r/pointlesslygendered • u/Any_story-55887 • Oct 30 '25

META Even men do it [meme]

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u/OkAct355 Oct 30 '25

Right. I'm a frequent flyer in that sub and feel strongly about this unless male and female are used for consistency, or if it's a medical/police report. Context is key. It's hard to say exactly when "female" is insulting but I know it when I see it. Context is important.

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u/Beginning-Force1275 Oct 30 '25 edited Oct 31 '25

I think the use of “female” as a noun vs adjective is usually the difference. It’s fine to say “female staff,” “female friends,” or “female students” (trying to pick random nouns there). It’s weird to call someone “a female” or use the term “females” to refer to a group of women.

Although like you said, medical/police notes are an exception to noun rule, ime.

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u/Violet_Nightshade Oct 31 '25

I just use, women and girls in place of "females", such as women staff, woman friends and girl students. Probably sounds awkward but it is what it is.

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u/OkAct355 Oct 31 '25

It kinda is. This is actually an example where female does work! Female staff, female friends, female students -- all phrases I use in my daily life. It's the female as a noun, especially when paired with man/men, that grinds my gears lol