Letter: F-thoughts

THEODORE DALRYMPLE illuminates a number of the darker aspects of the recent distasteful increase in the use of foul language ("Get stuffed, sunshine", 11 October), but he fails to mention one key ground for objection to expletives: that they are largely anti-women. Most of the words involved are closely related to the female anatomy or to male sexual dominance. So long as such language grows in common usage the feminist cause will be impeded.

This is not solely an English problem - the French language is a much greater culprit in its use of language offensive to women.

MICHAEL MEADOWCROFT

Leeds