The word “balls”
My Canadian friend works part-time training staff at a big grocery store. Her duties include teaching new hires how to use the public announcement system, and to have the guts to do so. “Grow a pair of balls and just do it,” she tells the timid ones, and all the teenagers know what she means.
Not PC enough for management, though. She was soon called into her supervisor’s office regarding her use of “the word balls”.
“The word balls?” she said.
“Yes, balls. We have guidelines against sexual harassment and it’s not appropriate to use that kind of language. It is a male anatomical term.”
I wonder if they will let her say just “grow a pair”? Or will she have to say “be courageous and just do it”? Will the kids know what she’s talking about?
posted by Henrik Harr @ 11:54 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
The expression could seem like a fun thing to say, but it certainly derives from the suggestion that you need balls to have guts. That is, you would be tougher if you were a man. So, I wouldn't react to the word balls, but to the whole expression.
You do have a point, and I totally missed it. Should have known there was a gender side here.
But while we're walking down that road, I do think you are more likely to have guts if you have balls. Just look at Jackass. How many women are that stupid? I think it comes with the male gender to be reckless, lacking in judgement and sometimes by accident ... brave.
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