The perceived double standard on women swearing has been branded as “sexism” by a leading Irish comedian.

On The Hard Shoulder today, Kathryn Lynch said some men think bad language is “not very ladylike,” but she doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

It comes as actress Olivia Coleman sparked a debate on the issue this week when she said “women are looked at and judged” when they swear.

Ms Lynch said she agreed with the actress’ comments.

“I think there is a bit of snobbery and sexism to it,” she said.

“In Dublin, swearing is like poetry, it’s really relaxing.

“But you need to read the room and know the friends you can have a little bit of a curse with.

“There’re rooms you’ll find yourself in where it’s just polite conversation.”

Told off

Ms Lynch said she has been told off for cursing before.

“I remember being at a party in England and I was playing charades with a bunch of friends,” she said.

“I had read the room most of the night, but then I said ‘oh for fuck’s sake’ and there was a bit of a silence.

“I just thought to myself ‘oh yeah, the English don’t curse as much as us.'”

Stress release

Actress Mary McEvoy, who starred in Glenroe, said she uses swearing as “a stress release”.

“If something happened, say if you stubbed your toe, ‘oh sugar’ just doesn’t cut it – it has to be a swear word,” she said.

“I don’t encourage people to swear if they don’t want to but I don’t know anyone who doesn’t.”

“We’re very good at swearing [in Ireland], in the sense that there’s great humour in some of the swearing.”

'Like a docker'

Ms McEvoy said she “swears like a docker”.

“I do apologise to any dockers out there who don’t swear,” she said.

“If I wasn’t able to swear, I probably would have killed someone at this stage because it is a huge release of stress and tension.”

Ms McEvoy added that women “need to be able to swear”.

Main image: A woman swearing. Photo: Image Source / Alamy Stock Photo