Quote:
Originally Posted by DrPhil
Not only that. Use of co-ed as a noun sometimes occurs for the following reasons:
(1) The speaker may have extensive knowledge and experience with both single-sex and co-ed institutions which leads them to distinguish between whether a student is co-ed or not. I (and others) definitely find some differences in how students across mixed-sex institutions and across single-sex instutitions (in general) behave both inside and outside of the classroom.
(2) Co-ed as a noun is used in reference to women much more than men (you will sometimes hear people say "co-eds" in reference to all students at a mixed-sex institution) because men are not the ones who were initially excluded from these colleges and universities. Women are. History doesn't mysteriously disappear especially considering how some mixed-sex institutions were single-sex (for whatever reasons) a little more than a generation ago.
(3) Although women are said to outnumber men in many mixed-sex colleges and universities today, there remains over 50 women's colleges and over 50 men's colleges in the U.S., with a few more men's colleges than women's colleges.
(4) Even with (3), when traveling, attending conferences with college students, and so forth, people are much more likely to encounter women who attend a woman's college than they are to encounter a man who attends a man's college. But you are much more likely to encounter a college student who attends a mixed-sex college or university--many of which were once single-sex.
That is context. Point being, some people are offended by the use of co-ed as a noun but some people either are not offended or do not care either way. If co-ed as a noun sounds outdated or p0rn to some people, that is completely fine. But, those who occasionally use it do not have to stop using it because of that. At the same time, those who occasionally use it can spare themselves the constant sermons by using co-ed as a noun around those who understand the context in which it is being used.
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1) That would make sense if both men and women were called co-eds, but they're not.
2) I have literally never heard someone use co-ed as a noun to refer to a male student. I think you're really begging the question here though. Removal of the noun co-ed from vocabularies isn't an attempt to erase or ignore a history of sexism.
3)Both single sex and co-ed colleges exist, I agree. But I don't see the connection here.
4) Again, presuming the stats back that up, I'd agree. But I don't see the relevance.
However, looking at 33girl's post and yours, and even looking at mine and yours, I don't see a sermon coming from anyone on the anti-"co-ed" side of the fence. Even taking into account the fact that you and I have discussed the matter before on here. If you're receiving sermons from other places and people, then perhaps it's a hint, or a sign, or at least a suggestion to do what you yourself mentioned, use it only in the context where everyone will agree to its usefulness.
It may indeed have been a really useful usage of the word in the past, I really can't speak to that. But I can say that outside of your use, and the troll's I have only heard it in relation to porn (or quasi-porn - GGW and such) or from the elderly.
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