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From: eric@parallel.uucp (Eric Griswold)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Perchild and other Stupidity
Message-ID: <110@parallel.uucp>
Date: Wed, 15-May-85 00:48:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: parallel.110
Posted: Wed May 15 00:48:27 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 16-May-85 04:21:54 EDT
References: <385@ttidcc.UUCP> <305@mhuxr.UUCP> <327@h-sc1.UUCP> <367@mtxinu.UUCP> <244@spar.UUCP>
Reply-To: eric@parallel.UUCP (Eric Griswold)
Organization: Parallel Computers, Inc.
Lines: 38
Summary: 

In article <244@spar.UUCP> ellis@spar.UUCP (Michael Ellis) writes:
>
>    If you are opposed to sexist language, please note that `perchild' and 
>    and its ilk the are the tools of your opponents used to ridicule
>    your viewpoint.
>
>-michael

Not only that, but the whole notion of abolishing sexist (or racist,
or ageist or..) language has rather strange overtones of Orwell.  Granted, 
enriching our language so that we can avoid gender reference if we
care to is a good idea, but not at the sacrifice of losing useful
aspects of our language.  

As an example, I've had the term 'young man' thrown at me in a negative
manner more times than I care to recall.  When somebody actually
used it recently to pick me out of a group of older people, I almost
got angry because of the associations I have with the term.  Then
I realized that it was the best term to use.  I understand that this does not
solve the problem of the female professional being called a "whatever-man"
against her liking, for the description is indeed erroneous.  I've
read several books where the feminine was used as the generic.  Although
it seemed a bit forced, it was hardly offensive.  

In short, words or phrases of this nature are undesirable based on 
context, not on etymology.  Let's all work on issues like equal pay
and equal opportunities based on merit and leave the details of how
we say it to follow.

-- 
     ```````   Eric Griswold
     ``        Parallel Computers, Inc.
   .``````
  `  ``        ucbvax!sun!parallel!eric
  `  ```````   ihnp4!hplabs!pesnta!parallel!eric
  `.       `
    ```````    The opinions expressed herein are a bit on the silly side
               and thus couldn't possibly be the opinions of my employer.