Is Man-Child a denigrating term?

[Chaplain David]

I've noticed in a couple of threads the term "Man-Child" used in what appears to be a description of a man who (at least in the eyes of the poster) acts immature or childish. It may have other connotations as well.

Are we not all human? Do we all not fail to meet our responsibilities at times? Are we not all imperfect in setting or keeping standards that we should? Is it not a put down to call an adult a child?

I am wondering if the term man-child is a denigrating term and offensive to some?

Would it be equally inappropriate to call a woman who was erring, not meeting her responsibilities, acting childish, immature, etc., a "Woman-Child?"

 

[LinkH]

According to the book of Revelation, the Man Child will rule the nations with a rod of iron. Let's not use it in a negative sense. It is one of those titles like Son/son of Man/man.

 

[Tannic]

According to the book of Revelation, the Man Child will rule the nations with a rod of iron. Let's not use it in a negative sense. It is one of those titles like Son/son of Man/man.

Really!? Mind if you educated me on this?

 

[LinkH]

Really!? Mind if you educated me on this?

Revelation 12

1And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
2And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
3And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
4And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
5And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

 

[Tannic]

Interesting... I'll study this more.

 

[dallasapple]

The term "man child' when I used it wasn't i referece to just beign "imperefect"..(likef course we ALL are) its in referece to the insinuation the a WIFE is acting like the mans "mother"..so in that sense that should be the question as to beign denigrating..is it denigrating to reference a wife as being the "mother" by "treating " the man like a child why call her .that when I used that phrase man child..it was an example of a SPECIFIC dynamic..when the "mistakes" the man makes..its EXPECTED that the wife/woman...FIX it for him ..and these are things that normally you would have to "fix" for a child..an adult who relies on another adult..to take care of things..liek making their appointments to go to the doctor..(and this isnt becasue she is a stay at home mom..and just does this becasue she has more time..in fact the example I gave the MAN only works part time SHE works full time)...in general COMPLAININING to the wife..about things that are as a consequence of him NOT talkig care of himslef or his things ..what im talkign abot is specific..and YES I think if a woman ..is acting like a CHILD..relying on things from her husband such as WHAT her ADRESS is becasue she wont BOTHER to memorize it (nt a temporary lpase of memory..just has SO few responsiblities that would call for repeatign the adresss..its never been memorized an the efort to do so was not forthcoming).then YES Im fine with callign her a "woman child"..if you can list dozens of other things..that make her behavior or lack there of..strkingly similar to a child who somone needs to look after their well being in ways that ADULTS should not rely on other adults for..

Dallas

 

[dallasapple]

Are we not all human? Do we all not fail to meet our responsibilities at times?

I wanted to add one more thing..LOL!!..Of course we are all human..but that is only an "excuse" for so long for BLATANT lack of repsonsibility..What Im talking about is not an occassinal failure to meet responsibilities..Im talking about where you fail to meet enough responsiblilites ENOUGH of the time that who you are married to is under the same type of worry..and additional stress as it is to be RAISING a child.

Being married..should not feel like you are "taking care of a child" or "raising a child'..thats what I mean when I say "man child"..I have children..in fact my grandbaby is right next to me..I just helped him zip and button his pants..becasue he "pee peed in the toilet" hes potty training..I should not have to same concerns and worries and pressures..in my relationship with my husband..(and NO I dont mean helping him zip and snap his pants after he pee pees)

Dallas

 

[Autumnleaf]

According to the book of Revelation, the Man Child will rule the nations with a rod of iron. Let's not use it in a negative sense. It is one of those titles like Son/son of Man/man.

You never know.

 

[Luther073082]

Umm in the real world, calling a man a "man-child" is offensive. Period, end of story.

 

[MessianicMommy]

I have heard in psychological discussion "Peter Pan Syndrome", "Man child" / "Puer aeternus" used in normal conversation discussing an adult that is not mentally "grown" to the point of taking care of themselves and self determination, or a mental situation where they require constant "motherly" care. . It's come up in the news a number of times concerning the 20-30 year olds of this current generation, both here and across the pond.

In that case, no, doesn't bother me or DH.

If it's in the case of name calling and flaming/trolling... yes there is a big problem.

 

[c1ners]

Other then here I've only heard it used to describe a male child. A friend of my husbands calls his son a man child. I would find it rather humilating to hear someone tell me that they think my husband was a man child. It would be both an insult to myself as well as to my husband.

Although i have been called a woman child before. That doesn't really bother me. I know that I am a woman and that sometimes I tend to act like a child. I love jumping in the middle of mud puddles and doing silly things that some think of as childish. It helps to releave my inner child. lol! And to help me with the stress of my day to day life (which is extreme to some of you). Without a little bit of silliness I think I'd go bonkers.

 

[Luther073082]

I just don't see how the term could be used as anything other then a pejorative.

 

[dallasapple]

I love jumping in the middle of mud puddles and doing silly things that some think of as childish. It helps to releave my inner child. lol! And to help me with the stress of my day to day life (which is extreme to some of you). Without a little bit of silliness I think I'd go bonkers.

Me too...I do the "hokie pokie" in my kitchen wearing rabitt ears for my grandson..I play on the playground ..I swing and go down the slide..I tap dance..I sing..I color and paint (in childrens COLORING books)..I climb trees when I can..after a hard rain if its warm I go barefoot in the run off...

I do that..but I also take care of many many adult responsibilities..There is a difference in havign a child like PLAYFUL demeanor..and avoiding adult responsibilities including takign care of your own personal self..

Dallas

 

[dallasapple]

I just don't see how the term could be used as anything other then a pejorative.

I suppose it depends on where you are from then..I used a term here one time that was considered a vulgar reference to female genitalia..like it was a bad word..Its NOT where I come from..it was a slang term..but not vulgar..

The point for me would be..what do you expect..if someone starts talking about women 'treating their husbands like a child" in the case where she acts as like his MOTHER because he expects her to "take care of him" on a level that is clearly going to make her lOOK like she is treating him like a child..then what do you suggest calling him?If she is the the wife..being called the mother..what is he then?Besides a human?

So is the deal we dotn use ANY terms evr..to try and accrately describe in part..a persons personality or behaviors?Should we not call someone who gambles (on a significant level) a gambler?shoudl we isntead say they are a human beign who takes money and puts it down in hopes he will on a calculated formula "win" more money back?To avoid saying the word "gambler" becasue its "pejorative" to some?

I guess I woud suggest..that its natural..if you start a converstaion accusing WOMEN of "treating her husband like a child" that your going to start hearign stories of women that are married to MEN who ACT like children..and saying 'man child' is cutting the chase..

The good news is...its a reversable pattern of behavior..its a reversable attititude..

Dallas

 

[lillivanilli]

If the shoe fits...

 

[Autumnleaf]

Is a man child like a yob?

 

[lillivanilli]

Is a man child like a yob?

What's a yob?

 

[TheProject]

When I think of Man-Child, I think not of someone's hobbies or activities (coloring, video games, etc...), but more of an adult that refuses to be responsible for themselves and instead relies on others to take care of those things they should or could do for themselves.

 

[c1ners]

When I think of Man-Child, I think not of someone's hobbies or activities (coloring, video games, etc...), but more of an adult that refuses to be responsible for themselves and instead relies on others to take care of those things they should or could do for themselves.

Like paying bills and keeping a job?

 

[TheProject]

Like paying bills and keeping a job?

Assuming that they aren't even trying to do either (b/c there are many people trying to find employment daily and just can't), I can think of other terms I would use before Man-Child.