Sexist Words

[Giest4life]

We all have seen the not-so-subtle shift in the English language towards a more neutered approach to words, specifically, nouns. Equestrian instead of horseman; hero for both hero and heroine; flight attendants instead of steward or stewardess and etc. Although I'm not debating the merits of this change, am just asking if you guys use the gender neutral articles, nouns, and pronouns, or not?


Recently, I got reprimanded in class for using "she" when referring to a country.
Also, I've been told that this phenomenon is a lot less common in other countries than in USA.

 

[The Wooster]

Hah. Using the word "neutered" in place of "neutral" is in itself a non-neutral use of language. Brilliant if it was deliberate.

Overall, I'm not that bothered. I think quibbling over terms like "manhole cover" is a waste of time -particularly in light of some of the more pressing gender inequality issues - but at the same time, I'm so apathetic about the whole affair that I see no valid reason not to change the name to make some people happy. If we care enough to defend a term from change, then we're admitting it's important, which in turn means the people wanting to change said term to something more neutral, have a point.

I am, however, totally against horrendous shit like "hir" "and "hes." I'd honestly rather switch over to using female pronouns as the standard than stuff my vocabulary with unpleasant sounding mutant words.

In before people start screaming about political correctness.

 

[Shock and Awe]

I personally think that words like "steward" and "stewardess" should stay in usage. Its part of what gives language it's life. Of course neutral terms are useful when referring to mixed groups or unknowns, but I like the old words when they are useful.

 

[LostCrusader]

Probably because country's dont have genders. Cept for america

Full 12 inches of manhood...(teardrop)

Africa has a horn though.

OT: Its all just personal choice aside from being in school so I don't see what the problem is. If someone has a problem and thinks a word is biased, let them use a different word.

 

[Hitokiri_Gensai]

im not a big fan of "broad". SOmething about it just seems... so... 20's sexist xD

 

[BaronUberstein]

Probably because country's dont have genders. Cept for america

Full 12 inches of manhood...(teardrop)

Sweden's is bigger.

http://satwcomic.com/art/geography-joke.jpg

As for sexist words, I've never gotten yelled at for saying "horseman" or anything like that, but as far as male flight attendants go, I think steward works well. It's the male version of stewardess.

 

[Erana]

I often wind up using gender neutral terms (like flight attendant, for example) because they tend to be more specific, and I generally prefer that.
Though certain gender neutral terms just don't quite sound right.
Anyone else remember the Woodsperson thing from Hey Arnold?
"Woodsperson? What the Heck is a Woodsperson?"
"We used to call them Woodsmen back where I come from, only that's Politically incorrect."

Man, How did that stick in my head word-for-word all these years..?

 

[scorptatious]

Am I the only one who read the thread title as "Sexy Words"? Damn I'm tired.

OT: I honestly don't mind gender neutral terms for certain things. To a point anyway. I remember reading this one article on here about this teacher who was trying to teach her students about this sort of thing. She went as far to teach her students to use gender neutral terms for words such as "him" or "her".

It's one thing to teach people to respect the opposite sex, but teaching kids not to refer to people as a "him" or "her" would be pushing a bit too far. I mean a girl's a girl and a boy's a boy. You can't deny that.

 

[BabyRaptor]

Did you know that there are actually gender-neutral pronouns?

I learned them a couple years ago on a blog called the Slacktivist, and recently had reason to employ them, and teach them to several other friends. Yay for a chance to look smart!

 

[emeraldrafael]

At first I read this and I thought it said sexiest words.

reading it now, the thing that comes to mind is the who PC change about job positions typically held by men now being changed to person (even though I personally dont seem to see any of women in that particular profession).

Another thing i see it in is naming weapons (I know I have a sword I named faith), and cars (my old car was named victoria, my new one is named Elizabeth), and I get weird looks for both.

...
Sweden's is bigger.

http://satwcomic.com/art/geography-joke.jpg

...

But swedens is only visible when its gone. and what use is a member when you have to detach it for it be usable? especially since its always fighting with its biggest part?

 

[Cheesus333]

At first I read this and I thought it said sexiest words.

Lingerie!

That is a very sexy word.

OT: For some reason, I always associate calling a guy a pig or a woman a dog (in a derogatory sense, not just randomly referring to them as animals) very sexist. I don't really know why.

 

[emeraldrafael]

At first I read this and I thought it said sexiest words.

Lingerie!

That is a very sexy word.

...

that is a very sexy word, as is Aphrodisiac.

 

[likalaruku]

It's only a matter of time before these things become mandatory in schools.

 

[likalaruku]

woops, accidental double post. Why are there still not delete buttons?

 

[aPod]

shnip

You're right about more pressing gender equality issues. Where is my maternity leave!

Sorta kidding aside, i don't have a problem with abrasive language. I think it's kind of ridiculous that we have a sort of PC crusade. I think we need thicker skin more than we need to call heroines heroes.

 

[zxamike]

Probably because country's dont have genders. Cept for america

Full 12 inches of manhood...(teardrop)

this is where i live ^_^ oh wait..... i am on a 12 inch cock T_T WHY ME

 

[Dense_Electric]

Man, why does everyone think Florida is the penis? Florida is clearly the front leg (Texas being the rear leg, Louisiana being the penis, the north east being the head and neck, and California being our rather large butt).

Seriously though, I generally try to use the version of the word without the extra bit tacked on the end. It's usually the male form of the word (steward, hero, heir, etc.), but not always (widow being the only one I can think of off the top of my head). Keeps it simple, keeps it uncluttered. And when you're writing a science fiction novel set a hundred years in the future where social sexism just doesn't exist anymore, it keeps it consistent.

As for words like 'hir' or 'hes,' while I generally support what users of those words are trying to do, that's a bit too large of a leap for our society, at least right now. I think the fourth generation of English (following old English, middle-English, and modern English) will probably have a single, gender-neutral pronoun, since historically every form of English has been more gender neutral than the last, but until we're really into that form of the language those words are just going to sound weird.

Also, I think Captcha is becoming intelligent:

We will soon bow to our new computer overlords.