Australian influencer and podcast host Abbie Chatfield says that when men use “females” instead of “women,” the wording can feel sexist and derogatory. Her comments, reported by PerthNow on 13 March 2024, describe her reaction to the term; they do not establish that “female” is inherently a slur or offensive in every context.
What did Abbie Chatfield say?
PerthNow reported that Chatfield made the remarks on a recent episode of her podcast, It’s A Lot. The outlet quoted her saying: “It feels like a slur, it feels like the word b**tch, it feels… obviously sexist.” She also said, “It feels transphobic in a weird way because it’s categorising people.” These quotations are PerthNow’s account of her comments.
Chatfield’s criticism focused on men using “females” in place of “women.” PerthNow also reported that she described women’s use of “females” as “internalised misogyny.” That is her characterization, not a general finding about everyone who uses the word.
Why does she object to the wording?
Chatfield said “females” can make a statement about a group sound like an objective fact, while “women” leaves more room for debate. PerthNow quoted her: “Also when you say females it sounds more like someone’s stating a fact about a group of people like ‘females do this’, whereas when you say women it seems like there’s more room for debate about it.”
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She also connected the term with an image of women as having fixed instincts and needing a protective man. This explains the association she described; it does not show that every speaker who says “female” intends that meaning.
Is “female” always derogatory when used for people?
No universal rule is established by the report. The word can function as a descriptive term, while a slur is distinguished by its derogatory function. Whether a particular use sounds demeaning depends on matters such as grammar, context, intent and how listeners interpret it. Chatfield’s account is one perspective on that context-sensitive question, not evidence that the word is always a slur.
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It is also useful to distinguish using “female” as an adjective from using it as a noun for people. The argument PerthNow reported concerns the latter kind of phrasing—such as referring to women collectively as “females”—and how that choice can land with an audience.
What reactions did PerthNow report?
The article included listener responses that agreed with Chatfield, including comments describing the wording as “dehumanizing,” as well as responses that debated her view. These are examples of reactions, not a representative survey of listeners or evidence of how common either view is.
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What is known about the podcast discussion?
PerthNow published its report on 13 March 2024 and described the podcast episode as recent at that time. The episode’s title and release date are not established in the available reporting, and the quotations here come through PerthNow rather than a verified episode transcript or audio recording.
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