I'm curious, is genteel considered a pejorative associated with emasculation in New Zealand? I for one, would take being considered genteel as an extreme compliment, and wouldn't associate it with sissification at all.
> I’m curious, is genteel considered a pejorative associated with emasculation in New Zealand?
Yup, definitely. Not quite as pejorative as “poncified” but almost. “Poncified” would be genteel plus dressing fancy.
> I for one, would take being considered genteel as an extreme compliment, and wouldn’t associate it with sissification at all.
Must have different connotations in the US. What does “genteel” mean up there?
When I think about it harder, the NZ nuance of “genteel” is probably a visceral reaction arising from having been a colony of the British Empire. Here, “Jack’s as good as his Master”, and that’s been a defining aspect of our culture.
Poms tend to get tolerated with a snicker, the source of some considerable mirth.
I’ve never heard “genteel” used as a compliment here.