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Contributor
Posts: 27
Registered: ‎04-13-2020

Have I been out of school so long that I wasn't aware that shoes changed from a noun to a pronoun and are called "she" instead of an it, them, they? I'm all confused with the new uses of prononuns, I understand them when describing people, but things? Just a Thursday thought I wanted to share. Smiley Frustrated So many QVC hosts describing shes as "she is so lightweight and comfortable"!

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,532
Registered: ‎03-11-2010

Yes, I do wonder how one determines if a shoe is a male or a female. I know I can't. Host and vendors here must have some kind of superpowers or something. Woman Wink

Honored Contributor
Posts: 8,169
Registered: ‎10-03-2014

"Anything that is meant to contain you, protect you or provide you with something beneficial is [often referred to as] a she; anything that is a perceived a threat is a he. That's why cars, trucks, boats, ships, and countries are "she."

 

That's a new one that men are a threat.  In my world, they always were protectors.  

 

Since men's shoes are not a threat, are they called "she," too? 

 

I guess this host thinks inanimate objects such as  ships, trucks, and so on are called "she," it's OK to call shoes, "she."

 

Shoes are "shoes," "they," and "them," to me, so I won't be calling those "things" we put on our feet,  "she."  

 

 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,356
Registered: ‎03-19-2010

I thought cars and boats were referred to as she's because men felt such an attraction to them.  Things perceived as a threat are he's?  Never heard that one either.

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,358
Registered: ‎02-05-2011

It sounds so ridiculous, i just can't believe it. What next.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,457
Registered: ‎06-06-2019

I refer to a pair of shoes as "they, them, these, or this."  These are cute, I love them, look at this pair of shoes.  I have a plethera of shoes and boots.  I've never referred to them as "she."

Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,333
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

@Judles327    Think about it -   things have been referred to by gender probouns long before QVC existed.  In the 1950's, I road in many cars that were she's as were lots of boats.  And I never gave a second thought to the many hunters who spoke lovingly of their favorite hunting rifles with feminine pronouns.

 

Maybe we are just catching up.  Language changes all the time.  Try reading Beowulf in its original English lately?

Contributor
Posts: 27
Registered: ‎04-13-2020

@millieshops I think it's time I catch up with Beowulf, thanks for the tip!