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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Education / Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? (40429 Views)
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Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by Biglittlelois(f): 7:36pm On Aug 31, 2021 |
This has always crossed my mind most times, and I always come up blank, even the all knowing Google always bring up unsatisfactory answers(to me anyway) so i decided to bring it here for more discussions, suggestions, and answers Why are countries referred to as "she" and not "he"? 28 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by Cinema4d: 7:39pm On Aug 31, 2021 |
We use the pronoun βsheβ for calling a country because it is our homeland . Usually, a mother is the one at home and the father is at work(doesn't apply now, but still relatable). It is now sexist, but it didn't used to be. We call a country βsheβ because we are from there, like you are from your mom. And she keeps reproducing. 371 Likes 26 Shares |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by Immatex(m): 7:49pm On Aug 31, 2021 |
Nations and countries multiple and grow. They reproduce future generations and so are fittingly classified in the feminine. 292 Likes 19 Shares |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by BeeBeeOoh(m): 7:51pm On Aug 31, 2021 |
Because, he doesn't give birth but she gives birth. A country is a she because its citizens gives birth always which results to increase in population. Same is with school because it gives birth when people gains admission or registers into it. 106 Likes 12 Shares |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by FamTomx2(m): 7:56pm On Aug 31, 2021 |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by viyon02: 8:20pm On Aug 31, 2021 |
Just like a love of mother to a child, so we expect a country to love and care for her citizens..,..... Therefore we normally use "she" e,g US citizens enjoy mother like love from the country so it is ideal we use "she" for US. The only exception we have is Nigeria, please don't ask me why. 24 Likes 3 Shares |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by Ademola47(m): 11:06pm On Aug 31, 2021 |
Immatex: I think this is quite logical. 50 Likes 8 Shares |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by Oppy2k2: 11:18pm On Aug 31, 2021 |
If Nigeria is a profession, na oloso or beggar she go be. 30 Likes 5 Shares |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by Freestainworld(m): 12:12am On Sep 01, 2021 |
BeeBeeOoh:Who makes the woman to give birth? 6 Likes |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by bukatyne(f): 12:50am On Sep 01, 2021 |
Biglittlelois: Non living things are assigned gendered pronouns according to the major characteristics. It was never considered 'sexist/misogynist' until recently. So some feminine non-living words because of their ability to reproduce, multiply, create, balance, stability, elegance, support life etc. are: 1. Earth - Mother Earth (this can also refer to the soil because it aids growth/life) 2. Country 3. Motherland (also referencing country) 4. Nature 5. Ship/boat/cars/vehicles - perhaps because men owned them more initially and treated them like lovers? 6. Liberty/Freedom ( the Legal symbol of justice is female lady justice) 7. Luck - Lady Luck 8. Ocean/Sea 9. Life 10. Moon 11. Language (Mother tongue) etc. Male non-living words are for strength; fieriness; power etc. 1. Death (the grim reaper is a wizard) 2. Time 3. Sun (somewhere said the Sun is giving {masculine} while the earth {absorbing} and the moon {reflecting} are feminine etc. Well (unfortunately or not ) men do not get many inanimate objected gendered after them. 106 Likes 16 Shares |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by BeeBeeOoh(m): 6:35am On Sep 01, 2021 |
Freestainworld:That's not the bone of contention here, 'who gives the birth'. Good morning 43 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by ValCon888: 7:48am On Sep 01, 2021 |
It all boils down to the Motherland, Fatherland argument. Countries that use motherland say "she" while countries that use fatherland refer to their country as a 'he". I'll admit that many countries use she because the country is the land of your birth, hence "mother" and Motherland. Countries that say he, refer to the country as the land of their ancestors hence Fatherland. The more acceptable but less popular term is homeland. 6 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by sunshineV(f): 7:57am On Sep 01, 2021 |
because the future is female 10 Likes |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by Davash222(m): 8:37am On Sep 01, 2021 |
sunshineV: 2 Likes |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by Nobody: 9:20am On Sep 01, 2021 |
bukatyne: Succinct 10 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by Spechialone(f): 9:47am On Sep 01, 2021 |
BeeBeeOoh:Best reply... Lol 6 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by BigYash: 9:58am On Sep 01, 2021 |
Freestainworld:Help me ask them o.. Maybe na why them still dey celebrate mother's day every Sunday too .. Na men dey no dey produce offspring na.. But I sha learn one or two today sha.. WeMove... 2 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by christejames(m): 10:29am On Sep 01, 2021 |
bukatyne: Well explained 8 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by Herbephe1(m): 10:58am On Sep 01, 2021 |
Have you ever heard of "Odun ayako" it's always Odun ayabo 10 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by McStoic(m): 11:08am On Sep 01, 2021 |
Women by default give birth to humanity. And it's assumed a nation is just like a woman, while the citizens are the children. How I wish I could totally explain it well to you for better understanding.. 5 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by FalseProphet1(m): 12:09pm On Sep 01, 2021 |
If you travel to a remote island with a fertile girl, in 200 years time, you'll have your own lineage, courtesy of her fertility, so you have to respect her by calling the country she, cos everyone there came out of her womb. This I have seen. 23 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by mickeyenglish(m): 12:09pm On Sep 01, 2021 |
Cos she's a bitch that keeps getting bleeped by her citizens , eg; Nigeria and most African bitches Post No Bill... 4 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by greenie77: 12:10pm On Sep 01, 2021 |
For being homeland. |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by jared007: 12:10pm On Sep 01, 2021 |
That's because Gaea(Earth) is a Woman. She was the goddess that gave birth to the Titans of old. 3 Likes |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by saddler: 12:10pm On Sep 01, 2021 |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by Nobody: 12:10pm On Sep 01, 2021 |
Because the world belongs to Women Women makes things happen The world revolves around the women 4 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by yungevvy(m): 12:10pm On Sep 01, 2021 |
Well, we can describe a country as being beautiful (not handsome), hence the feminine pronoun "she"........in my opinion. 3 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by TemmyDayo50(m): 12:10pm On Sep 01, 2021 |
Freestainworld: Your question isn't the bone of contention here... Don't detail topic... A seemingly valid answer has been given and the answer make sense... 2 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by Nuelito: 12:11pm On Sep 01, 2021 |
Good question. To me it's because its home to various homosapiens and women are the ones in charge of homes and means through which we multiply in this world Its actually a female 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: Why Are Countries Referred To As "She"? by Buliwyf: 12:11pm On Sep 01, 2021 |
It's just a system chosen in English. In other languages countries can have other genders too. 1 Like 1 Share |
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