Poll: Do you think this is sexist?

[Johann610]

If it's faster to say, maybe--when I call for a policeman or a fireman, it's understood that a female police officer or an EMT Firefighter is just as good, but in a firefight or a fire, maybe that's too long.
Otherwise, it may be too obscure for the general populace: what's the gender neutral of "fisherman"? It's "Angler". I learned that--just three years ago--from a cooking show. "Waitron" has yet to enter common use, for another.
Maybe it's because they aren't interchangeable: actors and actresses *can't* fill the same roles, not really.

To answer the Landlord/lady question, it *is* faster, *and* everyone knows what you mean.

 

[TheLaofKazi]

It acknowledges a difference in gender.

Sexist? Yeah.

A big deal? A huge social injustice? The sigil of doom for society? No.

How is calling someone a woman sexist?

Look at it this way.

We usually don't identify people by their race in a job context. We don't call people "white landlord" or "black landlord", because that's irrelevant and, well, racist. Why would we do the same for one's gender?

So yeah, calling her a 'landlady', is arguably sexist. But honestly, when it comes to these kinds of things, you just can't win. Calling her a 'landlord' could have come across as offensive depending on the people involved.

Gender and race are social constructs that categorize people into particular identities and groups based on their biology. It's all pretty much bullshit, but it's unavoidable, because humans naturally discriminate and categorize people based on their appearance.

 

[Nouw]

Definitions make a rather messy argument. What you said was irrelevant and maybe sexist by definition. I'm beginning to see how equality doesn't exist. Because as long as you have the thought that 'Landlord' and 'Landlady' are different things, not equals, it's being 'sexist.' Sexism doesn't have to be negative I guess.

I've learnt that sexism can be light, like in this instance. Not negative at all in my opinion but still, as defined, 'sexist.' And you know what, thanks OP. When I entered this thread, I thought it was sexist. I'm leaving this thread an enlightened man person .

 

[Viral_Lola]

A bit pedantic but it's not sexist.

 

[Ryan Minns]

To me sexism must come with intent so if you said what you did not believing either title to be superior to the other then the problem isn't yours, it's theirs.

In many (Not all) cases I find it's the accuser who tends to be the one actually being sexist, men and women are different and that is a fact. I am proud to be a man, it's a part of who I am and women should be proud they're women, it's a part of who they are. It's not sexist until pointing out the fact we're different comes with a belief that those difference make one superior/inferior to the other as people

That's just how I've seen it through the years, other people may see it differently.

 

[Astoria]

I hardly think it's sexist. Does it really matter if you use landlord or landlady? If she had a guy as her landlord and she called him landlady it was just be funny but if it's the other way around suddenly it's offensive? It's just being needlessly politically correct really.

 

[UnderCoverGuest]

Perspective? No.

Preference? Yes. Racism and Sexism are two terms that are loosing their value as more and more people begin to look at one another as human, and not as class, race or gender separated individuals.

 

[AlexNora]

I just don't get why you even corrected her what difference does it make. Ask yourself why you did it, it may or may not be sexist depending on that.

here's the thing

1. I think you already figured by the name that the landlord was in fact a women.

2. Knowing weather the landlord was a man or a women really wouldn't effect you or the job you where doing

3. even so you still felt you had to take the time to correct her

4. this makes you seem offended that she would call a women a landlord even if you didn't mean to come off that way

get it?

so in turn you sound sexist

are you sexist though i don't know id hope not.

also this sounds insulting... (to me)

So Escapist, what's your opinion on the issue? Should we move towards gender neutral terms, or should overly sensitive women (and some men of course) just get over themselves?

 

[WeAreStevo]

Well....it isn't inherently sexist, but it is technically gender biased in the sense that most feminists view the word "lady" as offensive.

I think that you were however not being sexist because in contemporary culture in the US female land owners are called Landladys and that is socially accepted as true. Now if there was some form of revolution where that term was considered sexist, then yes. But until that happens I think that you are correct, it is not considered sexist.

Now I can understand what some are saying that you may have come off as rude, but I can also understand speaking what should be an inner monologue (I do that quite often) so again, not sexist, possibly misconstrued as being an ass, but all together not that big of an issue.

 

[Zenode]

I hate this gender specific stuff, it's over the top.

Now listen in for a story my dear escapee's

I was on my boat heading back from an Island that was about 3 hours boat ride from my home port. And about 10 nautical miles from port one of my inboard engines had caught fire (So this shit was serious business). And I had to call the local water rescue for help, I radio'd them calling Mayday (the fire wasn't too bad but enough that it could cause an explosion) and this gentlemen is the conversation.

Me: "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, this is DO156 requiring immediate assistance, one of my engines has caught fire and need immediate rescue at coordinates (whatever the fuck they were)
I repeat one of my engines has caught fire and need immediate rescue at coordinates....require immediate response from the watchman"

Her: "Im sorry, you mean watchlady" (How the fuck was I suppose to know it was a woman)

Me: "I don't care, can you please send someone ASAP to coordinates _____ as starboard engine is on fire"

Her: "You need to learn the correct terms"

Me: "I DON'T CARE LADY, JUST SEND SOME RESCUEMEN NOW TO THESE COORDINATES ___________"

Her: "You mean rescuePEOPLE"

Me: "YES I MEAN F***ING PEOPLE, PEOPLE TO COME RESCUE ME"

Her: "You need to stop being so rude"

Me: "THIS IS A MAYDAY CALL FOR AN ENGINE ON FIRE AT COORDINATES _______ SEND SOMEONE IMMEDIATELY"

Her: "They will be dispatched to your location in time"

Me: "SEND THEM NOW"

It was at this point the fire was out of control and I jumped out of the boat....rescue boat got there about 20 minutes later.

Last I heard was she got fired and fined heavily for criminal negligence.

TL;DR: Some woman almost got me killed because of that shit and I don't care for it, because it's been taken over the top by some politically correct idiots.

 

[AlexNora]

I hate this gender specific stuff, it's over the top.

Now listen in for a story my dear escapee's

I was on my boat heading back from an Island that was about 3 hours boat ride from my home port. And about 10 nautical miles from port one of my inboard engines had caught fire (So this shit was serious business). And I had to call the local water rescue for help, I radio'd them calling Mayday (the fire wasn't too bad but enough that it could cause an explosion) and this gentlemen is the conversation.

Me: "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, this is DO156 requiring immediate assistance, one of my engines has caught fire and need immediate rescue at coordinates (whatever the fuck they were)
I repeat one of my engines has caught fire and need immediate rescue at coordinates....require immediate response from the watchman"

Her: "Im sorry, you mean watchlady" (How the fuck was I suppose to know it was a woman)

Me: "I don't care, can you please send someone ASAP to coordinates _____ as starboard engine is on fire"

Her: "You need to learn the correct terms"

Me: "I DON'T CARE LADY, JUST SEND SOME RESCUEMEN NOW TO THESE COORDINATES ___________"

Her: "You mean rescuePEOPLE"

Me: "YES I MEAN F***ING PEOPLE, PEOPLE TO COME RESCUE ME"

Her: "You need to stop being so rude"

Me: "THIS IS A MAYDAY CALL FOR AN ENGINE ON FIRE AT COORDINATES _______ SEND SOMEONE IMMEDIATELY"

Her: "They will be dispatched to your location in time"

Me: "SEND THEM NOW"

It was at this point the fire was out of control and I jumped out of the boat....rescue boat got there about 20 minutes later.

Last I heard was she got fired and fined heavily for criminal negligence.

TL;DR: Some woman almost got me killed because of that shit and I don't care for it, because it's been taken over the top by some politically correct idiots.

um granted this sounds like a horrible experience but your point is?

she wanted to be called the gender-nominative term witch is the exact opposite of the example in the op

what i'm trying to say is that lady is sexist, and a jerk

 

[NBSRDan]

You must be looking for things to complain about if you think it's sexist to use long-established dictionary words for what those words mean. It is, however, quite pedantic to insist on them.

 

[JoesshittyOs]

You were both wrong.

It's landmistress.

 

[voidmonk]

Definitions make a rather messy argument.

I agree.

I've found in my studies of language that definitions are difficult to nail down precisely. This is because they are inherently arbitrary; most words have no concrete connection to their meaning. Definitions are further compounded by their differences in region, culture, and social class--even from household to household. Spoken language is fluid and interpretive rather than concrete and definite.

Formal language is often codified in dictionaries and the like, but rarely do even two dictionaries have the exact same definition of a word. Potentially, a nation might adopt a specific dictionary as its formal language definition, but that's only helpful for academics and legal circumstances. In social situations where spoken or informal language is vastly more common, trying to determine the definition of a word is at best distracting. In those situations it's usually preferable to clarify and move on.

When you add moral questions--such as with a term like 'sexist'-- it gets worse. Judging a statement or act as sexist has less to do with arbitrary conventions like definition and more to do with the feeling of being treated like an inferior person, or in the worst cases like a non-person. Any word, gender-specific or not, can be sexist, if deliberately or negligently used in a way that is hurtful or insensitive toward someone's gender.

Gender-specific words for professions have come under fire as a symbol of male dominance in the work environment. There's no real way of knowing for sure what's going to sound offensive when it comes to disputed words. Pick one and be consistent, but keep up with language changes around you and adapt if necessary. Apologize if you inadvertently offend.

 

[SpAc3man]

In a situation where there is a a gender neutral term available (e.g. police officer) then it should be used. It's just what society is evolving towards. If there is not any neutral term available then it is up to the person who's title it is.

 

[AlexNora]

Definitions make a rather messy argument.

I agree.

I've found in my studies of language that definitions are difficult to nail down precisely. This is because they are inherently arbitrary; most words have no concrete connection to their meaning. Definitions are further compounded by their differences in region, culture, and social class--even from household to household. Spoken language is fluid and interpretive rather than concrete and definite.

its best before a debate to agree upon the definition of a word in question.