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Oh the irony! The Google definition of sexism is sexist in itself

cryobabe

February 9, 2017

145 upvotes

/r/PussyPass

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Title	Oh the irony! The Google definition of sexism is sexist in itself
Author	cryobabe
Upvotes	145
Comments	14
Date	February 9, 2017 8:22 AM UTC (9 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/PussyPass
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/PussyPass/comments/5sythn/oh_the_irony_the_google_definition_of_sexism_is/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/PussyPass/oh-the-irony-the-google-definition-of-sexism-is.932303 https://theredarchive.com/post/932303

Comments

[–]JustHereForTheBacon 37 points38 points39 points 9 years ago (4 children) | Copy Link

[–]i_make_song 13 points14 points15 points 9 years ago* (2 children) | Copy Link

I'll be that guy. It's actually from The New Oxford American Dictionary (Oxford press). Although the definitions from Oxford, and Merriam-Webster are nearly identical.

Here's both definitions from what I consider to be the two "major" dictionaries:

Merriam-Webster

sexism

1 : prejudice or discrimination based on sex; especially : discrimination against women

2 : behavior, conditions, or attitudes that foster stereotypes of social roles based on sex

First known use 1963

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

Oxford

sexism

Prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/sexism

Many people don't realize this but nearly all (maybe all?) English dictionaries adhere to descriptivism and not prescriptivism meaning that they define words on how they are currently used in the real world. This means since words like "literally" are now being used "incorrectly" as a synonym for figuratively they know have added it to the dictionary:

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

I think it's fair to say that sexism is still typically used when referring to discrimination against women, just like racism is still mostly used when referring to discrimination against black people. I don't agree with the usage, but the dictionaries are likely accurate in that sense.

Most rational people realize there's a ton of racism against white people, and a ton of sexism against men as well. Maybe as time goes on the definitions will become less gender and race specific.

P.S: From what I understand Google actually pulls from The New Oxford American Dictionary, and so does Apple. Windows doesn't have a built-in dictionary (AFAIK).

[–]JustHereForTheBacon 4 points5 points6 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link

[–]xx69bootyhunter69xx 0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link

[–]the_unseen_one 0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link

[–]The3liGator 4 points5 points6 points 9 years ago (1 child) | Copy Link

[–]i_make_song 2 points3 points4 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link

[+]milopkl points 9 years ago* [recovered] (4 children) | Copy Link

thats pretty flagrant

[–]i_make_song 2 points3 points4 points 9 years ago (3 children) | Copy Link

[+]milopkl points 9 years ago* [recovered] (2 children) | Copy Link

i dont see how this changes anything though. the word was defined, with a sexist definition. in fact it makes it more interesting it isnt just a google thing.

[–]i_make_song 5 points6 points7 points 9 years ago (1 child) | Copy Link

[–]_PM_ME_YOUR_ARMPITS_ 0 points1 point2 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link

[+]A_Direwolf -14 points-13 points-12 points 9 years ago (1 child) | Copy Link

[–]i_make_song 2 points3 points4 points 9 years ago (0 children) | Copy Link