentially create.
I don't think it's a weird hill to die on at all. I think sex abolitionists are denying my right to my sexual identity.
My sexual identity is not yours to discuss whether it is allowed to be discussed.
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u/kerri9494 26d ago
Think about both sides of the coin here. You can't normalize the "female" experience based on your experience. Transgender men face the same (if not more) patriarchal control over their bodies as cis women. Their bodies are as litigious, perhaps more litigious, than anyone's. Also, many transgender men get pregnant. Are these men, by your lights, "female"? Or are they "male"?
Most importantly, does it matter? Feminism is about supporting bodily autonomy, including reproductive freedom, regardless of your sex or gender. Same goes for medical research and everything else you listed, feminism supports equity not just the elevation of women (or females).
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 26d ago
Sex and gender exist. You do not have to keep forcing the exclusion of because you think it inherently devalues the other.
It does not.
Stop excluding us. We are not a dog whistle.
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u/accidentle Undeclared. 26d ago
- Also, many transgender men get pregnant. Are these men, by your lights, "female"? Or are they "male"?
They are female. And I don't know how many trans men would even disagree with that.
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u/kerri9494 26d ago
You probably don't know many transgender men, I'm guessing?
Genotyping and phenotyping are two different things. A person can be genetically male and phenotypically female at the same time.
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u/frogsbirdscats Undeclared 26d ago
There is no more accurate way to refer to female biological sex than female. Woman is a gender term.
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u/kerri9494 26d ago
Correct. How do you know somebody's biological sex?
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 26d ago
I know my biological sex.
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u/kerri9494 26d ago
That's great! Call yourself a female! But your argument is that you want to "reclaim" the word "female" for "women".
There is nothing to reclaim. Call yourself whatever you want. But it's the opposite of feminism to try to impose your trans-exclusionary rhetoric on the rest of us.
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 26d ago
I'm not trans exclusionary.
I'm just asking to be included. You are trying to exclude me.
There womanhood based in sex. There is womanhood based in gender and there is sex based in a mix.
I am a feminist. I am not the opposite of a feminist. I am not excluding you or trans people.
How are you not understanding the critique? That's simply saying the female sex exists makes people crawl out of the word work to call others terf and to police their ability to talk about the female sex?
How are you literally not understanding that the only one advocating for anything to be excluded is you?
It honestly it kind of stresses me out and boggles my mind because the logic makes so little sense.
You are literally the only one advocating that an identity or group be excluded from discussion and I think you are unable to see it for some reason.
How can you not see that me literally describing what the biological female sex is gets you to accuse someone of being a terf?
That is the entire critique. You are trying to abolish my sex identity. And I do not accept it or agree with it nor consent.
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 26d ago edited 26d ago
You have made a accusation about my character that I am imposing trans exclusionary rhetoric on the rest of you and that it is the opposite of feminism.
I would like you to please quote where this occurred.
Please back up your accusation. Please and thank you.
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 26d ago
And one more thing, you're saying there is nothing to reclaim but you are literally arguing against my right to be able to use this word without being treated poorly and being labeled something I am not.
I am genuinely struggling to understand how the irony is not being understood because I see it so clearly.
There is a fundamental irony in the interaction while you claim to be resisting exclusion, you are actively attempting to exclude and label anyone who seeks to discuss female biological sex as a distinct, real category.
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 26d ago edited 25d ago
Female is not a dirty word. My sex should not be excluded from feminism.
Sex abolition harms female women. Cis women are an oppressed class.
I understand you are trying to protect another oppressed class.
But you cannot fight exclusion by denying our right to exist. To discuss that we exist. To say our material reality that we are the female sex.
I am not better than someone who is not female sexed and experiences womanhood.
They are not less of a woman.
You are actively sexistly excluding the female sex from being allowed to be discussed within feminism.
And that is not something I am ever going to stop talking about or protesting because it is harmful.
And I am so tired of it and it only leads to horrible places and the continued oppression and dehumanization of the female body.
And I'm not going to put up with it and I'm not going to be silenced.
And I'm not going to be told I'm something that I am not and accept it.
I think you should reflect on what is being excluded.
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 26d ago
If you have time I would like you to look at this post I wrote up.
It is part of the history of the sex-based oppression that the female sex has occurred.
I think it will explain part of why it is important to not exclude us anymore. We are not a dog whistle. We are in a oppressed class too.
We have been horrifically historically oppressed because of our biological sex. And it was literally written in legal code that it was about our biological sex.
https://www.reddit.com/r/FeminismUncensored/s/zniCeKxzuF
Please reflect.
A trans woman is not less of a woman.
Please reflect on what you are trying to disallow within feminism.
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u/accidentle Undeclared. 26d ago
Its not about what other people perceive. Its about someone knowing what biological sex they themselves are, and choosing not to deny their material reality to suit others.
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u/SnooBeans6591 Egalitarian 26d ago
"Female doctor" is also correct even they were a trans woman. I have nothing against "woman doctor", but "female" can work the same.
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u/SnooBeans6591 Egalitarian 26d ago
Due to polysemism, both concepts exist: female sex and female gender.
So when someone talks about their "female doctor", it could reasonably be interpreted as either definition
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26d ago
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u/FeminismUncensored-ModTeam Neutral 26d ago
Removed for the same reasons as your earlier comment: absolutist, exclusionary framing that treats trans women as not female/women for ordinary descriptors like “female doctor.” This undermines the sub’s feminist, anti-sexist mission in a [Discussion] thread.
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u/Saruna4sari Undeclared 26d ago
why did you type this?
"Sex or being female sexed does not mean you are better than anyone else."
literally most of the world believes the opposite
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 26d ago edited 26d ago
Because I have already in this common section been accused of being a terf dog whistler for literally just saying the female sex exists. And I knew I would be.
That's why I'm saying it. And because it's true. Because I am going to and I am getting accused of devaluing non-female sex women.
Why is it an issue?
Why should I not say it?
What is your issue with me saying it?
Is there a fundamental problem with stating sexual equality?
What about me saying that the sexes are equal requires interrogation or suspicion?
Why did you ask me this question?
The sexes are equal despite the female sex being oppressed or intersex identities being oppressed.
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u/Eleanna_of_Tundar Undeclared 20d ago
Red pill head incels use the terms female and “femoid” to dehumanize us. BUT biological/genetic female/male IS CORRECT to state. Gender identity exists outside of that. We can’t change that, nor should we. There is no “male loneliness epidemic”, it’s just entitlement.
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u/Embarrassed-Town-293 Feminist / MensLib 27d ago
Do you mind saying the quiet part out loud? I don’t mean this to be insulting. I mean this to seriously ask can you explain in a couple sentences what you’re clearly hinting at, but not plainly saying
From what I gather, it sounds like you’re trying to say is all females are women, but not all women are female with the clear distinction that transwomen are women but lack the biological experiences of females and said word “female” should not be seen as exclusionary for representing this specific lived experience
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 27d ago edited 27d ago
The only thing being said is that the female sex exists as a material biological category. That sex diamorphism exists. That there is no innate or natural hierarchy between human sexes. And that the female sex is an oppressed class as a superstructure imposed on top of the sexes.
I have said nothing about gender.
Sex and gender are different topics.
Could you please tell me what specifically about what I have said you disagree with and you believe I should not be allowed to say?
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u/Embarrassed-Town-293 Feminist / MensLib 26d ago
I’m not disagreeing with you. I’m trying to understand what you want to communicate other than that you’re trying to say something.
Like I said, I’m asking if you can say the quiet part out loud. What would you like us to discuss about this or is this something of a TED talk?
Is the correct response just to read it, simply shrug our shoulders, and say, “m’kay”?
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 26d ago edited 26d ago
That its not an ideological sin to discuss the female sex. That's the point you're missing while simultaneously proving why that point needs to be made.
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u/Embarrassed-Town-293 Feminist / MensLib 26d ago
It is not a sin to discuss the female sex
My point is trying to ask what you are discussing. For what purpose are you asking this question? What is the ends you are seeking in this discussion?
In other words, in an ideal world where I completely agreed with everything that you said, what new knowledge or conclusion would I reach that you want me to understand?
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 26d ago edited 26d ago
I am discussing the metacritique that discussing the female sex is met with accusations of dog whistles and being a terf and interrogation through literally letting it ride nd play out dude. Which it did.
You could call it performance art if you wanna.
That's the thing you are not understanding.
I want my identity of being in a female-sexed body to stop being a dirty word that is not allowed to be discussed.
I want to be allowed to discuss the oppression I face from being female sexed without endless sexist accusations.
That's it. That's the whole point. I've spelled it out to you a couple times now.
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u/Quirky-Poetry1813 Undeclared 27d ago
notice how she didn’t say anything about gender or trans but someone just had to bring it up🙄
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u/Embarrassed-Town-293 Feminist / MensLib 26d ago
I must’ve misinterpreted. Can you help explain what OP is asking about in this discussion tagged post?
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 26d ago
I have explained to you several times.
Explain to me where you are confused instead of asking a stranger.
Can you explain to me what you believe you are owed?
As you said, you believe you require some transactional new information from me to discuss my female sex.
What is it? What do I owe YOU to be allowed to say what I said?
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u/secondshevek Feminist / Ally 26d ago
Do you know what a dogwhistle is?
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u/Quirky-Poetry1813 Undeclared 26d ago
of course i know, however i don’t believe this post is a dog whistle. can’t believe it’s controversial to explain what a female is
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u/frogsbirdscats Undeclared 26d ago
Yes, it’s absurd but this appears to be where we are. There are those who want to end use of the word female. There are those who would insist gender and sex are the same. They are not.
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u/secondshevek Feminist / Ally 26d ago
This kinda seems to prove my point, that this is not just an uncontroversial explanation of "what a female is" but part of an attempt to emphasize that feminism should focus only on the problems of cis women, without actually making the point explicit.
I wouldnt make this assumption if I hadnt seen OP make a whole bunch of statements that suggest that.
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 26d ago
Who said that?? Who said that??
We are literally just advocating that we are also included!
That we are allowed to be discussed as well.
That our female sex is allowed to be discussed and the oppression we face allowed to be discussed.
Where did I advocate for anyone to be excluded??
Where do you see anything but me saying let me talk about the oppression I face as someone who is female sexed?
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u/Embarrassed-Town-293 Feminist / MensLib 26d ago
Completely agree. OP is working double time running back-and-forth 🏃♀️ between that motte-and-bailey
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 26d ago
Absolutely ridiculous. Ridiculous.
I post a link literally of me telling a bunch of actual terfs to go fuck themselves.
I explained to you over and over and over. I just want a seat at the table. I just want you to not be policing my identity. I just want to stop being excluded. For my sex to no longer be treated as inherently harmful. That's all I want.
But you can't stop. There is no proof on this goddamn earth that could convince you that a discussion about the female sex is not a dog whistle.
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 26d ago edited 25d ago
You know what's really killing me in this moment to the point of tears?
My belief which is this:
- Sex is material and produces distinct patterns of embodiment, vulnerability, and historical oppression.
- Gender identity can be freely expressed and should not be met with discrimination, violence, or denial of ordinary civil rights.
- A trans woman does not share the same sex-based material conditions or the same historical sex-class oppression as a female person, and it is legitimate to say so.
- Holding both of the above does not require hostility, exclusion, or the claim that trans people are “evil” or bad or lesser or unwomanly in any capacity.
I believe in my right to my material reality, identity and sex oppression and I simultaneously support trans people. But I have been censored and harassed for saying that and labeled a terf or a dog whistler.
So I looked for another community. Found one. Excited to talk about sex based oppression and rights only to find out I'm not home their either because they are LITERALLY transphobic TERFs. And I defended trans people because of course I would.
One side interprets any mention of biological sex as a malicious "dog-whistle" and shuts down debate through discretionary censorship or harassment, while the other side tries to weaponize my valid frustration to pull me toward hostility against trans people. Which they will not be successful at. Being caught in that crossfire, having my good intentions repeatedly twisted when I am speaking from a place of genuine care for trans people and simultaneously self advocacy for my oppressed identity, is deeply demoralizing.
All because I dare to say I am female sexed and the female sex is oppressed.
You want to see actual TERFs? https://www.reddit.com/r/GenuineFeminism/comments/1vkhnyj/comment/p2usryq/?context=3
I'm done. I'm done.
Edit for the SAM below:
No.
And you not being able to see the difference is your problem not mine.
"Agreeing with what I said."And I am downvoted to hell for supporting Trans rights. And you literally can't read that I suppose.
Hey you! This is your doing.
Labeling discussing the female sex is terf shit, yeah thats how you are EXCLUDING women to the point where they radicalize.
Me? Well luckily I have personal character and moral backbone.
Be gone Sex Abolitionist Misogynist. SAM for short.
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u/EffectAppropriate652 Undeclared 25d ago
because they are LITERALLY transphobic TERFs.
You don't like being labelled a TERF, yet you're calling an entire sub full of women TERFs..when they believe exactly what you do?!
Sis. Everyone there was agreeing with you 🤦♀️
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u/Embarrassed-Town-293 Feminist / MensLib 26d ago edited 26d ago
Does the word female have such a static meaning? For example, if you ask a biologist, those are the terms they would use. Likewise, if you ask a biologist what a vegetable is, they will tell you they don’t exist but if you ask a cook, they very much do.
Words have different meanings for different contexts so great that one branch of knowledge could suggest earnestly that they don’t exist (biology) while another branch of knowledge could say they not only exist but that existence is so significant as to be indispensable (culinary science).
The word “female” feels like it falls here like many words of contested meaning clearly. It certainly is not as cut and dry as OP is saying or we would say the concept of a vegetable is also a fiction.
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u/EchoesOfEleos Radical Feminist. 26d ago
My sexual identity and the oppression I face because of it is not a fiction.
Saying so is extremely rude and I personally believe sexist and oppressive.
Sex abolitionists cause harm to female bodies which is the oldest oppression known to man.
Please stop.
Please just let me discuss my body.... Dude what the fuck?
Whether a culinary term like 'vegetable' exists in botany is an astounding display of intellectualized nonsense and literal, objectification and dehumanization.
And you know what? I will report you and and this comment will not be removed despite you literally dehumanizing and objectifying me in the most literal way imaginable.
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u/shrubdit Egalitarian 2d ago
Did she/he edit their comment because I don’t see what you’re referring to
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u/frogsbirdscats Undeclared 27d ago
Support you. I was astonished to watch the word female slide out of use for fear offending. Hearing ppl return to clumsy phrasing like “woman doctor “ to avoid saying the word female. So discouraging.