Why are women called fairer sex?

daemon99 · Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:59 pm *Why are women called fairer sex?*

I've always wondered why women are called fairer sex. Does anyone know?
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Molly · Tue Jun 03, 2008 13:08 pm *Why are women called fairer sex?*

I'm sure they were not thinking about this woman. Laughing

Jamie (K) · Tue Jun 03, 2008 13:43 pm *Why are women called fairer sex?*

It's because in that usage "fair" means "not coarse", "not rough". Women in the English-speaking world used to be more genteel than men.

Molly · Tue Jun 03, 2008 13:46 pm *Why are women called fairer sex?*

Molly · Tue Jun 03, 2008 13:57 pm *Why are women called fairer sex?*

Some think we still are:

Yankee · Tue Jun 03, 2008 14:14 pm *Why are women called fairer sex?*

Molly · Tue Jun 03, 2008 14:18 pm *Why are women called fairer sex?*

There's that "Baa-baa!" again. Have you ever had an original thought, Amyish?

Yankee · Tue Jun 03, 2008 15:30 pm *Why are women called fairer sex?*

Yes.
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Molly · Tue Jun 03, 2008 18:59 pm *Why are women called fairer sex?*

Can't wait to see it.

Ralf · Tue Jun 03, 2008 19:14 pm *Why are women called fairer sex?*

Do you belong to the fair sex, or a fractional fair part of it?
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prezbucky · Tue Jun 03, 2008 21:31 pm *Why are women called fairer sex?*

Jamie, I always thought it was because they're prettier than we are. hehe

Molly · Tue Jun 03, 2008 21:47 pm *Why are women called fairer sex?*

Molly · Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:17 am *Why are women called fairer sex?*

Schloesser argues that the term fair/fairer sex "situated white women instrumentally rather than as discursive equals capable of participating in an ideal speech situation”.

In: The Fair Sex: White Women and Racial Patriarchy in the Early American Republic. By PAULINE SCHLOESSER. (New York: New York University Press, 2002.) Reviewed here: http://oieahc.wm.edu/wmq/Oct02/burgett.pdf

Do you agree with her?

stew.t. · Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:31 am *Why are women called fairer sex?*

Hi guys

Just averting the trolls fighting for their bridge. Very Happy

Here is an interesting anthropological view from Peter Frost. He puts forward the theory that because girls are generally fairer haired after puberty than boys, this could have led to the use of the phrase "the fairer sex". (Fair Women, Dark Men; The forgotten roots of racial prejudice").

It has received some negative reviews, and I do not believe all his premises, but it shines a light on this phrase.

It would be interesting to know if the use of fair in the German language predates that of English?
As the usage is slightly different. In that English equates it with colour, and with sportsmanship, diplomacy. Whereas German only with the latter.

So the "fairer sex" could refer to the hair or to the "even handedness" of the gender Question

cheers stew.t.

Molly · Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:41 am *Why are women called fairer sex?*

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