nerad@closus.DEC (05/07/84)
{ @@@+++``libation''+++@@@ } (She's thirsty) In the interest of "degenderization" of liturgy, the Unitarian/Universalist Association (UUA) has produced a small hymnal which is a compilation of various readings and hymns with all gender-specific references "degendered" except where appropriate (referring to a specific person,...). This consists of things like inserting "God" where "He" is in a specific text, and similar practices. This practice led to two interesting anecdotes: DEGENDERIZATION WITHOUT THOUGHT I In a program called something like "Our Unitarian Heritage through Music," the Harvard Square (Cambridge, MA) congregation had a compilation of hymns from the course of history of American UU'ism. One of these hymns, the last of the service, was a feminist hymn of the late 1800's, written by a woman, to the Battle Hymn of the Republic. It was a plea for peace and tolerance--which the author postulated would be brought about if women were given an equal role in politics. Several generic references in the text used the masculine pronoun "he." The minister, from the pulpit, proposed that the interest of the author would be served by "degendrification" of the hymn by substituting "she" for "he" in all occurrances. This proves, I suppose, that the feminine pronoun can be assumed to be generic also? (At least by individuals.) DEGENDERIZATION WITHOUT THOUGHT II Using word processing style typesetting, some Protestant denomination (not the UU's, though it is through a UU minister that I heard this--Ed Lane of the aforementioned Harvard Square Parish) decided to degender their hymnal by substitution of "God" for "He" and "God's" for "His" in all occurances. This led to the unfortunate substitution (which was not caught in galleys) of "God" for "He" referring to Satan in "A Mighty Fortress is our God." One imagines much redness of the face was experienced. It is my personal opinion that the fastest way to raise humankind's consciousness on the subject of gender is to somehow find an intelligent extraterrestrial race that has either different gender structure, or enlightened (or absolutely unenlightened--so as to provoke reaction) attitudes toward gender differences. Change by example within the greater culture is very slow; as unlikely as I believe the above condition to be filled in the near future, it is likely faster than the methods in use now. And I'm an optimist. (only slightly :-) Shava Nerad Telematic Systems (@DEC Ed. Svcs.) {decvax,allegra}!decwrl!rhea!closus!nerad