29 words used only or mainly about women
Stuff has an article from Daily Life which lists 29 words only (or mainly) used about women. They are:
- Airhead, noun
- Ambitious, adj
- Abrasive, noun
- Bossy, adj
- Bitchy, adj
- Bubbly, adj
- Ditsy, adj
- Emotional, adj
- Frigid, adj
- Frumpy, adj
- High-maintenance, adj
- Pushy, adj
- Sassy, adj
- Bombshell, adj
- Bolshy, adj
- Breathless, adj
- Bridezilla, noun
- Curvy, adj
- Ethereal, adj
- Fawn-like, adj
- Headstrong, adj
- Hormonal, adj
- Hysterical, adj
- Illogical, adj and Irrational, adj
- Mother of… , noun
- Shrill, adj
- Voluptuous, adj
- Whinging, verb
- Working mum, noun
It is a good point that most of the words mainly used to describe women are negative ones. Even ones that appear neutral like “working mum” have a suggestion that this is unusual, as you never hear “working dad”.
Even swear words are not equal. Being called a bastard is less damning than being called a bitch. In fact being called a bastard is also a term of admiration for some. And being called a prick is far less damning than being called a c**t.
Can readers think of any words that are mainly used to describe men, and are negative? Thug is one I guess. You don’t hear many women called thugs. I have no doubt that common terms about women are far more negative than common terms about men, but interested to see what there is on the male side.