I figured I needed a post about this after I did the one about ableist language. Now I, personally, am better about not using sexist language than I am about not using ableist language. I won't go into the reasons for that at the moment. However, there are still sexist terms I do use. So here's essentially a bulleted list.
-Mailman (and similar: I've gotten better about these types)
-Freshman (this I have been pondering for a while. That is, I know it's sexist, but I'm trying to come up with an alternative.)
-Man (to refer to people in general)
-Man (as in "man the booth"-... at our club night at school, I said I wouldn't man the booth, but I would woman the booth.)
-Guys (I use this one a lot... Currently trying to find a replacement)
-Manmade
-Chairman
-Mrs., Miss (I'm hoping this is obvious. I'll explain if it isn't.)
-He as default (...Lately this has been largely changed to he or she. See next item.)
-He or she (Notice that the male always comes first. Gee, I wonder why?)
-Manmade
-Sportsmanship
-Hysterical (Look at this if you don't understand why.)
Somehow, I know that as soon as I am out of reach of my computer, all the other sexist terms that I'm forgetting at the moment will come rushing in.
Sources (other than my mind- I'm mostly putting these here so I can find them again):
Why Sexist Language Matters from Alternet
Gender-Sensitive Language
He or she could just be alphabetical. But I doubt it. It's easier to do the s/he thing. What's your stance on using words like "Chairman" to refer to a specific chairperson who's a man (or "Chairwoman" to refer to a woman chairperson)? Is it merely an extention of the problematic gender classifications? Or does separate but equal work in this instance?
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing exactly wrong with it; it's just that the gender most likely doesn't pertain and thus it might be preferable to say chairperson. That's what I would say. But if the gender does have some importance, then you would include the gendered version.
ReplyDelete