politeness - Is it OK to use F-words in English culture?

Is it OK to use F-words in English culture? I hear my co-workers saying What the fuck or a slang containing "fuck" sometimes. Does it depend on if you are a woman or a man saying it? Or does it depend on if any woman is around? If it is not really inappropriate why don't they say it in front of their kids or on Kids' TV programs?

Answer

Not sure what you mean by English culture, and whether that means the culture of England or of English speakers. Maybe you could provide more information as to exactly what you mean.

In the USA it is not illegal to say fuck in public, unless you are using language that is harassment, 'fighting words', trying to invite violence, etc. The Supreme Court ruled that the word fuck could be displayed on clothing in public property. This is true even in areas where children might see it. Once you take your child out of your home, you risk exposing them to culture at large.

On private property, corporations usually have codes of behavior and dress that employees are expected to adhere to. But pragmatically, unless one is, again, harassing or inciting, one is usually given the slack to use profanity at the work place, within reason. An employer could certainly insist that his employees not do so.

Children are attuned to what their parents, neighbors, and/or caregivers say, so one should monitor the language used around kids if you don't want the F-word passed onto them. Anyway they will probably hear it from some source other than you, say a neighbor or on YouTube before they are in school anyway. It does seem sensible to acknowledge that some words are usually not appropriate for children to use.

If you do not want to hear the F-word, you should avoid most R-rated movies (in USA), and avoid PG-13 movies if you want to avoid milder words, like damn and hell.

In the USA, these guidelines apply equally to men and women, and I've met many a cursing woman. It does still seem a bit unladylike and unseemly for a woman to habitually use profanity other than mild forms, and anyway research shows that males curse more.