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Use of ‘females’ for ‘women’, a mix of some personal experiences and actual history:
Once upon a time, young men were called ‘men’ and almost any age women were called ‘girls’. At this time, most activities were informally segregated by sex.
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Once upon a time, young men were called ‘men’ and almost any age women were called ‘girls’. At this time, most activities were informally segregated by sex.
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“girl’s college”
“men’s college”
When I went to college in the NINETEEN NINETIES there was still enough newness to desegregation of sexes that the president of my school called us “you young men and girls” at matriculation.
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“men’s college”
When I went to college in the NINETEEN NINETIES there was still enough newness to desegregation of sexes that the president of my school called us “you young men and girls” at matriculation.
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Part of my funding for college came from me joining the army. That was where I first experienced being called “males” and “females”. I talked to an older drill sergeant about this. 3/
He told me that when it was more segregated they used “men” and “girls”. But then women objected so they had to equalize the terms. They switched to “males” and “females”.
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Later, I worked for a company that staffed off-shore drills and other locations for the oil industry. An industry traditionally all men. Now an industry that refers to staff as “males” or “females”.
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A little research and policing evolved the same way.
Here’s what happened: when sex desegregation happened, the most traditionally authoritarian/macho industries were reluctant to accord *adulthood* to women. 6/
Here’s what happened: when sex desegregation happened, the most traditionally authoritarian/macho industries were reluctant to accord *adulthood* to women. 6/
The term ‘women’ was just too much respect for them to use, for women. The term ‘men’ was fine.
But unable to use ‘men’ and ‘girls’ without pushback, they switched to ‘males’ and ‘females’.
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But unable to use ‘men’ and ‘girls’ without pushback, they switched to ‘males’ and ‘females’.
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Then this language spread from those sectors to the general population of disrespectful men. Heads up: don’t mess with a man who uses the word “females” to refer to women. 8/8 https://mobile.twitter.com/notcapnamerica/status/1339700785974812675
