Is this article sexist?

Question

Author is talking about sick people going to work.

Why does she use a guy as an example of a wrongdoer? So is this sexist?

"You know the scene: The guy in the next cubicle is sneezing and coughing. And you're afraid to breathe."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92762761

Answer 1

You know what?? I have this weird thing about calling almost everything a he or him. I found a stray dog and for two whole weeks I thought it was a boy. I dunno why....

I didn't see that article as sexist at all. Maybe the sentence just sounded better when using the word guy as opposed to woman, or girl. I like the word guy.

Answer 2

To all of those women here who have said it is not sexist consider: if the author used "she", or some sort of definite female article instead, would you then consider it sexist?

To me, "guy" is generally male.

Answer 3

This is just stupid.

you sound like the feminists who want to change the spelling of the word "woMAN."

"So many women authors" do no such thing. You've taken one author, and extrapolated it every female author. You have no evidence that "so many female authors" do anything.  That's just dumb

Answer 4

NO THIS IS NOT SEXIST! Using the word guy to represent both sexes in large groups like work places is the commen thing people do. Its not ment to discriminate against women, I am d**n sure the auther is fully aware that there are both males and females at the work place. Also who said that the person beinf sick was a wrong doer? I would have said she used a guy as an example of a worker. WHy is going to sick wrong? its not healthy but its not exactly lock em up and throw away the key stuff

Answer 5

I don't think it's sexist, I think it's just using a generic word to get a point across. There was a question the other day posted here about how feminists have become obsessed with gender neutral pronouns. Wouldn't this be an example of that? I'm certainly not obsessed, and upon reading this I noticed nothing out of the ordinary. Of course there's women who sneeze and cough across the hall from my office, just as much as there are men.

It saves time while reading to just use one gender in an article, as well, people always used to write "he" or "mankind" when they meant "everyone" or a group of people. It's kind of similar to French, in a way, when they want to say "A group of people male and female" they use "Ils" instead of "Elles" which would be a group of women only. It's sort of a short cut in writing and an easier way to get a point across.

http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...

Edit: "I jes want to know why so many women authors today use he/him etc when talking about something negative."  Ahhh...I didn't note that it was a female author. Well, I can speak for myself when I wrote essays for University. I would always just use "he" or "him" when writing about a generic person (male or female) because I felt that my professors might feel like I was being gender obsessed if I used "s/he or his/hers" or even just "her" or "she". I felt as though I should stick to what I was used to reading instead of making my papers stand out by changing the genders. I don't know how many women have felt that way when writing something, but that's why I personally did that, if this helps at all.

Answer 6

No the article is not sexist.  She probably uses the guy due to the fact that for years men have meant both men and women.  She maybe from an older generation or she may think that more men go to work sick.  I know that I am more likely to call in sick then my husband who would have to practically be dying to call in sick.

I agree with Wolf; who said the guy who went to work was a wrong doer.  It said that most people felt obligated to go to work sick because of finance's not that he is bad.

Answer 7

no not sexist at all. i think u r just looking too far BETWEEN the  lines. because there is nothing sexist IN the lines for sure!

Answer 8

Not seeing the connection.

Answer 9

You realize this is a prime example of political correctness run amuck, don't you? But I am actually aware of that so when I make statements like that I usually cover myself by saying:"The guy/girl in the next cubicle..." just to make sure no one reacts the way you did.

Answer 10

yes it is sexists,femenists are sexists,they never use "man" for positive words "chairman" or "policeman" but they do put men in negative words like "gunman"

all female authors are man hating femenists.