Re: Gender in language

From: AC <spam@nospam.com.invalid>

Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 02:16:22 +0000

In article <vohadkfv9hz.fsf@math.berkeley.edu>, David desJardins wrote:
>
> The term "actor" seems logical to me.  "Woman actor" seems as irrelevant
> as "college-educated actor" or "actor over 5 foot 6 inches tall" or
> "actor with freckles".  All of those qualifiers might be true, but so
> what?  Why insert them into the conversation over and over, if you
> really don't think that they are relevant?

This is what disturbs me the most; the desire to remove gender entirely from
language.  What is the motive?  What is it about gender that causes everyone
to run for cover?  Why can't I call someone an actress?  Is actress a
derogatory term?  Is recognizing that someone is male or female an
objectionable fact?

But if you want to alter your language in such a fashion, then so be it.  As
long as we don't have language police coming and demanding that I say "where
no *one* has gone before" rather than "where no *man* has gone before" then
so be it.

> My impression, for what it's worth, is that most woman actors would
> rather be called "actor" than "actress".  Does what people want enter
> into your calcuation?

My calculation is based upon the fact that I don't think language is the
source of sexism.  It is usage.  I think mutilating a language because some
may use it in a fashion that less than desirable is ridiculous.  As I said,
I think most of the real problems people complain about could simply be
solved by manners and considering things in a just and reasonable manner.

--
AC

References

Re: Gender in language
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Mon, 11 Nov 2002 18:10:15 +0000
Re: Gender in language
AC <spam@nospam.com.invalid>
Mon, 11 Nov 2002 19:36:24 +0000
Re: Gender in language
AC <spam@nospam.com.invalid>
Tue, 12 Nov 2002 00:37:13 +0000
Re: Gender in language
AC <spam@nospam.com.invalid>
Tue, 12 Nov 2002 01:43:18 +0000
Re: Gender in language
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Tue, 12 Nov 2002 01:53:44 +0000
Re: Gender in language
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Mon, 11 Nov 2002 07:07:58 +0000
Re: Gender in language
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Mon, 11 Nov 2002 10:48:57 +0000
Re: Gender in language
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Mon, 11 Nov 2002 20:07:46 +0000
Re: Gender in language
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Tue, 12 Nov 2002 00:41:55 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Gender in language
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Mon, 11 Nov 2002 18:10:15 +0000
Re: Gender in language
AC <spam@nospam.com.invalid>
Mon, 11 Nov 2002 19:36:24 +0000
Re: Gender in language
AC <spam@nospam.com.invalid>
Tue, 12 Nov 2002 00:37:13 +0000
Re: Gender in language
AC <spam@nospam.com.invalid>
Tue, 12 Nov 2002 01:43:18 +0000
Re: Gender in language
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Tue, 12 Nov 2002 01:53:44 +0000
Re: Gender in language
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Mon, 11 Nov 2002 07:07:58 +0000
Re: Gender in language
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Mon, 11 Nov 2002 10:48:57 +0000
Re: Gender in language
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Mon, 11 Nov 2002 20:07:46 +0000
Re: Gender in language
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Tue, 12 Nov 2002 00:41:55 +0000