A law school dean took offense when a student introducing her for a speech called her “vivacious”.
The introduction was all glowing about her accomplishments etc.
Student was caught off guard and now receiving harassing phone calls for being “sexist” which he is not. In the least.
All I can find is that “vivacious” means “full of life” and is a compliment. Confused. What am I missing?
What do you think?
You’ve got me. I have used that description before and certainly meant zero offense.
Seems like these days so many people actually take delight in being offended.
The only thing that I can think of is that you usually hear that term used for women, not men. I guess “beautiful” and “handsome” are sexist, too!
It does not bother me at all - I think it’s a nice way of saying “hottie”
Thanks. That’s what I think too. Love to hear from as many of you as possible either yea or nay (and why)
I’ve never heard it used to describe men. I don’t find it sexist.
I am a 50 yr old female and would consider being called “vivacious” a compliment. Sounds like he was trying to say something personal after listing her professional accomplishments. Now if he’d said that she was a real sweetie, I’d think differently, but his word choice is not offensive to me.
No, not demeaning. It’s a compliment to someone’s personality, and whether in or out of the business environment, it is NOT sexist. I think of it as a positive comment at any age.
In a social setting, delightful. In a professional setting, sexist.
I remember when someone introduced the chief justice of the California Supreme Court as a “very beautiful woman” at a Bar Association dinner. Not okay. (She’s gorgeous, but not the way to introduce her).
The only thing that pops to mind, is that you wouldn’t call a man vivacious.
Notteling–Don’t you think being introduced as “vivacious” is different as being introduced as “beautiful”?
My first reaction was, what’s the big deal. Then I thought about it.
Would you ever call a man vivacious?
Probably not. So maybe that’s where the problem lies. So I googled it. First article that came up said vivacious falls in this category: “These words praise women for behaviour that is unthreatening to the patriarchy.”
So, maybe not the best way to describe a law school dean?
Since vivacious has a meaning typically used for only for women and implies a component that goes beyond talent and skill level, I can see it being perceived as @nottelling describes above.
I think it safest not to say anything about a woman that you wouldn’t say about a man, even if it is meant to be flattering.
fireandrain–can you give a link to that article?
Personally I don’t find it objectionable. I think of it as synonymous with “energetic.”
I think of it as meaning ‘charming and bubbly’. I actually do know a few guys who would fit that description… but I don’t think any serious scholarly type (like a law school dean) would likely be introduced that way at a professional event. Then again, maybe that is a stereotype unfair to law school deans… :-S
If you look at the root of the word, it certainly seems to relate to its definition of being “full of life.” And in modern usage, who ever says that word with the intent to describe behavior “unthreatening to the patriarchy”?
I also disagree that it is as sexist as calling someone “beautiful.” The first describes behavior or personality, the second, aesthetics, which have no bearing in how good one could be at one’s profession as a law school dean.
In any case, reacting to this description with harassing phone calls is SO much more inappropriate than the use of this word in that original context!
I would be ok with someone calling me beautiful. Why can’t a woman be both beautiful and smart?
^^^^Now that I think of it, yeah, as long as they said I was smart too, I’d be okay with it as well. Vanity…lol.
ETA: I still wouldn’t use that word to introduce my law school dean at an official function, though.