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MUSCOVITE Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary

the fair sex, etc.

Hi,

(1) the fair sex (women)
(2) the gentle sex (women)
(3) the sterner sex (men) (are there other variants?)

Expressions such as the fair sex are VERY common in my native language (and they are absolutely positive and polite too).
However (1)-(3) don't seem to be very common in modern English?.. I just checked COCA for them:
(1) = 17 hits
(2) = none
(3) = none

Are (1)-(3) just out of date? or maybe they are considered "not polite enough" nowadays?

mus-te
  

Top answer

MUSCOVITE Are (1)-(3) just out of date? or maybe they are considered "not polite enough" nowadays? I have never heard 2 or 3.

— Mister Micawber

  • MUSCOVITE Are (1)-(3) just out of date?
  • or maybe they are considered "not polite enough" nowadays?
  • I have never heard 2 or 3.
  • #1 is politically incorrect nowadays.
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11 Answers
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MUSCOVITEAre (1)-(3) just out of date? or maybe they are considered "not polite enough" nowadays?
I have never heard 2 or 3. #1 is politically incorrect nowadays.
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Mister Micawber#1 is politically incorrect nowadays.
I see... Thank you.
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I like to call women "the better, brighter, prettier part of humanity" ;-)))
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Perfect StrangerI like to call women "the better, brighter, prettier part of humanity"
Quite sexist on several levels.
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I see nothing wrong about being appreciative of women...
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Perfect StrangerI see nothing wrong about being appreciative of women...
Of course not, but it is how you express it in English that is the problem.
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Mister MicawberOf course not, but it is how you express it in English that is the problem.
I see.

Hmm... how can I make more words more acceptable?

Thanks!
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The only one I hear is "The fairer ***." I don't think it is considered offensive. But I suppose it depends to whom and in what context it is said.
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Perfect StrangerHmm... how can I make more words more acceptable?
By trying not to suggest that females are in some way intrinsically better/worse, more/less intelligent, better/worse looking, etc, than males.
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KJinCali79The only one I hear is "The fairer ***." I don't think it is considered offensive.
It quite often is, these days.
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