There are contexts where it makes sense, mostly medicine or science, but even in those contexts it’s deliberately dehumanizing, which is the point. It is also the only English word for a female human that does not imply age, as woman and girl both do.
The quick sniff test: “Males and females”? Clinical, but probably fine. “Men and females”? Fucking Ferengi freak, avoid that guy
female as an adjective for clarification (like “oh you’re looking for that female doctor over there”) is ok, female as a noun is just weird
There are contexts where it makes sense, mostly medicine or science, but even in those contexts it’s deliberately dehumanizing, which is the point. It is also the only English word for a female human that does not imply age, as woman and girl both do.
The quick sniff test: “Males and females”? Clinical, but probably fine. “Men and females”? Fucking Ferengi freak, avoid that guy
Unless you’re speaking about (non human) animals. Saying a dog is a female is fine.
Excuse me, but my dog is a lady.
(An obnoxious, clumsy, stupid lady but…)
But isn’t calling her a bitch also fine in this case?
To be fair, the existence of animal breeders is not fine.
I knew it! Once I suggested this to someone assuming they’re, like me, not a native speaker, and got downvoted to hell. Turned out I was too woke.
true! connotation is a weird thing.