weaker sex

American  

noun

Older Use: Sometimes Offensive.

1. the female sex; women (usually used facetiously).

   my life as a member of the weaker sex.

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weaker sex British  

/ ˈwiːkə /

noun

1. the female sex

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Sensitive Note

This is a dated term, usually used for humorous effect but sometimes perceived as condescending to women. It reinforces the stereotype of a weak female.

Example Sentences

The Americans definitely seems to be depicting men as the weaker sex, which is refreshing—and in my opinion—an accurate depiction of the world of espionage.

From Slate • Mar. 21, 2013

In the animal world too, across a range of species, males tend to be the "weaker sex" in terms of immune defences, the Cambridge research team said.

From BBC • Nov. 23, 2012

Women aren't a weaker sex but, as you said, a separate one.

From Time Magazine Archive

But the world war has proved that all the tasks which men claimed women were unfitted to perform can as well be done by what we have been pleased to term the "weaker sex."

From Kelly Miller's History of the World War for Human Rights by Miller, Kelly

The religions of antiquity have paid even more homage to the weaker sex in the matter, as the multitude of musical nymphs and fostering goddesses will show.

From Woman's Work in Music by Elson, Arthur