# Is the word "panties" offensive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 14, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979 "2010-01-14T20:26:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/21 "2010-01-14T21:20:45Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Does that mean that men can’t get their pants in a twist? I can assure you, from personal experience, that we can, and it’s probably more painful for us than it is for women. Yup. Undergarment seams don’t sit well with the natural seam that connects the two halves of the scrotum. _fidgets_ ---
**Author:** ![horhay\_achoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@horhay\_achoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horhay_achoa)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/22 "2010-01-14T21:24:33Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > How totally… odd. > > I’m a middle aged woman, with a young daughter. I usually call them underwear, but for variation I’ll use panties. I can no more see this offensive as I would call the word ‘blouse’ offensive. > > It’s an synonym for women’s underwear. What’s offensive about that? > > I notice in none of the articles you link to did the women explain why they dislike the word. They just seem to have an ‘oogy’ reaction to it. > > Very very odd. Yeah…when we had a conversation about it, I think my sis in law had a hard time articulating exactly what it was that bothered her. She would bring up the infantilization she perceives with the word, but it just wasn’t convincing. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/23 "2010-01-14T21:25:22Z")
I don’t find it offensive but I don’t use it either. It just sounds silly to me. And let’s clarify something - the official sayings go as follows: _Panties in a wad. Boxers in a bunch. Undies in a twist._ So sayeth **Surly.** ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/24 "2010-01-14T21:27:59Z")
How about ‘I want to get into your panties’? My guess is that one or one like it is where the ‘offense’ comes from. Personally, I don’t find the word offensive, just kind of old fashioned and stuff, while being strangely compelling at the same time… -XT ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/25 "2010-01-14T21:28:05Z")
Perhaps the original concern is because the word itself is in “diminutive” form, and so perhaps childish, or since it is (generally) gender-specific, girlish, and strikes at a woman’s identity as a woman? ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/26 "2010-01-14T21:28:38Z")
> [@Surly\_Chick](#): > > I don’t find it offensive but I don’t use it either. It just sounds silly to me. > > And let’s clarify something - the official sayings go as follows: > > _Panties in a wad. > Boxers in a bunch. > Undies in a twist._ > > So sayeth **Surly.** 😃 I have not heard the boxers in a bunch line before. I like it! I have been thinking about going with “knickers in a twist” as it is less gender specific and would be perceived as a joke more often. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/27 "2010-01-14T21:33:16Z")
I went out with an American girl, and when she talked about her panties it was really hot (our “knickers” is pretty unalluring), but when she talked about her pantyhose it made me want to hurl. ---
**Author:** ![i\_am\_a\_scientist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f07891/32.png) [@i\_am\_a\_scientist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/i_am_a_scientist)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/28 "2010-01-14T21:34:19Z")
What about “[manties](http://www.manties.net/)?” Is manty offensive? ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/29 "2010-01-14T21:34:23Z")
> [@not\_alice](#): > > Perhaps the original concern is because the word itself is in “diminutive” form, and so perhaps childish, or since it is (generally) gender-specific, girlish, and strikes at a woman’s identity as a woman? I agree that its diminutive - but do you really find that it strikes at your identity as a woman (assuming you are one, based on your username)? It certainly does not strike at my identity as a woman. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/30 "2010-01-14T21:34:56Z")
I always think of panties as little girls’ underwear. The little y at the end just sounds like a diminuitive suffix that you would put on something to indicate that it’s small and cute. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/31 "2010-01-14T21:35:28Z")
From **Anatomy of a Murder** , a courtroom classic: [_Judge Weaver has stopped the testimony by Detective Sergeant James Durgo, State Police, and called the lawyers to his bench_] **[Judge Weaver](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919583/)**: Mr. Biegler, you finally got your rape into the case, and I think all the details should now be made clear to the jury. What exactly was the undergarment just referred to? **[Paul Biegler](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000071/)**: Panties, Your Honor. **[Judge Weaver](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919583/)**: Do you expect this subject to come up again? **[Paul Biegler](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000071/)**: Yes, Sir. **[Judge Weaver](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919583/)**: There’s a certain light connotation attached to the word “panties.” Can we find another name for them? **[Mitch Lodwick](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0921959/)**: I never heard my wife call 'em anything else. **[Judge Weaver](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919583/)**: Mr. Biegler? **[Paul Biegler](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000071/)**: I’m a bachelor, Your Honor. **[Judge Weaver](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919583/)**: That’s a great help. Mr. Dancer? **[Claude Dancer](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001715/)**: When I was overseas during the war, Your Honor, I learned a French word. I’m afraid that might be slightly suggestive. **[Judge Weaver](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919583/)**: Most French words are. ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/32 "2010-01-14T21:39:18Z")
> [@otternell](#): > > I agree that its diminutive - but do you really find that it strikes at your identity as a woman (assuming you are one, based on your username)? It certainly does not strike at my identity as a woman. I am not Alice, and I am not a woman either. (I think you can look at one of myg earliest posts to find out why I _am_ not\_alice). I was just speculating. I don’t think every woman is going to be of the same mind on that of course, but I bet some might be. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/33 "2010-01-14T21:47:48Z")
> [@otternell](#): > > I agree that its diminutive - but do you really find that it strikes at your identity as a woman (assuming you are one, based on your username)? It certainly does not strike at my identity as a woman. Why would you assume someone named not\_alice is a woman? Seems like the odds would be pretty close to 50/50 except very slightly in favor of being a man. Could be anyone! Any man and any woman except Alice. The one thing we know is it’s not Alice. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/34 "2010-01-14T21:48:27Z")
In Chinese, women’s undergarments and men’s briefs use the same term: _san jiao ku_, which means simply “triangle pants”. I’m a guy, and I cannot bring myself to use the word “panties” when speaking with my preschool daughter. I say _san jiao ku_ instead. Which would be odd if that were the only Chinese word I knew. But I speak with my daughter in Chinese over half the time anyway, so whatever. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/35 "2010-01-14T21:49:01Z")
I don’t find it offensive. Now, “hoodie”. That diminutive -y sound there? _That_ offensive. Seriously! An offense to hood-wearers everywhere! Um, yeah. Sorry, but I can’t even _comprehend_ finding it offensive - unless you are referring to something that is _not_ a panty as being one in an attempt to insult. But if it’s actually a panty? What’s the big deal? And I prefer “knickers in a twist”. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/36 "2010-01-14T22:05:22Z")
I’ve known of people who don’t like the word, finding it silly or childish. But offensive? That’s just dumb. Myself, it doesn’t bother me. For male undergarments I usually use ‘skivvies.’ I use ‘panties’ or ‘undies’ or ‘skivvies’ interchangably for female undergarments, depending upon my mood. If I was asking for them in a store, I’d probably use ‘underwear.’ When my son was in high school, he was on the wrestling team and I always referred to his singlets as his ‘wrestling panties.’ But this was just to mess with him. And, I usually call any type of cellphone or iPod cover ‘panties’ – as in, ‘do you want some panties for your Blackberry?’ And this is only to mess with my daughter & husband, who both like covers on their cellphones and iPods. I prefer to let my own phone go nekkid. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/37 "2010-01-14T22:11:01Z")
> [@otternell](#): > > 😃 I have not heard the boxers in a bunch line before. I like it! I have been thinking about going with “knickers in a twist” as it is less gender specific and would be perceived as a joke more often. I prefer “knickers in a knot.” It has that lovely alliteration going for it. Oh, and I find nothing offensive about “panties.” I hate “underpants,” though. It sounds so…clinical. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/38 "2010-01-14T22:19:43Z")
I don’t find it offensive, I find it hot! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/39 "2010-01-14T22:20:06Z")
> [@](#): > > How about ‘I want to get into your panties’? My guess is that one or one like it is where the ‘offense’ comes from. Sure, I can see how that would be offensive, but so would be “I want to get into your undergarments”. The offensiveness there has nothing to do with the word “panties” itself. And since the OP mentioned “moist”, also, I should say that my first mental association with “moist” is “chocolate cake”, and chocolate cake is _never_ offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979/40 "2010-01-14T22:21:44Z")
I don’t get the hatred for either panties or moist. And you’d think women would like it, too. Moisturizing, moist nether regions for sex, and moist brownies! I’m female and I like it. Mostly because of the brownies. Mmmm, brownies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-word-panties-offensive/524979.md?page=3)