ichorforink asked:

Having something against the word "hysterical" for its history is like having something against the word "gay" because of its historical usage... It's only offensive if you make it so. The English language develops constantly and the connotations of words do too, a "faggot" was once a pile of sticks, a "fag" is a colloquialism for a tab. Wedding rings have an arguably worse history than the word hysterical... (My own opinion on all of the above stated. No offence was intended).

katyisntfunny asked:

I grew up with the people around me using "hysterical" SOLELY to mean something that was ridiculously funny- no matter the gender of who said it or who was involved. No negative connotation about it. I didn't know until I was probably in my late teens that its history is sexist and ableist. I'd wonder if this use was a regional thing, but the anecdotal evidence I have is that it's not. Hmm...

likelovecraftinbrooklyn asked:

I sort of feel like the sexism in the word hysteria has sort of decreased. I imagine the majority of people who use the word might not be fully aware of it's etymology, I've heard it used to describe men as well as women. I'm not sure there's much inherent sexism in the word itself, it's more to do with the intent of the person using that word. Although obviously suggesting that someone is unable to think straight because of their womanly emotions sets of the patriarchy alarm.

absinthe-cocktail asked:

I really dislike the word hysterical, mostly because I had an exboyfriend who used it a lot in arguments to shut me down. The implication for me has always been "You're overreacting, your feelings are unreasonable, shut up." Just my two cents.

Gaslighting for sure.

ribqueen asked:

oh! i just wrote a comment about "hysterical" being sexist, and i do think it is... but i lol'd hardcore at your use of it in your corgi meme. it just seemed so ironic and perfect. maybe we could take this word back? it'd be great (maybe) for reminding people that women's expressions of emotions have been used against them for eons, reaching an embarrassing level of awfulness in western society with the word "hysteria".

reclusivewanker asked:

from a linguistic point of view, hysterical is kind of inherently sexist: see, hystera means 'innermost part' in ancient greek, and was later used as the technical term for the womb. hysteria is literally the 'disease of the womb' - ie, women are unable to control their emotions.

ribqueen asked:

re: "hysterical". I dunno about it not being sexist. Can you call a cis-guy hysterical without bringing up an image about him acting like an shamefully unstable woman? Different places get different contexts for words, so maybe you can. But I can't. So for me, it's sexist.

earlgreyandarsenic asked:

I use hysterical all the time. I'm a mentally ill woman, it does not bother me in the least. I feel that it accurately describes a reaction (losing control of one's emotions), and although it does have the aforementioned sexist and abelist undertones, it's not a word that is [often] actively used to discriminated against women and mentally ill people.

ribbitz asked:

Hysterical is a pretty meh word to use. It's pretty ableist and has some definite sexist undertones.

Yeah, I’d say if there’s an alternative, USE IT! :)

submitted by neuroticdragon [head of a corgi on alternating pink and blue background, text above reads “men are oppressed too!”, bottom text reads “Laughs hysterically”] Is it okay to use the word “hysterically” considering it comes from “hytera” meaning “uterus” in Greek? I personally am not sure if the word itself is offensive anymore, though it is used more often on women than men for known historical reasons (ie. hysteria). I do see it being used to describe men though. So i’m really not sure. What do my followers think?

submitted by neuroticdragon

[head of a corgi on alternating pink and blue background, text above reads “men are oppressed too!”, bottom text reads “Laughs hysterically”]

Is it okay to use the word “hysterically” considering it comes from “hytera” meaning “uterus” in Greek?

I personally am not sure if the word itself is offensive anymore, though it is used more often on women than men for known historical reasons (ie. hysteria). I do see it being used to describe men though. So i’m really not sure. What do my followers think?

thelittlegrayghost asked:

I can see the point the submitter was making. People who are FAAB aren't subject to the same kind of backlash for dressing in traditionally masculine clothing as people who are MAAB and dress in traditionally female clothing. That's not to say that anyone dressing in men's clothes is exempt from gender-based discrimination, but the reaction to a "man in a dress" is not the same as a "girl in pants". To be feminine is something frowned on by a lot feminists and cissexists alike :/

feminist-phoenix asked:

I agree that what is considered to be feminine is often considered weak, inferior or something to be derided, but to me that particular submission, was kind of playing into the idea of a regulated notion of femininity/masculinity, and kind of erases trans*/gender queer experiences. (Just my two cents of course)

Fair enough, it was binarist, I agree with that much.

othermeinktea asked:

Just saying, the "men are only oppressed when they act like women" implies that men have no inherent femininity, and that women always act feminine which I think we can agree is not true. I do agree strongly that the negative effects on men are rooted in sexism against women, but I think that could have been worded better.

Well it was a submission, so take that up with the person that submitted? The idea behind the macro is that anything “feminine” is seen as disgusting when a man is taking on feminine traits, hence it’s actually misogyny and not misandry. 

I really don’t think the submitter was saying anything about inherent femininity or masculinity (because these things are socially learned, after all) but was just trying to point out that feminine is by default seen as “other”.

submitted by neuroticdragon [head of a corgi on alternating pink and blue background, text above reads “men are oppressed too!”, bottom text reads “only when they act like women”] Think about it…

submitted by neuroticdragon

[head of a corgi on alternating pink and blue background, text above reads “men are oppressed too!”, bottom text reads “only when they act like women”]

Think about it…

monsterinthegirlmask asked:

Haha, I used to see those stupid candy bars. You should have said "Yorkie - 'it's not for girls', Corgie - 'YES IT IS'." get it, dog play on words? *hurhur*

:P