femalevolent

Femalevolent is a neologism that combines the words female and malevolent. The term originated on social media and internet forums in the early 2020s as a shorthand description of perceived bad or malicious behavior that is attributed to women or performed by women. The term has been used in a variety of contexts, including discussion of interpersonal conflict, workplace dynamics, and gender stereotypes.

Proponents of the word argue that it highlights legitimate concerns about women who engage in manipulative or aggressive behavior. Critics argue that it is a sexist trope that reinforces negative stereotypes about women and incorrectly attributes malevolent traits to a specific gender rather than to individuals. The term is sometimes associated with misogynistic rhetoric, because it can be used to delegitimize legitimate complaints about harassment or workplace inequality by incorrectly framing them as a generalized female property.

The word did not appear in major dictionaries and remains primarily a colloquial expression. In recent years, it has been removed from some online communities for violating hate or harassment policies, though some fringe groups continue to use it. Whether femalevolent will persist as a widely recognized term is uncertain, but it is generally regarded as a contentious and gendered label that emerged largely through informal online discourse.