SEXISM IN LANGUAGE
What is sexism in language?
It is the use of language which devalues members of one sex, almost invariably women, and thus fosters gender inequality.
It discriminates against women by rendering them invisible or trivializing them at the same time that it perpetuates notions of male supremacy.
Why the concern about mere words?
· Language articulates consciousness. It is not only orders our thought but from infancy, we learn to use language to give utterance to our basic needs and feelings.
· Language reflects culture. It encodes and transmits cultural meanings and values in our society.
· Language affects socialization. Children learning a language absorb the cultural assumptions and biases underlying language use and see these as an index to their society's values and attitudes. Social inequity reflected in language can thus powerfully affect a child's later behaviour and beliefs.
What are the kinds of sexist language?
· Language that excludes women or renders them invisible.
The use of the generic masculine subsuming all humanity in the terms man, father, brother, master.
Current Usage Alternative
man human being, human, person, individual
mankind, men human beings, humans, humankind, humanity,
people, human race, human species, society,
men and women
working men, workmen workers, wage earners
man on the street average person, ordinary person, the common tao
forefather ancestor
layman layperson, nonspecialist, non professional
manhood adulthood, maturity
manning staffing, working, running
to a man everyone, unanimously, without exception
one man show one person show solo exhibition
founding fathers founders
manpower human resources, staff, personnel, labor force
brotherhood of man the family of humanity, the unity of people or
of humankind human solidarity
early man early people, early men and women, early human beings
statemanship diplomacy
man-made manufactured, synthetic, artificial
old masters classic art/artists
masterful domineering, very skillful
· The Singular Masculine Pronouns He, His, Him.
Examples:
When a reporter covers a controversial story, he has a responsibility to present both sides of the
issue.
Each student should bring his notebook to class every day.
Everyone packed his own lunch.
If a customer has a complaint, send him to the service desk.
The handicapped child may be able to feed himself.
Suggested Alternatives:
When reporters cover controversial stories, they have a responsibility...
All students should bring their notebooks to class everyday.
Everyone packed a lunch.
Customers with complaint should be sent to the service desk.
Handicapped children may be able to feed themselves.
· Terms ending in man to refer to functions that may be performed by individuals of either sex.
Current Usage Alternatives
anchorman anchor, anchorperson
businessman business executive, manager, business owner, retailer
cameraman camera operators, cinematographers, photographers
chairman chairperson, chair
Note: There is a tendency to use "chairperson" to apply only to women while "chairman" is used for men, even though "chairperson" is applicable to both sexes. "Chairperson" is preferable for either sex.
Current Usage Alternatives
congressman Representative, member of congress,
congress member, legislator
craftsmen artisans, craft artists, craftpersons
draftsmen drafters
firemen fire fighters
fishermen fishers, fisherfolk
foremen supervisors
lineman line installer, line repairer
lumbermen lumbercutters
pressmen press operators
policeman police officer, law enforcement officer
repairmen repairers
salesman salesperson, sales representative, sales agent
spokesman spokesperson, representative
sportsmen sports enthusiasts
statesmen diplomats, political leaders
watchmen guards
weatherman weather reporter, weathercaster, meteorologist
· Terms used as though they apply to adult males only, or are appropriated to a particular sex
Examples:
Settlers moved west taking their wives and children with them.
Alternatives: Use "families" for "wives and children"
Farmers found their drought conditions difficult, and so did their wives.
Alternatives: Use "spouses" for "wives"
It has been falsely said that the Greeks mistreated their wives.
Alternatives: Use "Greek males"
People don't give up power. They'll give up anything else first, money, home, wife, but not power.
Alternatives: Use "spouse" for "wife"
The aboriginals dressed in feathered costumes and accented their faces wwith dyes.
Women too painted their faces.
Alternatives: Use "aboriginal men and women" for "aboriginals"; omit the second sentence.
Current Usage Alternatives
lawyers/doctors/ lawyers/doctors/
farmers and their wives farmers and their spouses
the teacher and her students teacher and his or her students,* teachers
and their students
the secretary and her boss secretary and his or her boss,*
secretaries and their bosses
· The generic masculine reflects gender inequality in that women are never seen in terms of general or representative humanity. Men represent the universal or the human to which women are the other.
Language that trivializes women or diminishes their stature
Feminine suffixes such as -ess, -ette, -trix, or -enne,
make unnecessary reference to the person's sex, suggest triviality, unimportance, or inferiority of
women occupying such a position.
__________________
* Plural form preferred, unless you know the sex of the teacher or the secretary,
in which case use the appropriate pronoun.
Current Usage Alternatives
actress actor
authoress author
aviatrix aviator
comedienne comedian
executrixes executors
heroines heroes
hostesses hosts
poetess poet
proprietress proprietor
suffragette suffragist
usherette usher
· Use of sex-linked modifiers sounds gratuitous, is patronizing and suggests that the norm for some occupations is for a particular sex
Current Usage Alternatives
lady doctor doctor
woman writer writer
female lawyer lawyer
girl athlete athlete
male nurse nurse
male secretary secretary
heroic women heroes
working mothers wage-earning mothers: mothers
wworking outside the home
working wives wives working outside the home
· Such modifiers imply that they are not real lawyers, doctors, nurses, workers, etc.
· When it is necessary to point out the female aspect of a person occupying a given role or occupation, use female or woman, rather than lady, e.g. female guard.
· Language which disparages and marginalizes women( or persons of another gender)
Current Usage Alternatives
girl adult female
salesgirls saleswomen
ladies women
fair sex, weaker sex women
little woman, wife
the better half
coed female college student
bachelor girl, spinster unmarried women
old maid
starlets aspiring actors
young girls teenage young women
girl Friday administrative assistants
minority women ethnic women
mill girls factory workers
hookers, whores prostitutes
non-traditional or female intensive
dominated occupations occupations
ladies chattering women talking, speaking
bag ladies homeless women
chick girl, woman(depending on age)
dykes, gay women, lesbians
female homosexuals
house husbands, homemakers
house wives
granny midwives lay midwives
fish wives fish sellers
servants, maids domestic helpers,
household helpers
busboys waiters' assistants
chambermaids hotel workers
career girls career women
male chauvinist pig male chauvinism
women libbers feminists, liberatinists
· Languge that fosters unequal gender relations
Lack of parallelism
Current Usage Alternatives
Man and wife husband and wife
men and girls men and women;
boys and girls
men and ladies men and women;
ladies and gentlemen
President Bush and President Bush and
Mrs. Arroyo President Macapagal-Arroyo
Martina and Connors Navratilova and Connors,
or Martina and Jimmy
Connors and Miss Mr. Connors and Miss
Navratilova Navratilova
· The use of terms that call attention to a person's sex in designating occupations, positions, roles, etc.
Current Usage Alternatives
delivery boys, deliverers
delivery men
motherhood parenthood
fatherhood
political husbands, political spouses
political wives
headmasters, principals
headmistresses
cow boys, cow girls ranch hands
traffic in women sex tourism
girl watching street harassment
bellman, bellboy bellhop
clergyman member of the clergy,
minister, rabbi, priest, pastor, etc.
mailman, postman mail carrier, letter carrier
fathers (religious) priests
laundrywomen, launderers
washerwomen
chorus girls chorus dancers
longshoremen longshore wworkers,
stevedores
cleaning women, cleaners
cleaning lady
stewardess, steward flight/cabin attendant
corporate husbands, corporate spouses
corporate wives
domestic, maids, household workers,
servants household help