patm (04/29/83)
We have all seen dramatic modifications to the monikers traditionally hung on various social groups in the past few decades. Some examples that come to mind are "Negro" becoming "Black" and "Homosexual" becoming "Gay". But these changes were all affected by relatively unified "special interest" groups who went to great lengths to associate their chosen term with their movement. They made the news, news announcers obligingly referred to Gays and Blacks, the printed media likewise lifted the banners to the general public. Things are not so fortunate (yet) for the movement toward genderless grammar. The general public does not see this as a sincere movement by a repressed eco-socio-political group. We don't hear Danny making the point on World News Tonight nor has Newsweek taken up the the gauntlet. Moreover, no visible champion has marched into the teeth of the wind to raise the issue beyond academic corridors, texts on the subject, and netland. The difficulty of the task is compounded by the simple fact that (in part) pronouns are at issue which apply to broad portions of the population rather than to specific groups seeking per- sonalized self-defined recognition. Without entering the do-we/don't-we fray, I submit that for those of us who believe that there are many instances where getting gender out of unnecessarily gender-oriented context is appropriate (after all, isn't that what *affirmative* action is about?) there is something that can be done: DO IT. Education by example and making a point of it when necessary is the most obvious way to get the whole thing started. We have chances daily, in memos, in specifications, in casual conversations. My Black and Gay friends didn't have to consistently beat me over the head before I got the picture; listening to their self-referential terms sufficed. Credence evolved as Whites and Hets became understanding and sensitive as to the "whys"--merely becoming comfortable with these notions helped immensely. Let's do it...locally. Patrick McNamara tektronix!tekmdp!patm