Discussion Time

[mf_luder_xf]

In The Female Eunuch, Germaine Greer notes how the language of affection reduces women to foods and baby animals--honey, lamb, sugar, sweetie-pie, kitten, chick.

Discuss!

Comments

[motorwill.livejournal.com]

You mean we're not sugar and spice and everything nice? *is crushed* :P

Three out of five of those words are generally used on males, too, so people aren't getting "reduced" when they're in love with each other and use sappy words.

And it sounds offensive if you try to use a "non-reducing" word: "Woman, come back here and fix me a sandwich." I'd much rather prefer 'baby'. :)

[mf_luder_xf]

Hmm, now your last statement is interesting. I agree with that as well. I guess that's why I'm a stickler for names. IMO...I have a name. Use it. LOL

Thanks for joining in, Dusty!

[motorwill.livejournal.com]

I guess that's why I'm a stickler for names.
Yeah, me too. I love names, I think there's too many facets in people for them to be addressed under just one name.

I forgot to add, most of it has to do with who says it. If some random guy called me baby, I'd want to go Scully on him. But my mother calls me "child", a word that sounds condescending at face value, but I know her and what she means, so it's endearing.