Feminists, are you still obsessed with gender-neutral pronouns?

Question

If not, what made you drop it?

Answer 1

I was never obsessed with gender-neutral pronouns.

Edit: Tara R, if you see this, yes it was Craven...woweeee another Canuck eh? You = wonderful.

Answer 2

My question is, are politically correct inclined people going to start attacking languages that masculines and feminize words? Such as Spanish?

Some things are best left alone, but some people just don't know when to quit.

Answer 3

I guess I am a little obsessed with it. I feel as though some terms do not include women. For example the term mankind. The language we use is not inclusive of women, "God created all men equal..." That doesn't seem to include me. In this day and age it is unacceptable. I am not a man and don't want to be one.

Answer 4

Yes they are. If we have a meeting we have to address 'The Chair' rather than the chairman or chairwoman. It seems bizarre to have to address a piece of furniture rather than a person, but that's politically correct feminism for you.

Answer 5

Because they exclude half the population (always the same half), when they could just as easily be gender neutral.

"Obsessed" isn't accurate, but it's still annoying. Just make it gender neutral, it's not that hard. Christ.

Answer 6

The one that drives me crazy is the "s/he" pronoun.  I have no problems with "he" also being considered gender neutral!  I never much got the point of adding the feminine pronoun into a sentence as well.

Doodlebug, you think "Chair" is bad... There is a manager at my work whose title is the "Chair of Foresight."  I always picture a large, glowing throne walking down the hallway.  Imagine living up to that, LOL!

Answer 7

I'm not obsessed with grammar unless I'm writing an essay.

Answer 8

Still? I never was.

Answer 9

I think it's important to do this because it deconstructs stereotypes.

If by obsessed you mean value the importance of educating people on the notions of gender roles and the assumptions we make about them, then sure. I'll take it as a compliment.

Answer 10

Like using flight attendant and not stewardess...

In Europe, waiters used to be called "boy."  Now they are called appropriately "sir."

So there is always room for improvement.

Answer 11

Never been obsessed, am I still concerned that language is gendered..then of course, I do not want to have to continually insert reference to my gender into language.

Try it...examine text, about 'people' remove all reference to female, ask if it still makes sense, then, repeat same excercise with reference to men...very standard test but interesting.

Answer 12

I don't think a lot of people ever where obsessed with that, I think it's just something a lot of schools are starting to teach for the sake of political correctness.

Answer 13

No... there's equality, and then there's political correctness. I think it was the media who latched onto the idea, most feminists didn't really mind.

Answer 14

I think you're a little confused. A feminist is just a person that thinks men and women are equal.

Speaking as a male feminist, no, I'm not obsessed with gender-neutral pronouns. "Firemen" and the like are fine for me, too.

Answer 15

No, I never was. I just use "they/their" instead of "he or she/ his or her" and call it a day even if it isn't technically proper grammar.

Answer 16

You mean like that woman who made them change all the "Men At Work" boards? I don't think they can ever get over it.