Sexist terms

[Fatal Dawn]

So I recently got into trouble for using the word mankind instead of humankind.



There are obvious sexist terms like saying someone throws like a girl, but there are also hidden things that some consider sexist (for example: using fireman instead of firefigher or being called Mrs. instead of Ms.)



For women what do you consider sexist? For men what do you consider sexist?



Also can sexism be in the reverse or not, because give supposedly have the most power in many society.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Saying mankind is sexist? Ive never heard anyone dispute that before. Seems like a pretty trivial thing to be upset about.

 

[Jazzy]

Sexist Terms - and alternatives



This list of sexist terms shows not only what may be avoided but also how they may be avoided.



If in the company of people who are made uncomfortable by sexist terms, there is a polite and linguistically acceptable alternative in most cases. The often quoted person aperture cover for man hole is both a hoax and a parody of the intention of the language. The following are becoming increasingly accepted and mostly are no longer an issue of contention.



The following checklist of alternatives to sexist language was produced by a publisher giving advice to authors.



Link: http://www.putlearningfirst.com/language/23sexism/sexist.html

 

[Lucky!]

You have to be kidding me right? This whole PC thing has been blown way out of proportion. For God's sake, it's a word. Mankind...Oh, I am sorry, I mean Womenkind. In my opinion, who cares about this childish crap? People get their panties in a twist and want to be heard by everyone.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I just seen the mailman go by, am I sexist for calling him a mailman?

 

[Lucky!]

I just seen the mailman go by, am I sexist for calling him a mailman?

Come on, you know that the proper name is Mail-carrier Jeez, people these days!

 

[Fatal Dawn]

I don’t consider myself a sexist, racist, anything – ist person. If I have been sexist I probably would never see though. I think they would argue that it makes the male seem dominant. Like woman doctor, it’s considered derogatory. “Mailman” – obviously since not every single one is male – the women I’ve talked to that are feminist and brought this up would argue that mail carrier” as NightHawk said would be more appropriate. They said “stewardess” or “waitress” would be offensive and “flight attendant” and “server” should be substituted. A lot of my poetry, I’ve been told is sexist because I use a lot of “mankind” instead of “human kind” or “humanity.” They want me to correct it, because they don’t me to say the offensive word.

 

[Fatal Dawn]

The thing is one of those women was my teacher who was reviewing my writing. So I don't think that would end well.

 

[McConnaughay]

To take a page out of Smooth's book by offering brutal honesty, I believe that any individual that finds mailman, fireman, mankind, or anything of that nature to be sexist, doesn't deserve an arrow to the knee but a bullet between the eyes. They need to get over themselves, and stop being whiny assholes.

 

[DrLeftover]

And yet Ruffles are selling Man Chips and Dr Pepper is still pushing a 10 calorie diet Man Drink.



Both of which are idiotic.



Based on the lead to this thread, then the dingbats that dreamed up those products are not huMans they are HuPeople.



I think it suits them just fine.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

stop being whiny assholes.

amen brotha... wait should it be apeople instead of amen?

 

[DrLeftover]

Remember the new Bible where all references to the Deity were turned into Neutral Pronouns?

 

[Fatal Dawn]

The thing is I have always considered myself an open-minded person. I judge people on how they treat others and not because they are boy or girl, black, or white. Because that's the way I want to be treated. I've seen and felt enough real racism during my lifetime. Therefor I know what things to fight for and what things aren't worth fighting for. I don't feel that it is good to change history books to not say the word n-word. That's history, those were the times, I appreciate my history - the good and the bad.



As for sexism. I believe women are the backbone of society. When I use words like mankind it is strictly aesthetic. It just reads better. To see any different would be taking it out of context. I did not imply, nor suggest anything sexist by that word choice.



In short, I'm a moderate person when it comes to political correctness. In that I believe in the golden rule. Treat people with respect. Respect people's religion, their sexual orientation, their handicaps, their ethnicity, and their race. Don't be biased either way. However, I think political correctness should never dictate how people should think nor should it replace what is perceived as common sense. It should not be the moral authority of the world. History, music, literature, and all other art forms should never be censored.

 

[Evil Eye]

I have to agree with Smooth.

This is just senseless nitpicking on a language. Why are people so bothered by history?

The thing is one of those women was my teacher who was reviewing my writing. So I don't think that would end well.

Say it in your last year (after all your grades are fixed, etc).

Remember the new Bible where all references to the Deity were turned into Neutral Pronouns?

That actually makes sense

How did they do it in the original languages?



I love neutral pronouns, they're so much easier in English. I won't refer to a person of uncertain gender as he or she (because I can actually avoid that in English), but occupations and common words like mankind are pretty gender neutral/normal to me.

A teacher actually had the nerve to correct me on one once. He didn't seem to know there was such a thing as singular they.

 

[Bluezone777]

There is something called intent and it's apparent the PC police are either too ignorant and/or busy to bother themselves with that little inconvenient fact.



No one has the right to not be offended. I wish more would realize that so we can quit having these silly discussions over nothing.

 

[Bluezone777]

Some people think they have the right to not be offended and anyone being offensive must be silent. Basically you got types that whine over nothing like the ones crying over these sexist terms who feel they have the right to go through life without having to be offended.



It sets up a world where one person decides everything that can and can't be said based on what offends them and I doubt any sane person wants a world based off of one person's view on what's offensive or not. It just leads to a dictatorship.

 

[Bluezone777]

If they could make it illegal to offend them then they would do it. That's the whole point I am making regarding not having the right to not be offended. We all should be allowed to offend others with our opinions and be offended by the opinions of others. Not all of the offensive opinions will be good but to restrict the bad ones will ensure the good ones never come either.



Thankfully, we have freedom of speech or we would have long lost our ability to offend others with controversial opinions. Some of the most controversial thoughts and opinions from the earth not being the center of the universe or the rights of blacks to use the same bathrooms as whites were once offensive but without those offensive people being offensive then we wouldn't have made half the advancements we made.



I fear that we have become willing to make being offensive a crime which will stifle humanity and send it into the deep abyss that it seems this world is heading. We should all welcome all thoughts even ones we find offensive because without those willing to buck the system will ensure we never get any better or evolve our own way of thinking. If we can refute their thoughts then do so but to reject them all even ones we can't refute with the logic at hand is insane but try telling that to the PC police that is running around trying to stifle those who wish to challenge how we think.

 

[Evil Eye]

Thankfully, we have freedom of speech

Try denying the holocaust in Germany or saying something offensive about Islam in Iran. France recently tried to pass something regarding the Armenian Genocide, it got overturned, but even so.