Crossword Genius

Female and male needing help (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

maid

'female' is the definition.
(maid is a kind of female)

'male needing help' is the wordplay.
'male' becomes 'm' (common abbreviation).
'needing' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'help' becomes 'aid' ('aid' can be a synonym of 'help').
'm'+'aid'='MAID'

'and' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for maid that I've seen before include "employee" , "Female domestic servant" , "- - -of-all-work" , "One in service" , "Damsel" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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