Question-Sexist Or Not

[DemocratSinceBirth]

If you say someone has a "set" , "brass ones", or "cojones" is that being sexist and if you refer to a woman as having those characteristics is that being sexist?

Because , for better or worse, I think there's one candidate with a "set" but I censor myself from saying so because I don't want to use a word that is pejorative..

[nofurylike]

1. yes it is. is there a reason not to use "courage"? "brave"?... eom

[Chovexani]

2. Bravery is not connected to genitalia.

Welcome to the 21st century.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. That's Why I Asked

"The word was famously used in 1996 by Madeleine Albright, then serving as the USA's ambassador to the United Nations, in the aftermath of the downing of a Hermanos al Rescate light civilian aircraft by Cuban airforce MiG 29s on 24 February 1996. Following the release of a transcript of radio traffic between the fighter pilots in which one exclaimed, ¡Le partimos los cojones! ("We busted his balls!"), Albright offered the following comment: "Frankly, this is not cojones. This is cowardice." Albright later described the vulgarism as "the only Spanish word I know".<[br />

[Thothmes]

13. Levels of aggression are.

[Double T]

4. Quit being so damn PC and tell it like it is.

"set" , "brass ones", or "cojones" are just fine as descriptors for a strong woman.

[Captain Hilts]

7. Women can't have fortitude unless they have male anatomy?

I can see that this expression would not offend a man.

[marions ghost]

18. no

usually connecting women with 'balls" in our culture has a negative meaning. It doesn't mean "strong," it means she's an unfeminine brassy bitch. Or something like that.

Smart men avoid it.

[Perry Logan]

5. I don't have a problem with the metaphor. But it is sexist, in assuming courage pertains to males.

And to their genitals, no less. It's a cultural thing. But I don't believe people who use the metaphor are sexist for doing so.

[Captain Hilts]

6. It's like complimenting a black person by saying, "that's awfully white of you."

It suggests that women are inadequate if they don't have balls.

Just as complimenting a black person for acting 'white' suggests they are inadequate for not being white.

It's meant as a compliment, but ultimately, is not if you're on the receiving end.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. I'm Not Going To Use The Word...

But there's a difference between colorful language and fighting words... Telling a black person they are "acting white" is fighting words...I don't think using "set" as a euphenism for strong rises to that level...

[Captain Hilts]

9. No, that's not the same expression. Watch the movie, Bringing Up Baby...

Cary Grant uses the expression - which I remember hearing as a kid - "that's awfully white of you."

It's meant as a compliment. Whites used it to blacks and to other whites.

[nofurylike]

10. delete

[BoneDaddy]

11. I have never

met a group of people so concerned about language in my entire life. I am tired of people telling me what is the correct thing to say. The left can be as dictatorial as the right.

[notadmblnd]

12. I walked into my office one morning and there on my desk was a set of steel ball bearings

Taped to a piece of cardboard. They had been left there by a peer. I took it as a compliment.

[MilesColtrane]

14. I prefer the use of "huevos" over "cojones".

It really can be gender neutral.

[Captain Hilts]

17. Complimenting someone for having 'nads is gender neutral. Not 'cojones'. nt

[Annces]

15. It implies men naturally are the ones with the strength n/t

[Captain Hilts]

16. It implies that men naturally are the ones with MORAL strength as well. nt