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Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

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Cutie or Hottie or ?
EmmettRedd
859 Posts
(Offline)
1
2012/04/27 - 8:42am

I recently came across a recruiting poster from an organization in which females are under represented. It's number 1 reason to join the group was, "[promoted group topic] makes you more attractive to ... that cutie you have your eye on." A female agrees with me that cutie is a gender-biased word. We thought the quote would be improved with the less-biased term, hottie and, therefore, be better for recruiting females.

Are we totally off-base?

Is there even a better word?

Emmett

Guest
2
2012/04/27 - 10:06am

I tend to agree, but I start to wonder if I agree because I'm 65 years old.   I have heard many young girls refer to "that cute guy."   Even though I have never heard them refer to men as "cuties", I don't think it would surprise me.   These are the young women the ad is aimed at.   I think any gender bias on this one increases with age.

EmmettRedd
859 Posts
(Offline)
3
2012/04/27 - 11:57am

The young lady that agreed with me is 18 to 21 years old. And, I asked her impression of the word, cutie, before I showed her the poster and before I revealed Dick's and my older view. She said 'cutie' would be a word she would use to describe someone even younger--not one of her age.

Emmett

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