Feminists

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5. i don't like that english doesn't have a third party singular alive-but-unspecified-gender pronoun.

Reply to La Lioness Priyanka (Original post)

Tue Jun 19, 2012, 02:11 PM

Jun 2012

it has "they", which is third person unspecified gender PLURAL, but for third person singular, i'm stuck with he, she, or it.

i guess the idea is that if their gender is unknown or unspecified, they might as well be dead?
why is identifying someone's gender SO important that you can't even use pronouns until you determine the gender?

as in: "see that person over there in the distance? they're wearing a hat!"

that's the "best" we can do, make an obvious singular/plural error.

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Sexist language that I personally cannot stand [View all] La Lioness Priyanka Jun 2012 OP

The question of whether or not I'll have kids. Neoma Jun 2012 #1

that's not sexist language as much as sexist attitude though. nt La Lioness Priyanka Jun 2012 #2

I'm more or less sterile. It annoys me. Neoma Jun 2012 #4

If its asked by your boss, you may have an actionable legal complaint. Warren DeMontague Jun 2012 #41

That's good to know. Neoma Jun 2012 #42

Im not a lawyer, mind you.. But its worth checking out with one Warren DeMontague Jun 2012 #43

or worse... LadyHawkAZ Jun 2012 #19

I have had to deal with this one for decades. I am married to kestrel91316 Jun 2012 #53

When younger, I had people tell me two things that used to piss me off obamanut2012 Jun 2012 #55

using male analogies while teaching La Lioness Priyanka Jun 2012 #3

sports analogies? OKNancy Jun 2012 #13

most women don't though La Lioness Priyanka Jun 2012 #16

well, I just don't think it's sexist to use sports analogies OKNancy Jun 2012 #17

Jen Rizzotti, Rebeca Lobo One_Life_To_Give Jun 2012 #36

i don't like that english doesn't have a third party singular alive-but-unspecified-gender pronoun. unblock Jun 2012 #5

agreed. a lot of queer people have starting using ze La Lioness Priyanka Jun 2012 #6

I've never heard of ze. Neoma Jun 2012 #7

i love it! i'm going to try that! unblock Jun 2012 #8

.. La Lioness Priyanka Jun 2012 #9

I was once on a board where "em" was used hifiguy Jun 2012 #38

I sometimes use herm for her/him. nt Whisp Jun 2012 #47

I use "they," too obamanut2012 Jun 2012 #44

I do because I'm originally southern... Neoma Jun 2012 #45

The "gword" just cannot pass my lips obamanut2012 Jun 2012 #46

I've been using female prominent language as the default since I was Zorra Jun 2012 #10

I like to do this also, kiva Jun 2012 #18

Unfortunately English is not the best language for #1 longship Jun 2012 #11

This is what I do. Neoma Jun 2012 #12

But history is full of women who made a difference longship Jun 2012 #14

I wasn't disagreeing... I was pointing out the same thing... Neoma Jun 2012 #15

ever read Lady Chatterly's Lover? azurnoir Jun 2012 #39

Uhm, no... Neoma Jun 2012 #40

But "history" has often been precisely "*his* story" planetc Jun 2012 #20

History is what it is longship Jun 2012 #21

Umm... laconicsax Jun 2012 #22

I understand your point, and it's really correct longship Jun 2012 #23

The discussion takes place no matter how it's branded. laconicsax Jun 2012 #24

I agree 100% with you longship Jun 2012 #25

herstory isnt intended to replace history La Lioness Priyanka Jun 2012 #26

Using "Female" when you mean "Woman/Women". JoeyT Jun 2012 #27

lol La Lioness Priyanka Jun 2012 #28

I use the term female because LiberalLoner Jun 2012 #29

i think the poster meant it in a specific context La Lioness Priyanka Jun 2012 #32

I tend to use male/female because not all males are men and not all females are women. laconicsax Jun 2012 #30

I dunno... Neoma Jun 2012 #31

Ooh, good point. JoeyT Jun 2012 #33

I didn't have one until now. laconicsax Jun 2012 #34

referring to women as 'the female species' Whisp Jun 2012 #35

referring to any gender as species in troublesome La Lioness Priyanka Jun 2012 #37

"Girly girl" used to describe adult women Gormy Cuss Jun 2012 #48

good point La Lioness Priyanka Jun 2012 #50

In 1974 a close friend was a strong feminist. She and I agreed that the term "balls" was stupid Rowdyboy Jun 2012 #49

Man up! teach1st Jun 2012 #51

i HATE it too. nt La Lioness Priyanka Jun 2012 #52

+1 obamanut2012 Jun 2012 #56

Straight men don't crochet. tridim Jun 2012 #54

But needlepoint is OK One_Life_To_Give Jun 2012 #57

Back in 1982 there was a book-"Real Men Don't Eat Quiche" Rowdyboy Jun 2012 #58