I'll need a fedora to tip if I'm going to say that.You could probably use the term lady.
Think of a young lady versus an old lady.
How can you be wrong if you're correct?It's less offensive and outright wrong and more ignoring social cues to be technically correct but off putting.
I'm trying to understand in what context calling a girl or woman a "female" could be viewed as offensive, but I can't really think of a situation where that would be objectively wrong? I mean, I would never introduce my girlfriend as "my female" because that just sounds weird, but I can't honestly say that it sounds like something that's worth getting offended over. I always try to empathize with others so as not to offend them, but even I can't grasp how the usage of the word "female" could be interpreted as bad.
Judging by your profile, you're male. Would you like to be called "a male" from now on? Probably not.I'm trying to understand in what context calling a girl or woman a "female" could be viewed as offensive, but I can't really think of a situation where that would be objectively wrong? I mean, I would never introduce my girlfriend as "my female" because that just sounds weird, but I can't honestly say that it sounds like something that's worth getting offended over. I always try to empathize with others so as not to offend them, but even I can't grasp how the usage of the word "female" could be interpreted as bad.
You are indeed correct. His profile states that he is a male. Why doesn't your profile state your gender?Judging by your profile, you're male. Would you like to be called "a male" from now on? Probably not.
In situations, it may be appropriate.I'll need a fedora to tip if I'm going to say that.
I would call that human a female child.In situations, it may be appropriate.
For example, a girl somewhere between the age of 16-18 stumbles across your workplace and asks to see your coworker (perhaps his/her daughter). You take her to your coworker and say, "This lady would like to speak with you".
I don't see anything wrong in that scenario.
Yea I generally agree with you there. But there are exceptions, some people have a harder time doing so (such as those with Asperger's, Autism, etc.), so I try to be more empathetic towards them.Just read the room and think.
Be less worried about offending(negative thinking) and focus on being courteous and nice in the environment you're in to the people in it(Positive thinking), which includes knowing and/or learning the decorum and/or rules of the space or people you're in/talking to.
This really isn't that hard.
I would know.Yea I generally agree with you there. But there are exceptions, some people have a harder time doing so (such as those with Asperger's, Autism, etc.), so I try to be more empathetic towards them.
Yeah I can't think anything you said to heart when you assumed his gender base on his profile picture (I know he's a he based off his posts). You just discredited yourself.Judging by your profile, you're male. Would you like to be called "a male" from now on? Probably not.
Note that that one article right there -- one of the two shortest words in the English language -- makes a world of difference in tone. It's not present when you refer to a group of people because its purpose (grammatically) is to denote the subject as singular. If you're referring to a group of people, switch to the singular version of the sentence to see if it's there.
It's probably fine to call your girlfriend "female" -- a little weird to indicate it specifically, unless your girlfriend is a trans woman and the other person is trying to assert that they're still a man -- but calling her "a female" robs her of a portion of her identity by reducing her to her gender alone -- not even "a person who is female," just some kind of disembodied gender.
In the technical sense, it's not incorrect (unless, again, you're misgendering someone, in which case, y'know, screw you to begin with), but it is very detached and eliminates the person's sense of humanity.