Poll: Do you think this is sexist?

[Ridley200]

Whilst I think you were a tool to correct her (as every second person in the thread has pointed out), it wasn't sexist, and you were in the right.
Frankly, all these gender neutral titles seem very 1984 to me.
"You don't need to refer to them as a gender, they are your comrades regardless."
"The latest Newspeak dictionary has removed all gender titles. No such thing as mother or father, just parent. Nor brother/sister, it's now sibling. Husband and wife? Spouse, and nothing else."
See what I'm getting it? It's an awful lot like the destruction of a language, and mental inhibitor. I'd expect in the future, books won't even have characters described as male or female, because it's irrelevant, they're characters either way, so it shouldn't matter.

 

[Supertegwyn]

No, it is not sexist. It is simply distinguishing between genders. Nothing sexist about that.

 

[Satosuke]

Just as long as we don't start calling manhole covers personhole covers or start saying Person on the moon or Late Night with David Letterperson.

 

[Creator002]

By her definition, all Germans are sexist.
Der Lehrer - Male teacher
Die Lehrerin - Female teacher.

So, no, I don't think it's sexist. Call a female ruler a lord and they'd be offended.

 

[RemuValtrez]

I would say no, as long as you don't flat out correct them about it. Titles are given for a reason, not all of them are good or fair or equal, but there are a reason for the majority of them. If your neighbor had a landlady called Jordan, or Alex, names that are not gender based; and she called him a landlord, you would expect to be meeting a guy. There's not much bad that could come of this, other than potential awkwardness, but it's just one of the times where titles like that are important.

 

[Cheeseknife53]

Actually I think using the term "landlord," or any gendered variation of the term, is pretty absurd in American society. The term comes out of the feudal system, and such titles of nobility are expressly forbidden by the Constitution. We have no noble class in the US. A property owner is not a landlord, nor is a renter a surf.

If you are going to use the term I don't see any reason why you wouldn't employ the use of equally outdated gender driven titles of nobility. A male is a lord, and a noble woman's title is lady.

 

[Unia]

See, this has always bothered me about the English language (among others). The incessant need to separate men and women. Using the word "man" in expressions about humanity in general, separate third person words "he" and "she" and such. How about profession words like "midwife"; to be one you need to be able to handle the sight of blood, be calm and reassuring and have solid medical knowledge. Compassion wouldn't hurt. How does that mean only a woman qualifies?

The way I see it, unless there's pairing to be expected in the situation, gender shouldn't matter diddly squat. In before "but the physically demanding professions, yada yada" not every man is a brute, not every woman a delicate lil' thing. My opinion stands.

Back on topic: I wouldn't call you sexist, "nitpicky" fits better. Language is kind of a big deal though, it's the symbols we use to define and communicate our thoughts. In essence, language shapes our world view. Don't take my word for it, look up Wittgenstein (assuming I spelled the name right).

 

[AlexNora]

I would say no, as long as you don't flat out correct them about it. Titles are given for a reason, not all of them are good or fair or equal, but there are a reason for the majority of them. If your neighbor had a landlady called Jordan, or Alex, names that are not gender based; and she called him a landlord, you would expect to be meeting a guy. There's not much bad that could come of this, other than potential awkwardness, but it's just one of the times where titles like that are important.

that doesn't really sound important. just think about it...

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

What, what, WHAT?!? Since when did improper nouns in English have genders? I am legitimately confused...

Since we started teaching English to non-English speakers that have three gendered terms. We lost the distinction moving up from Latin, but had to re-adopt it to take on direct translation into other terms.

Also, what is the difference between a landlord and landlady then, if not their gender?

As far as I know, a landlord is a non-resident owner, while a landlady is a resident owner - though that maybe just due to the history of how each gender used to look after their property. I'm open to alternative suggestions though.

 

[tharglet]

Even if you weren't correcting her, from the way it's presented I could see it sounding like that, which does irk some people. I have a habit of doing it from time to time, but it's best to stop it from happening when you can . People can't always clearly see your intentions.

Don't see it as sexist to use the gender-specific term, and I have zero issues with them existing.

Sexism was prolly the easiest card to play to stop you from correcting her.

 

[RemuValtrez]

I would say no, as long as you don't flat out correct them about it. Titles are given for a reason, not all of them are good or fair or equal, but there are a reason for the majority of them. If your neighbor had a landlady called Jordan, or Alex, names that are not gender based; and she called him a landlord, you would expect to be meeting a guy. There's not much bad that could come of this, other than potential awkwardness, but it's just one of the times where titles like that are important.

that doesn't really sound important. just think about it...

As I said, not much bad can come from this, but it's just one small example. The first thing that came off the top of my head haha

 

[AlexNora]

As far as I know, a landlord is a non-resident owner, while a landlady is a resident owner - though that maybe just due to the history of how each gender used to look after their property. I'm open to alternative suggestions though.

so then a man can be a landlady?

if not, what do you call a man that is a resident owner?

 

[trollnystan]

I only use gender-nomative titles if I want to convey the gender of the person I'm talking about.

"The male nurse was there during the examination; it made me feel a little uncomfortable."

"The lead actress in that film was awesome!"

Et cetera and so forth. I'm not incredibly bothered by the use or non-use of them really. Female here btw.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

As far as I know, a landlord is a non-resident owner, while a landlady is a resident owner - though that maybe just due to the history of how each gender used to look after their property. I'm open to alternative suggestions though.

so then a man can be a landlady?

if not, what do you call a man that is a resident owner?

That's the inherent problem. The roots it came from didn't have the idea of a woman owning property, so there's not an inherent term - given that lady also implies femininity still, while lord doesn't imply masculinity.

(See Kingdom/Queendom)

I think a male landlady comes under terms like "owner/occupier", but it depends on where you are.

 

[AlexNora]

As far as I know, a landlord is a non-resident owner, while a landlady is a resident owner - though that maybe just due to the history of how each gender used to look after their property. I'm open to alternative suggestions though.

so then a man can be a landlady?

if not, what do you call a man that is a resident owner?

That's the inherent problem. The roots it came from didn't have the idea of a woman owning property, so there's not an inherent term - given that lady also implies femininity still, while lord doesn't imply masculinity.

(See Kingdom/Queendom)

I think a male landlady comes under terms like "owner/occupier", but it depends on where you are.

i don't know to me these terms seem more confusing then helpful i think having gender neutral terms would be easier think of the intersexuals.

 

[Mandalore_15]

the reason we have these distinctions is that they relay useful information, i.e. your gender.

Uhm. how is it "useful" to know the gender of someone's landlord?

How is it not? It's useful because it conveys information that tells you something about the person. That can be useful in a whole host of circumstances.

Besides, the very use of the word "landlord" conveys maleness. I now know if I want to go over and invite them for a drink to get to know them, I'm safer taking beer than wine.

Just an observation- but the gender of a person does not determine whether they prefer wine or beer or which should be given to a person.

Well yeah, sure, but one is statistically, one is more likely to be appropriate based on gender. Not a lot of women like beer (at least, I don't really know any) and if you bring a guy a bottle of wine it's a little... fay?

 

[AlexNora]

the reason we have these distinctions is that they relay useful information, i.e. your gender.

Uhm. how is it "useful" to know the gender of someone's landlord?

How is it not? It's useful because it conveys information that tells you something about the person. That can be useful in a whole host of circumstances.

Besides, the very use of the word "landlord" conveys maleness. I now know if I want to go over and invite them for a drink to get to know them, I'm safer taking beer than wine.

Just an observation- but the gender of a person does not determine whether they prefer wine or beer or which should be given to a person.

Well yeah, sure, but one is statistically, one is more likely to be appropriate based on gender. Not a lot of women like beer (at least, I don't really know any) and if you bring a guy a bottle of wine it's a little... fay?

i have to wonder why you just cant ask is the landlord a women... (or is the person i'm meeting male or female) its really not that hard and no one will object to being called there gender. at least i don't think so...

think of the intersexuals.

 

[6_Qubed]

I tend to use male terms in a gender-neutral capacity, which is a very fancy way of saying I call everyone "Dude."

My niece hates it.