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From: west@utcsri.UUCP (Thomas L. West)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: sexist language/bad attitudes
Message-ID: <1039@utcsri.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 21-Apr-85 12:59:18 EST
Article-I.D.: utcsri.1039
Posted: Sun Apr 21 12:59:18 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 21-Apr-85 13:26:31 EST
References: <846@druxo.UUCP> <674@wlcrjs.UUCP> <299@mhuxr.UUCP>
Reply-To: west@utcsri.UUCP (Thomas L. West)
Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
Lines: 65
Summary: 


  The entire he/she/they/one debate can be divided into two parts.

(1) Using non-gender specific terms vs. gender specific terms where actual
    gender is unknown.

  There are those who claim that 'he' is the gender neutral pronoun in the
English language.  They are, in a grammatical sense, correct.  The problem
comes with the people.  When the term 'he' is used, a *male* image is 
thought of, regardless of the fact that the term was supposed to be neutral.
Yes, this *is* bad English, but it is also fact.  The word 'he' is supposed
to be a neuter pronoun, but it *isn't* nor is it ever likely to be.  Thus
defending this usage in the terms of grammatical correctness is just whining
in the face of facts about how we actually use the language.  They can
complain as long as they wish, it doesn't change the facts.
  Given the realization of how the language is actually used, it becomes
fairly obvious that this is going to have an effect on the people who use
it.  Specifically, the language is pushing forward the idea that women 
play an almost totally insignificant part in our society outside of a few
restricted roles.  More importantly, the language re-inforces the idea
that this set of roles is expected and accepted by society at large.  
Unless one postualtes that people are for the most part completely 
uninfluenced by the language that they use (a completely foolish postulate,
in my opinion), it then comes down to the fact that the present day
language *is* making it harder for society to accept women as equals.
Thus accepting the use of 'he' as the neuter pronoun becomes tacit
support for the re-inforcement of the ideas stated above.

Continued use of 'he' indicates either the user...
   (1) believes that people imagine a 'neuter' person when
       the word 'he' is used.
or (2) believes that the users of a language are totally uninfluenced
       by the language that they use.
or (3) believes that maintaining the 'purity' of the English language 
       is more important than the ill-effects on society the language 
       promotes.
or (4) Can't be bothered to change the language construct used, despite
       the fact that they know the influence it has.
  Those that espouse none of the above conditions must have no choice but
to change.

(2) As for the use of one/they debate.
   The use of one is grammatically correct, but has fallen into such disuse
that it sounds pretentious and stilted.  Since I usually sound pretentious
and stilted, I tend to use the 'one' construct.  However it doesn't help
in a conversation if the person you are talking to breaks up in laughter,
(as has occurred when the constructs became too stilted in an effort to
avoid a gender-specific pronoun.)
   The use of the 'they' construct is now used often enough that it sounds
'natural' to most listeners (tough luck, Marcel).  Hence, most will probably
opt for the grammaticaly incorrect but natural sounding 'they' construct
rather than the grammatically correct but stilted 'one' construct.
   However, most importantly, the use of either one is such an incredibly
subjective decision that I can't see why there is an argument brewing here.
While Mr. Simon can mourn the passing of a grammatically correct
structure in favour of another construct, the main issue, the use
of gender-specific pronouns or not, is already resolved between the two
groups.
   (I am assuming that the two sides have been Marcel Simon supporting the
use of the 'one' construct versus a host of others supporting the 'they'
construct.  Do enlighten me if I am wrong.)

               Tom West
  Serve The Computer, The Computer Is Your Friend.
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