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submitted 1 year ago by Trincapinones@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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I am not a native English speaker and I have sometimes referred to people as male and female (as that is what I have been taught) but I have received some backlash in some cases, especially for the word "female", is there some negative thought in the word which I am unaware of?

I don't know if this is the best place to ask, if it's not appropriate I have no problem to delete it ^^

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[-] maryjayjay@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

"the suspect is a six foot, white male"

Sounds fine to me

[-] Paradachshund@lemmy.today 22 points 1 year ago

"I was just visiting my friend, a six foot white male"

A little weirder. Context is everything.

[-] mdhughes@lemmy.ml 12 points 1 year ago

Cops (ACAB) are not a good example for moral treatment of others.

[-] Silentiea@lemm.ee 11 points 1 year ago

Because the police never try to dehumanize "suspects" and "perpetrators".

[-] Queen___Bee@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I think that's because the descriptors come after the noun in reporting. Similar to how documentation is done for other professions, like healthcare. If it's out of the context of reporting, or other situations listed in the site below, it sounds grammatically strange or rude.

https://myenglishgrammar.com/lessons/adjectives-function-as-nouns/

Source: I'm in healthcare.

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this post was submitted on 11 Mar 2024

279 points (100.0% liked)

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