ecn-pa.alexande (07/22/82)
I do not have any intention of forcing anyone to use non-sexist language.
But I do have a few comments on some responses to my article on the net:
1) I try, (and I will not say that I am universally successful)
to use non-sexist forms in all of my speech, unless specific
reference to gender is called for. My friends and associates
do not say that my speech sounds awkward, ridiculous, or
silly. In fact, I think I can say that my use of language is
regarded fairly highly. If someone chooses, (for whatever ill-
advised reason) to use non-sexist terms scornfully, without
wanting to be using them, he or she will undoubtedly sound
ridiculous spitting out those "chairPERSONs" and "he OR SHEs".
I use them because non-sexism is an important goal to me, and
the use of sexist terms in my language would be a betrayal of
my own beliefs. If you do not choose to use them, that is
your choice, but you should be aware that this may say to
someone who values non-sexism that you are not a supporter
of this goal, or are at best a lukewarm supporter. Whether
this is true or not is immaterial: you may be perceived
in this light.
2) Do not underestimate the power of words. An inept choice of words
has caused many politicians to lose their offices. The lack of a
word for a thing has often caused that thing to go undiscovered
for decades, even centuries. A wrong word can cause a person to
appear uneducated, or a fool. The manner of presentation of an
idea can cause its acceptance or rejection. Often a careful choice
of words can cause a dismal performance to be presented in a
glowing light, or can cause a fine performance to be poorly
perceived. I do not claim that the use of non-sexist language,
of and by itself, can cause all sexist actions to disappear, or
all discrimination to be ended, or all preconceived notions of
the sex of any unknown professional, office-holder, or any other
class of person to be entirely washed away. However, I will claim
that the use of non-sexist language will exert an effect in the
direction of accomplishing these things. A person who does not
think in terms of sexist words will not be as likely to perform
sexist actions. A person who has not formed the habit of thinking
of women as a sub-class of men will be less likely to discriminate
against women. And if people start thinking in terms of what
*people* are qualified/available/running/present/etc. rather than
what *men* are qualified/available/running/present/etc., they will
begin to lose their preconceived, prejudiced opinions about what
sex a person needs to be to accomplish a job that anyone could
accomplish. If one values non-sexism as I do, (and I recognize
that not every one does, and I really am not speaking to those
people), one should realize that the use of non-sexist language
can help in the achievement of this goal.
Alan Alexander-Manifold
Purdue Library Systems
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