The Struggle for The Struggle for Gender-Free Gender-Free Language: Is It Over Language: Is It Over Yet? Yet? by Jane Reaby Jane Rea

IntroductionIntroduction

“ “Does gender-free writing still present Does gender-free writing still present problems, and if so, how are most of us problems, and if so, how are most of us resolving them?”resolving them?”

The most common bias in writing is called the The most common bias in writing is called the ‘generic he’.‘generic he’.

Author’s solutions: make the subject and verb Author’s solutions: make the subject and verb plural with plural referents; use plural with plural referents; use wewe or or youyou instead of instead of hehe; use ; use he or shehe or she; or substitute ; or substitute passive voice. passive voice.

Problems with these Problems with these solutionssolutions

Editors are all too aware that write-around-the-problem Editors are all too aware that write-around-the-problem strategies present problems of their own, not the least strategies present problems of their own, not the least of which is sounding forced. Recasting a sentence into of which is sounding forced. Recasting a sentence into the plural or using second person instead of third works the plural or using second person instead of third works well as long as the revision fits in with the surrounding well as long as the revision fits in with the surrounding text. But if the discussion has been in the third person text. But if the discussion has been in the third person all along, changing persons simply calls attention to the all along, changing persons simply calls attention to the problem without solving it. And while it's true that the problem without solving it. And while it's true that the passive has a place in our language, it pains us as passive has a place in our language, it pains us as editors to hobble an active verb, no matter how just the editors to hobble an active verb, no matter how just the cause. cause.

One Term for All and All One Term for All and All Terms Inclusive Terms Inclusive

Not all gender-free language rolls off the Not all gender-free language rolls off the keyboard quite so easily. In a survey with no keyboard quite so easily. In a survey with no scientific pretenses, the author asked some of scientific pretenses, the author asked some of her editing colleagues to review a list of her editing colleagues to review a list of problematic words and their suggested problematic words and their suggested alternatives from Rosemary Maggio's classic, alternatives from Rosemary Maggio's classic, The Nonsexist Word FinderThe Nonsexist Word Finder. Here are their . Here are their reactions to three words people are likely to reactions to three words people are likely to come across in formal writing: come across in formal writing:

chairchair, when a woman in a group of fellow , when a woman in a group of fellow corporate who were all corporate who were all chairmenchairmen of a of a committee. Calling her something different committee. Calling her something different singles her out as a woman, but she didn't singles her out as a woman, but she didn't want to be called a want to be called a chairmanchairman, which she found , which she found sexist. sexist.

layman, as far as most respondents were layman, as far as most respondents were concerned, this can easily be layperson, while concerned, this can easily be layperson, while a congressman can be called a representative a congressman can be called a representative or a member of Congress. No one wanted to or a member of Congress. No one wanted to replace ombudsman (the Swedish use is replace ombudsman (the Swedish use is inclusive because "man" means "one") with inclusive because "man" means "one") with ombud or ombuds, but this word suffers from ombud or ombuds, but this word suffers from the same drawback as other "man" words. The the same drawback as other "man" words. The alternatives sound odd and a bit awkward — alternatives sound odd and a bit awkward — service member for serviceman and jury service member for serviceman and jury supervisor for foreman — but so does "Jane supervisor for foreman — but so does "Jane Smith is the foreman."Smith is the foreman."

forefather, Although ancestor and forebear forefather, Although ancestor and forebear were generally seen as acceptable substitutes were generally seen as acceptable substitutes for forefather, several people pointed out that for forefather, several people pointed out that the alternatives don't have exactly the same the alternatives don't have exactly the same meaning. We are the direct descendants of our meaning. We are the direct descendants of our ancestors, but our forefathers include a ancestors, but our forefathers include a broader group of those that preceded us. broader group of those that preceded us. Nevertheless, these two substitutes are likely Nevertheless, these two substitutes are likely to find more favor than forefather and to find more favor than forefather and foremother, which Maggio says are acceptable foremother, which Maggio says are acceptable if used gender-fairly. My colleagues agreed if used gender-fairly. My colleagues agreed that, used gender-fairly or not, foremother is that, used gender-fairly or not, foremother is not a particularly euphonious or graceful way to not a particularly euphonious or graceful way to solve the problem.solve the problem.

ConclusionConclusion

In the end the author realized it’s hard to In the end the author realized it’s hard to change, because people want to be the change, because people want to be the same. However, it will change as the time same. However, it will change as the time goes by; the future generation won’t think goes by; the future generation won’t think of it as a big deal.of it as a big deal.