Gender and Pronouns - pipTalk Forums

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Philosophy 101

Gender and Pronouns

fractal007
Senior Member

since 2000-06-01

Posts 1958

0 posted 2005-06-05 02:33 AM

Hello. It is not often that I post here, but I think I will get into the habit of it again. I have recently been stewing about the whole matter of political correctness, or inclusive language, or whatever the current politically correct term for political correctness is in today's modern day egalitarian post-patriarchal oppressionist society.

I was thinking that a new pronoun which indicates in one word he or she should be created. I have been using it, but I am told that this creates a potential for objectifying women. However, to say he or she may create problems as the order in which the pronouns are presented may be viewed as biased by some parties....

I know this sounds a little bit like nitpicking but I was wondering what, linguistically, is being done to ensure both efficiency and inclusiveness in our language.

Any idiot can see that the result is true.
-- argumentum ad idiotum
Me!

Essorant
Member Elite

since 2002-08-10

Posts 4769
Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada

1 posted 2005-06-05 03:49 AM

/pip/Forum6/HTML/000903.html#13

I recommend using he or she very randomly without making an issue about it. If the reader or hearer makes an issue on it, that is his "bias", not yours.

Stephanos

Member Elite

since 2000-07-31

Posts 3618
Statesboro, GA, USA

2 posted 2005-06-05 07:03 AM

Frac,

The "order in which the pronouns are presented" totally depends upon the choices of the speaker / writer. But that kind of bias is separate from the linguistics. Trying to arbitrarily manipulate the language to change people's ideology is disturbing, and that's all this would be. It really wouldn't be to protect anyone.

And one thing for certain, in the tiresome quest to be PC, you will never please everyone. That's just too tall of an order. Oooops, I meant to say "vertically endowed", I didn't want to offend anyone who is over 6 feet.

Stephen

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