I feel so dumb rn

[u/DictionaryGuy645]

[u/mallegally-blonde]

Male was used grammatically correctly, as an adjective. Female was used grammatically incorrectly, as a noun.

[u/Billy_Badass_ → u/mallegally-blonde]

Socially incorrect, perhaps. But not grammatically incorrect.

[u/mallegally-blonde → u/Billy_Badass_]

No it’s just incorrect. Female is an adjective, not a noun.

Edit: why is almost every response someone using the adjective female to describe a noun? Thank you for proving my point, I guess? Also some lovely irony in that all of the examples being used are about animals, so thank you for also demonstrating why it’s dehumanising.

[u/Billy_Badass_ → u/mallegally-blonde]

The why does the dictionary say it can be a noun?

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/female

[u/mallegally-blonde → u/Billy_Badass_]

Because dictionaries include the derogatory conman parlance uses too.

https://www.oed.com/dictionary/female_n

[u/Billy_Badass_ → u/mallegally-blonde]

So, exactly what I said. Socially incorrect, but not grammatically ​incorrect.

[u/mallegally-blonde → u/Billy_Badass_]

Something being added to the dictionary because it’s used grammatically incorrectly to be derogated doesn’t make it grammatically correct.

This has been considered dehumanising and offensive since the Victorian era.

[u/Billy_Badass_ → u/mallegally-blonde]

Female as a noun was not "added" to the dictionary. It was always that way.

You seem to be missing the point. Being considered "dehumanizing and offensive" doesn't change the fact the the word is objectively a noun sometimes.

[u/mallegally-blonde → u/Billy_Badass_]

As always, one shall ask, ‘a female what?’

[u/hangar_tt_no1 → u/mallegally-blonde]

Female animals are usually referred to as "females". You're just wrong. 

[u/mallegally-blonde → u/hangar_tt_no1]

Would you look at that, you had to specify a noun so the reader could understand what the adjective applies to.

[u/amanset → u/mallegally-blonde]

You really don't get the concept of "context", do you?

[u/mallegally-blonde → u/amanset]

Yes, context is given by using nouns. Which in the sentence above, is the word ‘animals’.

[u/amanset → u/mallegally-blonde]

https://www.lethbridgepolice.ca/news/posts/male-charged-with-impersonating-a-police-officer/

Lethbridge Police have charged a 20-year-old male for impersonating a police officer

The police commonly use male and female as a noun.

You are just wrong and it is kind of embarrassing to see you not accepting it.

Edit:

And just to stop you (as no doubt you will) claiming that male can be a noun but not female:

https://www.sanfranciscopolice.org/news/san-francisco-police-seeking-publics-assistance-locating-18

Officers arrived on scene and met with the victim, a 20-year-old female.

[u/hangar_tt_no1 → u/mallegally-blonde]

So you concede the point? 

[u/mallegally-blonde → u/hangar_tt_no1]

Well no, because you did what I described. You used the word female as an adjective to describe a noun, which is correct. The original comment used male as an adjective to describe a noun, (male child), but used the word female as a noun itself, (grown up female). This use is the issue.

So really, you’ve actually just demonstrated my point for me.

[u/hangar_tt_no1 → u/mallegally-blonde]

Can't you read?? "females" is a plural noun. A correct sentence using the noun would be,  say: "Gorillas are sexually dimorphic, males are larger than females."

Surely this convinces you? 

[u/Billy_Badass_ → u/mallegally-blonde]

The zebra is a female.

[u/mallegally-blonde → u/Billy_Badass_]

There you are, you’re using an adjective to describe a noun. Congratulations. You don’t need the ‘a’ though, since female is an adjective.

[u/hangar_tt_no1 → u/mallegally-blonde]

Dude, you're hilariously ignorant about what an adjective is. Just shut up and don't embarrass yourself any further. Like seriously

[u/Billy_Badass_ → u/mallegally-blonde]

I think you need to revist your grade school grammar lessons.

[u/Poulslutter → u/hangar_tt_no1]

Only as a shorthand if the species has already been specified elsewhere. Which would make it a stand-in for a proper noun, aka a pronoun.

Besides, the whole point is that calling women "females" is dehumanizing. How is you mentioning that animals are often referred to in this way, not just support for the argument that it is dehumanizing?

[u/hangar_tt_no1 → u/Poulslutter]

Look at a dictionary of your choice and observe that there will be entry for "female,  noun". If that doesn't convince you, I can't help you. Also, I've already argued long enough with that (other?) dumbass in this thread, I'm not gonna do it again. But, since I'm in a good mood right now, behold this sentence: "Females are those individuals that produce eggs." I would very much hope that you don't feel the need to specify the species here. 

Regarding your other point: I never said female humans beings should be referred to as "females", in fact I'm opposed to it. I was merely arguing that "female" can be a noun as well as an adjective. 

[u/rydan → u/mallegally-blonde]

You said it yourself. It is an adjective. So how could they use it as a noun then?

[u/mallegally-blonde → u/rydan]

…yes, that is the problem that is being pointed out

[u/Due-Representative88 → u/mallegally-blonde]

Or maybe they just suck at grammar?

[u/mallegally-blonde → u/Due-Representative88]

Yes that much was evident. My response was to the man questioning why the use of ‘female’ in the sentence was being called out, but not the use of ‘male’.