the fair sex



the fair/fairer sex

  (old-fashioned)
women
Usage notes: Some women think this phrase is offensive.
My father hated the idea of me joining the army. He always said it wasn't a suitable occupation for the fair sex.
See also: fair, sex

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
DÉSirÉde-zee-REFrench
MiskaMEES-kah (Finnish)Hungarian, Finnish
Raanan-Hebrew
Yente-Yiddish
ZdzisŁAwazjee-SWAH-vahPolish
Rodolphe-French