Gay men use this, but with permission. Therein lies the problem, Rebeca.

Not only is this insulting, but it’s also and far worse, infantilizing. And that is the other major point.

Here’s my take on precisley the same thing but as it relates to ageism.

Don’t You Dare Call Me “Dearie.”

It is not fucking okay. It just isn’t. It hoovers power right out of our guts and our being.

And you and I have every right to call bullshit on it.

I’m increasingly unapologetic when I call this out. I then get called “hysterical” (don’t get me started) or “uncooperative.”

Damn right I won’t cooperate. I won’t cooperate with diminishing, infantilizing, insulting language that people do not use with competent adults.

Period. Full. Stop.

Thanks for your piece.