Opinions can't be sexist?

@Cutiebeauty If those opinions are based on one's sex, sure. What part of those opinions are based on the individual's gender rather than their character, personality, and/or performance?

@Cutiebeauty
Yes they can but they need not be
Everyone has the right to be an arsehole, regardless of what dangles between their legs, never because of it.
Besides which of course in this new woke world is not biological sex based on genitalia and chromosomes only supposed to be a social construct?
In light of which are you not being sexist/homophobic yourself by enforcing traditional gender prejudices?

Explain please.

@Sgt_Spanky
"I think Lindsey Graham is a sniveling little toadie."

"Sniveling little ..."

Attacking his manhood by referring to him with adjectives typically used for children... Although I believe and agree with the statement...

"I think Kamala Harris is abrasive and off-putting."

Pretty much the sane thing... A strong intelligent woman who speaks her mind is often described with adjectives with a negative connotations, often without an explanation of how our why these adjectives are used...

@Cutiebeauty Since we both agree Lindsey Graham is a sniveling little toadir let's focus instead on Harris. What part of the statement impugns her based on her gender rather than on the impression she gives as a person, not as a female person, just as a person?

@Sgt_Spanky
"... impression she gives as a person, not as a female person, just as a person?"

It's not really fair to exclude her gender in a thread that addresses sexism...

If you look at my post announcing her as Biden s VP, you'll see many examples of sexist statements by trump supporters...

@Cutiebeauty Personally I think Sniveling is gender neutral since it refers to brattish spoiled child like behaviour, faking crying out of temper, whining and demanding your own way.
The Literary epitomes of a Sniveling brat are "Veruca Salt" and "Draco Malfoy", the unholy offspring of those two would almost certainly be comparable to Lindsey Graham.
Kamala Harris is a lawyer, abrasivity is a job requirement.

@Cutiebeauty Of course it's fair to exclude her sex if her sex plays no part whatsoever in the statement. Nothing about it attacks her for being female. No reference is made to her gender at all. It is impossible for a statement o be sexist if there's nothing gender based about it.

@Cutiebeauty What the hell, I''ll also address Lindsey Graham. The statement about him isn't sexist either because being a sniveling little toadie isn't a gender based conclusion. A woman can also be a sniveling little toadie if she has the same weak and pathetic character Graham has.

@LenHazell53 sniveling is gender.. I pretty much said it's used to refer to adults as children... If you were referred to as sniveling, would you view that as an affront or attack on your manhood?

@Sgt_Spanky

Man = full grown adult male
Woman = full grown adult female

To use adjectives that are typically used to describe children, directly attacks a person's status as a man or woman..

@Cutiebeauty Sniveling means weak, whiny and servile -- these shortcomings are not gender specific; either a man or a woman can be sniveling. To be sexist, a comment MUST be gender based, exclusive to one's gender. To call someone sniveling would be an insult but it is not a gender based insult.

For example, if I called Graham a spineless weenie who can't get it up or Harris a boner-killer who belongs in the kitchen, now THOSE are sexist as hell. See the difference?

@Sgt_Spanky
sniv·el·ing
/ˈsniv(ə)liNG/
noun
the action of crying and sniffing in a feeble or fretful way.

In the current political climate, there aren't as many blatant sexist statements as before.. It's more insidious...
Like I said before, my post announcing KH as VP received many sexist remarks and statement... I haven't heard any of this stuff before she was chosen.. Seems like conservatives here were just waiting to attack his VP pick, knowing it would be a woman of color... So you say its not a sexist statement, I think it is...

@Cutiebeauty no as an attack or criticism of my behaviour, whether it was justified or no is another matter.

Are you seriously contending that people do not act childishly at times?

That aside how could anything be an attack on my "manhood"? What does that even mean?

@LenHazell53

Check out this link.. It provides some perspective...

[natepyle.com]

@Cutiebeauty Except that they are not. Oh well, I tried. Peace.

@Cutiebeauty Yes that is my point, this Victorian idea of the manly man is a total myth and attacking it by feminising is utter bollocks. I am secure enough in my sexuality to ignore idiots who think calling me a Poof or such like is an insult, since more than half of my heroes and role models from history were homosexual or women or both.
I grew up with a Father to whom the idea of my becoming an actor or writer or musician was a sure sign that I was a "filthy gayboy" yet who when I asked him what I should be suggested that I be a wrestler or a boxer or a footballer, and was shocked when I pointed out that he wanted me to spend time grabbing on to near naked men, or running about with men in shorts who I would then bathe naked with, to prove I was a "real" man.
I saw through this projection and hypocrisy very quickly, and soon realised those who insist on finding feminine traits in other men or masculine traits in women ARE LOOKING FOR THEM. Personally I accept people for who they are if they are honest and so long as they are not hurtful or abusive to others, they are free to be who they want to be without comment or judgement from me or anyone else.

Use of belittling words like Snivelling are not attacks on my masculinity, they are attacks on my maturity, there is nothing gender specific about them, certainly nothing sexist. They are the mocking of age related inappropriate reactions and a lack of self reliance.

@Sgt_Spanky there are articles on both sides of the issue, as is the case with many things.. I chose this one because I agreed with @lenhazell53 s comment here

@LenHazell53 I agree with you 100% .. I was just providing an example of what some men think on this issue..

@Cutiebeauty Some very insecure men, who cling to an unpleasant and outdated past unfortunately

I completely agree with you but do you consider any of those examples to be sexist based on your criteria?

@Sgt_Spanky not on their own. I would determine that relative to how similar behaviors of the opposite sex were characterized.

@Sgt_Spanky Her criteria requires one description to be positive while the other is negative. I don't think any of those qualify.

Are you saying that we are unable to compare statements to determine sexism until woman have had equal power for centuries?

Why?

Give me a break. Are any of them sexist based on their content? It's a simple question.

@RoboGraham It all depends on who you mean by "we?"

@Sgt_Spanky Seriously? Women who exhibit the same characteristics as their male counterparts are often labelled 'abrasive and off-putting.' Worse, they are called 'shrill' or 'overly agressive,' simply for being women with leaderhip capabilities or having a plan. Meanwhile, men are just seen as being their typical selves. Do you not see the double standard that exists?

@p-nullifidian And what if a woman simply is abrasive and off-putting? Are you suggesting women are beyond criticism by virtue of the fact that they're female? A man can be awesome, a woman can be awesome, a man can be an asshole, a woman can be an asshole. Gender does not enter into the quality of a person.

@Sgt_Spanky
”Are you suggesting women are beyond criticism by virtue of the fact that they're female?"

Yes, not he but some definitely are saying it.

@p-nullifidian

You, me, anyone, doesn't matter who.

@St-Sinner That's the argument he's making and he's wrong for making it. If men in power can be criticized for their character/personality/performance, so too can women in power. Otherwise it's a double standard.

@RoboGraham
"Are you saying that we are unable to compare statements to determine sexism until woman have had equal power for centuries?

That is a good argument and it can be made about descendants of black slaves, aboriginals and untouchables in India just like about women in America and around the world. It holds merit in general but the question here is limited only to members' perception at first about 5 statements , not a general opinion on the social issue of equality. Don't you think?

@Sgt_Spanky

Totally agree.

I think there is something to this idea that an assertive man is seen as a good leader while a similarly assertive woman, maybe, by some people, can be seen as abrasive or bitchy. That's not okay. But at the same time, this does not exempt woman from criticism. Inevitably, some female leaders are going to be overly dominant and controlling, just as male leaders can be, and we need to be able to point that out. Otherwise, there is a double standard. There is nothing wrong with constructive criticism. It's how people learn of their flaws and improve.

I also take issue with his idea that we can't even talk about this stuff until woman are on completely even footing with men for a very long time. If we can't even discuss it until then, how are we supposed to make it so that women will reach equality?

@Sgt_Spanky First let me say that performance is not what I'm talking about--performance must be the bottom line in any job. For example, both men and women seeking a position in a major symphony orchestra are typically auditioned behind a black screen--only the sound coming from their instruments is heard, and the best audition gets the job, and only then is their gender known.

But women who seek or are already in public office are still judged differently than their male counterparts both by the media and the public at large. That said, fair and just criticism is always warranted, but it should be admitted that all of the statements above don't qualify as such, as they are little more than insults.

Thank you. I'm going to give this til tomorrow night to rack up enough votes for a decision (hopefully) then I'll explain it.

@Sgt_Spanky
Defensive feminists will say all statements against women are sexist.

@Sgt_Spanky careful you'll sound like you are mansplaining