An example of why sexism is often harder to deal with than the other isms...
Yesterday, I was commenting on some article or something, where by I had concerns for the safety of the woman involved. While commenting, I said something along the lines of "They could easily find the poor bitch from all that information"
I was called on my use of "poor bitch" and essentially told I was being sexist.
Now I can't say if this is common throughout the whole of the UK, but certainly in the parts I've lived "poor bitch" and "poor bastard" are in no way meant in a derogatory manner, and are simply methods of conveying your concern and/or pity for the person and their situation, often used when one is either lost for words, or wishes to convey those feelings without leaving themselves open to further discussion.
I happened to be talking to someone who wasn't from the UK, and we discussed my intended meaning, and the meaning it generally carries (in my experience at least) over here, and they explained how it would be seen if said where they come from... the two really couldn't have been any further apart if they tried.
If this had happened here, would I have been reported? I don't know, we have members from all over the world, and while many of you know me and would know that it was not meant in any derogatory way, others wouldn't and would probably have reported it. Would the mod team have taken it seriously? Again, I don't know... the team covers different parts of the world, with additional experiences of having lived or travelled extensively outside of their own countries.
I don't feel bad for using a term deemed sexist in some parts of the world. I've not been to those parts and had no idea that something deemed so harmless and used so commonly would cause such offence. I would however think twice about using it again around those who come from different backgrounds who don't know me well enough to make the positive assumption.
Terms that are universally accepted as being "ist" are easy to deal with. Calling some a "N" is going to get you our attention. Many of the terms used when it comes to sexism however aren't universal. Likewise, terms like the "N" word, even when applied to an individual, target an entire group, where as calling someone a cunt, bitch or whore doesn't, they are words used to describe how one person feels about another person, and unless something is added to suggest this is based solely on them being part of a specific group, sexism doesn't apply, personal attack sure as hell does though, which is why we've asked that these things be reported and not responded to if you want something done about it, because joining in on the personal attacks signs away your rights to complain about it.
