I am Irish on both sides of the family and live in Liverpool. Do you speak for me? No, you don't.
When my mum was born, there were still signs that said "No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish", she remembers them vividly along with the problems they caused for her. The Troubles have been a big topic in our lifetimes, and there's still a lot of anti-Irish sentiment, even in Liverpool. My teens were ruined for being a redhead and there was never a single day I wasn't covered in bruises and cuts, and I was bullied out of education at sixteen and wanted to kill myself for who I was.
Every day, I look in the mirror and can see my broken nose and facial scars from having the bridge of my spectacles punched into my nose when I was knocked unconscious and beaten by other pupils. I won't ever forget.
I'm also Ashkenazi Jewish on both sides, Sudanese and Indigenous American, so if you'd like to continue gatekeeping my feelings, go ahead. I can guarantee it won't go well for you.
I care. I think a lot of people care about using language that isn't offensive or promotes asshole-ism. For example, the other day I heard my 7-year-old nephew say "wife beater", referring to one of those sleeveless undershirts. I've used that phrase for years, thinking nothing of it. But, do I want my 7-year-old nephew casually using the phrase "wife beater"? Nope. And, call me a libtard, but I don't think anyone should casually use the phrase "wife beater", including myself, as doing so just helps normalize beating on women.
I agree that no one should use that term -- but simply because it's ugly, not out of concern that it might normalize spousal abuse. It does not, and never has.
If anything, it denigrates the subcultures in which the garment is popular. They probably don't need protection from language tut-tuts like us though.
And ironically, I hear the term most frequently from women, many of whom are now married and so, are wives. Still, it grates every time.
When my mum was born, there were still signs that said "No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish", she remembers them vividly along with the problems they caused for her. The Troubles have been a big topic in our lifetimes, and there's still a lot of anti-Irish sentiment, even in Liverpool. My teens were ruined for being a redhead and there was never a single day I wasn't covered in bruises and cuts, and I was bullied out of education at sixteen and wanted to kill myself for who I was.
Every day, I look in the mirror and can see my broken nose and facial scars from having the bridge of my spectacles punched into my nose when I was knocked unconscious and beaten by other pupils. I won't ever forget.
I'm also Ashkenazi Jewish on both sides, Sudanese and Indigenous American, so if you'd like to continue gatekeeping my feelings, go ahead. I can guarantee it won't go well for you.