And the most surprising thing for me? Oh good! That would be a different article. Everything here is listed because a real woman has heard it in use and understood it to be used in a sexist way. Token female, Insulting general terms: Chick I was repulsedby myself. This person has a cordial relationship with all of the employees, which makes the workspace a positive place for everyone. Everyday Misogyny: 122 Subtly Sexist Words about Women - Sacraparental So bossy was a way to cast a woman as unfeminine and unnatural. Id rather embrace it and be open about it, not deny what I cant control. Her Indoors Good. Yet all of them consider stereotypically male interests like football, rugby, cricket and computer games to be acceptable, and do not insult them! Up until about 10 years ago I thought men were stronger, more logical, naturally apt at maths and the use of tools and other stereotypes. Host called senior colleague a C-word in text message obtained by lawyers as part of Dominion lawsuit Tucker Carlson's firing from Fox News came after he used vulgar language to describe a . Try-hard Moose Lets try to take people on their own terms without making assumptions about how they feel about kids. I dont take advertising or sponsorship for anything on Sacraparental. This is what I think: the world would be a better place if everyone stopped talking about and to women like this, especially ifits because theyre identifying and eradicatingtheir own, sometimes unconscious, sexism. Baby blues Arent I a good girl for thinking of this. Getty Rachel, a seasoned executive in the natural resources industry, got promoted to an important role in. You speak about a society and nation, but dont identify your own. Women were traditionally supposed to be nurturing and supportive and to help the group. The Supreme Court wasnt just having PMS that day. Shrill, Mumsy, Bossy Why Do So Many Gendered Words Undermine Women? My male sixth-grade teacher took me outside our classroom and told me I was too bossy. Belongs to the 'ambitious', 'abrasive' and 'bossy' family. Stuck-up We all want to be liked. Sometimes it is used to describe objects and scenery, but that is because the thing in question is evoking strong emotion from the person describing it. Robert, Im afraid you are incorrect in a few of your assumptions here, and missing a few points. Dont let these comments slide when you hear them.If youre feeling sarky. 'Zero Leads': Search continues for man sought in fatal shooting of five Well except that hyst part is the Greek-derived root word referring to the uterus. Yesterday event at work: Him: Hes a son-of-a-bitch. Should we spend ourtime on something more important? Women experience a lot of pressure in the realm of child-bearing. This one is newish, and seems to be used mostly by women applying it to themselves, and each other, without pejorative or patronising intention, but I reckon it can go either way. ), WAHM (Work-at-home mum): As Katie Macintyre wrote, When I work from home Im a working from home Mum. Might that not be somewhat sexist? Choose gender neutral words if you must refer to someones irritability or unreasonableness. ), also used to describe women. These harmful words run the gamut from "emotional" and "sensitive . Engage in the needs assessment 7. Also, my mother-in-law is an ex-nurse and still cannot understand that my inability to have given her grandchildren is directly related to my Endometriosis. No sexist comments will be published. 7. Its also the lack of lexemes for women. Calling someone bossy, especially a young person who is just developing an idea of who she is, can dampen her sense of self. I was promoted to research this subject after my daughter told me shes been told shes bossy. Step-by-step guide to Gender Equality Training Preparation phase 1. I have a thing about misogyny and putting women in their place language. 1 year to recover! Also, I was accused by a bloke I wasnt even interested in of being jailbait because when I was a teen he asked me out and I refused. Independent: a woman who is self-sufficient and not dependent on others. X, This information was meaningful to me. 20 words we only use to describe women - News.com.au ), Insulting names for female body parts (makes me want to vomit if somebody talks about bodies this way): And yes, about a hundred more, including some examples of things men had called real women I know that made me feel ill. Honest When you speak the hard truth, people can't believe what just came out of your mouth. Fox News prime-time host Tucker Carlson called a senior executive the c-word in a redacted missive, and the network grew wary of further possible embarrassment. Great article I have said why isnt it incompetent penis for erectile dysfynction if it is incompetent cervix? I am sorry if this post offends. So many words and suggestions and facts to consider ! Im so grateful that in the 21st centuary doctors are being trained differently than they were when i was a child and Im very pleased that I can stand my ground with the doctors despite being unwell and stressed. Break The Bias: Why are Women Leaders called "Bossy", while - LinkedIn I have worked hard all my life (3 degrees) and have received no help from any of my family, only criticism. This is a reaction to Sheryl Sandbergs current campaign to get people to stop using the word bossy when describing females. Maybe you could add a section on things we do ourselves without realising it. Dont ask her if shes running as a womens candidate unless you ask him if hes running as a mens candidate. Oh, an old woman said it? I was labelled a tomboy because I played cricket, ran about a lot, and liked climbing and cycling and judo. When letters make sounds that aren't associated w One goose, two geese. Therefore they have subjected me my whole life to sexism in the form of overt, and veiled, comments, as follows. Women are more emotional than men, that is just how it is. Many women DO come across as more nurturing, and I for one would take it as a compliment. I cant think that Ive heard it of a man, except for groups and teams: a spirited defence. Coworkers labeled as "bossy" are described as unpopular and unlikely to be successful in the future, and "bossy" women coworkers are seen as more unpopular and less successful compared to "bossy" men coworkers. They also do not change the way I am addressed. Old wives tale is one that annoys me. And of course its not an either/or dichotomy. Trophy Wife Business owner. Pushy/Assertive. Assess the needs 2. Why do you care? Person B: Sexual violence exists on a pyramid. Amen praise god.. If we need to speak about poor behaviour, lets choose words that are not unfairly gendered. My husband and his WHOLE family are also less well-qualified and educated than me. Think pretty & beautiful, words that are also used to describe scenery and objects. This is WRONG, not only in that the facts are inaccurate (as I pointed out above), but also in that once you start trying to emphasize the value of one persons choice compared to another, you fall into an endless and pointless argument. By the way, I have my own personal experience of this subtly denigrating language, and sadly most of it was aimed at my by people I should be able to call my nearest and dearest my family, friends and workplace colleagues. She points out that of the insults we use to discuss men and boys, some of them are actually words that INSULT WOMEN. It happens in our so-called enlightened nations, too. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Amicable - She is friendly and cares about the needs of others. Besides, it should be a PERSONAL CHOICE, irrespective of gender, as to whether a person wants a career, or wants to stay at home and raise babies. This is the favourite term of disparagement in my workplace towards any female manager who has a vision she wants to implement. I looked minger up today and all its synonyms and related idioms. Learn a new word every day. It is sad that you get so mixed up in the points you want to make, by talking about valuing people for themselves, but then wrongly accusing Feminists of not valuing the home. And my brothers have daughters, and its likely the same for them too. Theyre hiding behind saying others are being politically correct (thats a bad thing to them). Agree with you Elaine. It's unfortunately all too common for us to hear these words used to describe womenand only womenwhile other words, like driven or committed, are used to describe men. I think accepting people as they are and educate with heart using masculine and feminine aspects of ourselves is helpful. The suggestion is that the man plants his seed in the woman. I have better understanding and am a better person having read it. You tell it as it is because you know you're telling the truth. Im a little surprised MILF didnt make the list. Im going to link this on a piece Im writing Im working on about rape culture, a term, that as a man, I had to look up and figure out how it applied to me and to our culture. YES, a lot of these words are things we can attempt stop using, and the same goes for certain words towards men. I think my first step is to share this on my (recently revived) and see how that does. Write good terms of reference 5. I have a reasoned explanation which was followed by uneducated unthinking personal attacks. Airhead, n. Usually refers to someone, male or female, who is simple-minded and vapid. Little woman/lady anti-democratic. 2023. Or should that be EXicon? Delivered to your inbox! I looked at the woman at work who was described as a bitch. eh. The words in todays post are sprinkled liberally throughall three of the bottom layers, and even higher. The Language of Nasty Women (And Other Gendered Insults) - JSTOR Daily When I was next at thebeach I made it my mission to find something I liked about every female body that my eyes came to rest upon. This article is spot on. Selfish career-woman throwing one's weight about. When I really looked at it, I thought the guy is a degenerate loser. Guess they must be commonplace terminology where I grew up on the Fylde Coast, UK!! The Womens Media Center has a several-page glossary of sexist terms with context and, critically, gender-neutral synonyms. Actively participate in the initiative 8. Maternal (when not about ones own children). Last I looked, the thread had 425comments and replies. What do you think of this list of words? Ball-breaker That study has been out for so long, theres no excuse to not be aware of it, especially if youre going to position yourself as someone who can disprove it. Interestingly, I can tell you for a FACT that if my FATHER, or my BROTHER, or my HUSBAND, or my BROTHER-IN-LAW did a Postgrad, we would never hear the last of how special and clever they were! I agree with 4 or the non gender specific terms but most of the rest are not good. So here is my list so far ofdozens of sneakily sexist words to get us all thinking. You are doing more harm than good, and your fellow women know it! Thank you so much for putting what I felt and feel, into such elegant words! The list has gone from my seventeen to 122 words or phrases used against women. Each adult is responsible for the care of children and older generation through taxes and this needs to be worthy of respect for those who are skilled at this . Why the veiled criticism of Feminism? It is something that women tend to do to ourselves, when we have achieved something some women tend to say Ive just done this or I was just about to get that to you or sorry I just thus in turn can diminish our reputation and put less value on the completed task. Duh! 5. the behaviour they describe often goes unremarked in men. Indeed, changing how we talk to and about women will help us dismantle rape culture and raise kids who are world-changers. Slapper Problems occur when people (alas, including you) start trying to infer that roles are gender-oriented. ), Pretty (Im just suggesting that if you use this, its not the first thing you say, or the thing you say most often to a child. Have you heard about the campaign to #banbossy? Stop using these words, eh? Thats illegal. Grow up Check out this wonderful series of #banbossy posters. It just means the mother is an a-hole. This term discourages women from taking on leadership roles, especially when men who exhibit the same "bossy" behaviors are lauded as leaders and rewarded with promotions. Race, gender, and sexual orientation are legally protected classes for a reason. You can leave your suggestions, vote for what the next article will be, and make my writing possible. Some men may be absolutely useless at it. They call the women guest dear and sweetheart. Having a boss with whom you can speak openly and honestly means that the boss is approachable. This is true equality in action. The only reason I can think of that she does this is because I am a lot thinner than her! Benevolent - She makes decisions that benefit others more than herself. Yes, women at times can be bitchy. So many of these cultures have a clear message in their language about women and behaviours toward them: females must be controlled and dominated. Thank you for your video and the lists; I found them to be helpful, however I do not agree with some points with Tone Policing. Check out her stuff for more nuance: On the economics of divorce:What Scott Morrison fails to understand about how divorce affects women, The truth about how your home life interferes with your work life, On in/equality in parenting(This one hitmelike a train.). Find 14 ways to say BOSS LADY, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Horrors! And when people start incorrectly accusing Feminists of devaluing the home or care of the vulnerable. Image description: Persona A: It was just a joke! Flip. Forward. I have lost count how many people proclaim that they know God is not really a man; God is spirit, but exclusively use male language. This came to a head when I started my Postgrad, because it seems most of my relatives think I should not be doing it. So, abusive language directed at women might encompass unladylike sexual behavior, such as whore, slut, skank, pussy, cunt, dyke, twat, etc. We can challenge and vent all we like but will it ever change? Some dont. EAT THAT! I say just embrace it. Dont pretend you know anything about her personal biochemistry. Synonyms: domineering, pushy, overbearing, imperious, officious, high-handed, authoritarian, dictatorial, controlling, tyrannical, despotic If you're looking for a noun instead of an adjective, dictator, despot or tyrant all fit pretty nicely. You dont make any sense. Thanks for the enriching piece of writing! Id add conniving to the list. vulnerable, fundamental). So its a good thing weve got other words for that kind of bossy, too, she notes. Alpha female traits manifest in her career, personal life, hobbies, friendships pretty much every facet of her life. As we start to attribute characteristics as more male or more female this is where the challenges. ask why he left a pan unattended on the cooker and burned something) he will sometimes argue that I am only annoyed because I am clearly suffering PMT! Typically used in the workplace. I was just mulling this over and it occurred to me that even the words used to describe physical attractiveness are, in themselves, quite telling. I want to see and this needs to be). I was musing onhow men dont get complimented on being bubbly or chatty, and that these are behaviours that are, well, unthreatening to men: is that why they are compliments? It is patronising, presumptuous and insulting to dismiss a womans argument or behaviour by blaming it on her biology. Maybe a woman is not a consensus builder, or needs to work on empathy. How many men have you hearddescribed as working fathers, let alone dadpreneurs? Words used to describe bossy and interfering people, Power, authority, influence and leadership, An area or organization that someone controls. I think this should be added to the list. Pancake chest Bolshy. Im trying to distill this great piece into a concise personnel policy. Had I been a boy, would I have been treated the same, or would my traits then have been seen as acceptable? Working mother is a tricky one. Lay off! Long time reader, first time commenter Reading your posts always takes me so long because I have to follow so many links and I get all distracted and dont come back to comment. Share Improve this answer Follow edited Oct 31, 2013 at 19:48 answered Oct 31, 2013 at 19:19 Lumberjack NOBODY other than that person, and their spouse/partner, should get to have a say in this. Most cultures are male dominated as we know. Hysterical These basically mean disagreeing while female. A white guy trying to emulate a black rapper with overtly sexist, hateful lyrics. And if my MOTHER-IN-LAW did one, well that would surely make her on a par with GOD! Ive been able to point out words that make my shoulders clench, but I havent always been able to explain why it bothers me or what to say differently. Ever go to a an interview workshop? Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. It can cause her to pull her hand back and not reach as high, bite her tongue, try to fit in. If people feel angry I am ok with what they feel but i never have to subject myself to emotional abuse by listening to their right to have their voice heard. Pingback: Campus Question February 19, 2017 | BPI Campus. Try to take all the judgment and emotion out of what youre talking about. It's a term rarely used to describe boys or men (they're just "confident" or "assertive") - the implication being that women shouldn't express strong opinions. Smear test It is important that people are valued for themselves and what they bring to the table. Women do get their periods and menstruate and also have curvy bodies. The Little Woman We can care about the language we use and still fight human rights abuses in Myanmarandchild marriage around the world. Some men and some women love small children. You dont make any sense. He went on to accuse me of expecting everyone to conform to my way of thinking. My husbands family do the same. Dont say she has no professional training but he worked his way up. So, do you have a woman who is dominating or harsh or strict, then you can call her bossy. We women were toasted for our beauty. 5. Please leave a comment with your response, and any ideas you have about making the world a better place for everyone. Because, if you did, you might understand that there are feminist schools of thought that study the division of labour, and which concentrate on understanding the value of things like work in the home, caring for children, and so forth. Men were not all that. It is crucial that people articulate this; and articulate the fact that, compared to insults against males, the language that insults women and girls is extensive in reach and vast in quantity. Not only can a woman be a 'bitch', but she can also be 'bitchy' (i.e. Like that is o.k. Heres a place to start if you need it: http://women.govt.nz/work-skills/income/gender-pay-gap. Snob Excellent article. What a valuable post. And lovely, when used to praise women for being an idea of perfect. (My mother recently overheard people commenting on the color of my toenail polish and promptly went over to my male colleague and asked him what color nail polish he was wearing as his shoes didnt allow her to see it. Isnt it just period pain? I cannot count how many times I have been called politically correct or flat out wrong for raising issues of gendered language. Mary Magdalen: now she was a very bad girl it took a man to make her good. The same happened to me. Another opinion here, though.). This is basic self respect. . Then I realised how this term gives excess credit to the man for the creation of a baby. If you dont think this happens during the hiring process, then you either conveniently fail to notice because you benefit from said system or youve never worked in a hiring capacity before. I usually start off the lesson with a list of descriptive words and encourage my students to decide which gender they would normally associate them. Other words were disproportionately applied to women, including bossy, aggressive, strident, emotional and irrational. I actually want sure why some of those words were in the list, a few of them werent female-exclusive. Whats the female equivalent of emasculate? I still have lots of sexist words and phrase to cover here! ), Girly (a girly girl) (because boys can like pink and sparkles, and not all girls do. 10 Words to Use Instead of Bossy - Dr. Nancy Perhaps you should have a look at the book The Dance Of Anger by Harriet Lerner, a book in which she describes gender role stereotyping, and the language that is sued to frame it. Junk in the trunk Words like pretty and beautiful are used to describe things that evoke strong emotion. 4. Debate is masculine and can harm depending on intention of the individual. Am I wrong for wanting to work hard and achieve? I had time off work due to these symptoms, and was told by my MALE NURSE BOSS, Why cant you take an aspirin? Adjectives to describe women That book really opened my eyes and changed my thinking and behaviour Looking at this post is helpful in so many ways. And that is why violence is often towards women, that is the one area where men usually are more powerful. Emasculatory Im taking an educated guess here, but I think the Bible was written by males, from a male point of view. A new way you can give me time to write this kind of article is through Patreon. Feisty, frigid and frumpy: 25 words we only use to describe women overpowering. And to understand that from a Feminist perspective, the problem with home-making and child-care is that it has traditionally been seen as an exclusively FEMALE domain, which reinforces stereotype and limits opportunities for both women and men who want to do things differently (e.g. After an unsuccessful first attempt, Jovanovich became pregnant in October 2020. Whether it's from unconscious bias or downright sexism, women are more frequently described with the first adjective in each set, the modifiers with negative undertones. 'Pushy' Is Used to Describe Women Twice as Often as Men - The Atlantic Business 'Pushy' Is Used to Describe Women Twice as Often as Men An analysis by a Georgia State University linguist. Aggressive. Female disorders As an example; the word "feisty" is used to describe a woman, but rarely to describe a man. Even though I have four college degrees, including a doctorate, I am referred to as, sweetie, hun, babe, I have asked if folks address my male colleague that way. Then I opened my eyes and took a good hard look at the world. And thats before a company even thinks about hiring a woman of child-bearing age. Words used to describe bossy and interfering people - Macmillan Dictionary This seems to infer that you would place extra emphasis upon the home, and child care which, at the end of the day, risks becoming sexist, because these things are stereotypically female roles. Though the comments they make may not overtly come across as really blatant offenses, they are still insulting. How about these more accurate descriptors? 50 Powerful Words to Describe a Woman | YourDictionary Other examples, too many to mention. 'Words can't even describe it' The next step of her journey would involve implanting one of her embryos. Overwhelming. Now, Ill let you know that I am an academic, well-educated woman who has held down a career, and has now returned to University to do postgraduate study (the only person in my immediate family to do this). SCOLDING The point being, however, that society is erring when it tries to suggest that such things are exclusively female roles this is what Feminists try to point out. I dont think anyones trying to ignore bad behavior, by banning use of the word bossy, Godar says. Why are Women "Bossy" and Men "Assertive"? - LinkedIn Sarah recently postedThailand wrap up. This post still makes me chuckle. E.g. Hen 1) Lively, resilient and self-reliant 2) (US and Canadian) frisky 3) (US and Canadian) irritable None of these definitions mention gender at all. And a few months ago a friend labelled me as bossy. Why are these insults levelled at hard-working girls? Earlier today, I suggested an alternate solution to a coworker. Bossy. Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bossy. Hey, thick ankles by the way. The Missus "Words like bossy, abrasive, strident, and aggressive are used to describe women's behaviours when they lead; words like emotional and irrational describe their behaviours when they object. Or, maybe, I have just met bad examples? "One ex-housemate, who did not want to be named, described him as a man who was difficult to get along with, very bossy and imposing.". Andie Fox at Blue Milk writes some of my favourite stuff on how womens care work is largely unacknowledged and unpaid. 1. Invite others to join in 9. Subtly sexist words about women and girls. I am a female, and unfortunately I have been diagnosed with Endometriosis (please feel free to look this term up if you need to better understand it). I have also met with blatant sexism in all the jobs I have ever held and have often been told to get back in my box if I have been too outspoken (ie outspoken by female standards only). Suffice it to say, my Endometriosis made me feel very ill, as it caused chronic pain, heavy periods, anaemia, and was growing very close to my bowel risking damaging it. 10 Adjectives to Stop Using to Describe Women | InHerSight 4. Uterus transplant: Organ donation cures infertility, bonds two women I was looking for language that propagates violence against women, and while this list isnt that exactly, it was still helpful. By actively working to have folks see God as more than a male, deity who uses power over others, I have unintentionally claimed as feminine the characteristics of compassion, mutuality, empowerment, etc. Why is it when a woman is strong and advocates her rights as an equal human men automatically are threatened and attempt to gaslight.? When my husband works from home he has his own business with no mention of the fact that hes a Dad.. The gender of the person writing the review didnt affect the results of the study. ), Little old lady (I like to imagine that woman driving an ambulance in the World War II, or doing a familys laundry without electricity. An unpleasant male boss is rarely known as bitchy, although gay men can face a similar plight to. Your article caused me to consider how I encourage the use of the divine feminine. high-handed. This article is quite validating and I feel better about initiating the conversation. ! Talk about insensitive and ill-educated! I am a gay man, and in the 15 years that I have been out, Ive never faced abuse. Performance review gender bias: High-achieving women are - Fortune To save this word, you'll need to log in. Some people are lovely, but I often hear it used by men and women who clearly have an issue with women who do not fit the lovely mould and reserve it for those women who meet the lovely criteria.