Balls, balls, balls . . .

[Gaugamela]

Is it just me, or does anyone else find the persistent use of the word “balls” to denote attributes like courage and integrity both sexist and vulgar? I mean, has anyone ever read Antigone? That play was written over 2,500 years ago. Antigone could tell a lot of people here to get some ovaries and get over themselves. Mallory McMorrow made an amazing speech calling out typical Republican chicanery and people here commented “Wow! She has more balls than ____”, (fill in the blank). She could rightfully say, “My well meaning colleagues would do well to grow a pair of ovaries and stand up for what they know is right!”

Can we please leave this vulgar, sexist usage behind?

[Claire Oh Nette]

1. We substituted ovaries in my circle of friends

Check the ovaries on her....

[JoeOtterbein]

3. Uh, oh.....

....I like the sound of that!

[JoeOtterbein]

2. Yes, it is vulgar, sexist and very immature. And when you think about it...

...the word is not even descriptively correct. The word "ball" refers to a round object. Neither are "round".

[Gaugamela]

5. It gives me ptsd flashbacks to middle school locker rooms. Nt

[JoeOtterbein]

8. Yuck! nt

[JanMichael]

4. Got me. I thought this would be a Belichick joke.

I get your point ovaries would be better. Balls to show courage is stupid and sexist.

[mcar]

6. Thank you

Most of the men in charge (Republicans, I mean) are whiny cowards. Along with the sexism, the meaning is incorrect.

[cachukis]

7. Gee. Perhaps I'll need some ovaries to respond.

Using the term is sexist. It is meant to be. Men are testosteroned and aggressive. Not always a wise perspective mind you, but a point of reference for anthropologists.
The fact that you respond in your way suggests that the user of the term has struck a chord.
Bravo, with your response.

[33taw]

9. One woman ran into the school and saved her children. Dozens of male cops

stood by. I will go with ovaries.

[Gaugamela]

10. +1

[Triloon]

11. nope.

No matter how delicate you are about vulgarity it is never going away. But you've got some pretty heavy clappers on you to give it a try.

[Gaugamela]

12. Vulgarity is one thing, blatant sexism that disrespects half the population and

perpetuates meaningless garbage is another. We don’t allow racial slurs, so why this?

[Triloon]

18. meaningless garbage

If the vulgar usage is meant to demean and devalue anything it is meant so towards the generative value of the male gonads. It ignores that value and celebrates the determined aggression in an individual that can also be produced from those glands. So "balls" is a euphemism, mostly comic rather than tragic. It is archaic.
If a male does something and someone remarks "wow, that took balls" it means admiration, acknowledgment, congratulation, and sometimes acceptance. If a female does something and someone says the same thing of her it then means the very same thing. Where is the sexist slur?
It can lean into the tragic euphemism if a male is told "You've got no balls". Then it is an insult, a challenge, a goad. If that same thing is said to a woman then it can hardly be taken seriously because the internal absurdity of it shines too bright as the metaphor breaks down. But if it is taken seriously then it is likewise an insult, a challenge, and a goad. So again, where is the sexist slur?
Maybe I'm not looking at this from the right angle at all. Maybe if you hear something like "She's got some balls to do that" you also hear something like "What a surprise. She did that as good as a man, or almost." I'm sorry if that's how it is. But honestly, I've never heard the word used like that.

[Gaugamela]

22. I see, so the word has transcended its implicit sexism because the word no longer means

what it means but the only way you can define what it means is by referring to its implicit sexism. Your right, it is meaningless garbage.

No hard feelings. We just differ in our views on this.

[Gaugamela]

13. ?

You were talking about “clappers” . . .

[Triloon]

19. it is a crass and vulgar joke

referring to the clapper inside a bell. "Balls"

[Initech]

14. But who's gonna play my summer dance jam?

[Gaugamela]

15. +1. A woman celebrating sexuality. No problem there!

[Initech]

17. That was a great episode of 30 Rock.

"But that song was everywhere! The FBI blamed it for a rise in summer sex crimes!"

[CentralMass]

16. It is very ballsy of you to say so. ;-)

[niyad]

20. I have been pointing this out for decades in many different situations. Any number

of times here on DU.

[JCMach1]

21. If we start degendering everything in language and culture, we will be here for awhile

Language policing doesn't do it.

There has to be real cultural shift over time.

[BannonsLiver]

23. Glad we're focused on the real pivotal stuff.