From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhtsa!alice!rabbit!jj
Newsgroups: net.women
Title: Re: "man" and non-sexist writing - (nf)
Article-I.D.: rabbit.1387
Posted: Wed Apr 27 10:45:19 1983
Received: Thu Apr 28 03:26:27 1983
References: <1970@uiucdcs.UUCP>

Ahhhhhh!  uicsl!wombat summed it up very nicely when he
said that children do not learn the entemology and dictionary
meaning of a word.

In an nutshell, that's the problem.  If people were educated well
enough to know what the words they use incorrectly (and establish
a new usage for) are supposed to mean, then there wouldn't be a
problem with sexist language. (Except, of course, where some bully
deliberately uses language in a sexist manner. Of course, an educated
person would understand and reject that.)

Frankly, changing the language isn't going to do any good, because
when you change the word "fireman" to "firefighter", for example,
the SAME poorly educated, sexist parents who now teach sexism to
their children are going to teach their children  that "firefighter"
means "fireMAN".

	Not only will you NOT make a dent in sexism, you will
debase the word you invented (and debased the language with) so
that IT is, in effect, a gendered word, with sexist connotations.
A lot of good that will do any of us.

	I think (as if you haven't already figured it out) that
education is the key.  If the parents teach their children to be
sexist, then the child will be sexist in turn.   If the parents
(AHEM, I've GOT to get schools in here somewhere!) teach
their children that the usual roles of the sexes are just that, roles,
and that they are not, nor should they be, binding, THEN the child
will start to understand, perhaps even well enough to reject the
programming that society (and the school system) tries to build in.
	When, and only when, you enable the child to understand 
sexism, and why it is bad, will you enable the child to reject 
it, when it is forced upon that child.  A change in language, without
any accompanying education, will not teach anyone (child or adult)
to think, and to question the environment.

Don't complain about my use of language, it's early in the morning, yes,
but for me it's late at night, and I'm tired.  If you have problems with
my language <which, at this point is probable> just try to read what
I say in context.

rabbit!<educate the masses>jj