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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!floyd!vax135!ariel!houti!hogpc!pegasus!lzmi!rob
From: rob@lzmi.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: RE: language & gender
Message-ID: <111@lzmi.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 2-Sep-83 11:53:20 EDT
Article-I.D.: lzmi.111
Posted: Fri Sep  2 11:53:20 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 3-Sep-83 06:07:25 EDT
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[I am posting this response for a friend of mine who does not
have Usenet access of her own. Please mail replies to
.....!pegasus!lzmi!lznv!klc
thanks.....rob (yes, I AM a supportive male) coben]

In response to Richard Blouin on his stupid comments on language:

Why do you think that language is so trivial an issue? If I said to
you: "the guys in my group went to lunch", would the image of men,
women, or both come to mind? My guess is that the image of men come
to mind. Thus, women are excluded, although not intential, by that
type of a statement.

Furthermore, even if PERSON MONTH sounds weird, STAFF MONTH
does not. At work, the use of staff in place of man is quite acceptable.
As it implies no gender, it should be used. If you still protest this
point, then it is clear that you are not supportive of all people
having an equal opportunity. Otherwise why should you protest? Do you
do so because you do not want to change? Well, when ever you start a
new job, the environment is different and you must adjust (change)
to this new environment. This is a similar circumstance.

The use of man instead of a non-gender word or girl
instead of women is similar to the use of colored instead of black.
I am 35 and grew up with everyone saying colored. When the black
power movement instilled the concept that black is beautiful and thus
they wanted to be called black instead of colored, I changed as a 
matter of respect to what *they* wanted to be called. If I wanted to
put them down and be non-supportive, I would have continued to say
colored. But I wanted to be supportive so I changed my vocabulary.
Did you, or are you too young? Think about why you do not want to change.
Chances are you do not feel that women warrant the respect.
This is an issue of support and respect! 

In closing, I would like to comment on your statements of why don't
women just go out and grab what they want. This is something that
women (and men) have to do. The old saying of "God helps them who
help themselves" is apropos here. However, if one is discriminated
against, one cannot grab what one wants. For example, the first job
I ever applied for I would told that they were not hiring women
because I might have a baby. Well, this is 14 years later and I still
have not have a baby. Was it worth not hiring me? They certainly 
missed out as I do an excellent job.  The point is that along with
trying to help yourself, you have to have an environment that is
supportive. Thus, try being supportive and you will see that
women will grab the whole bag of jelly beans (or are you too
afraid that then you will be passed over?).

Karen L. Cohen