Why we have to avoid sexist language, English

Assignment Help:

Avoid Sexist Language

The "he or she" problem

Most composition theorists now agree that it's unacceptable to use masculine nouns and pronouns to refer to the whole human race. A sentence like "Man's hunger for knowledge has always distinguished him from other animals" may technically include women, but do you really "see" a woman in your mind as you're reading it? Since women are just as hungry for knowledge as men, it's important to include them.

Of course, using terms that include both genders can become awkward. One of the biggest problems arises when you are trying to discuss a group of people using a singular representative. Take the following lines, for example:

When writing for a magazine, the writer should find out as much about his or her readers as he or she can. He or she should research the magazine's subscriber base, to learn what writing style he or she will have to use.

This is obviously clumsy. However, such problems don't mean that you should revert to calling the writer "he." Using "they" to refer to a singular noun is becoming more common (as in "the writer should find out about their readers") but is still technically incorrect.

 


Related Discussions:- Why we have to avoid sexist language

Mis, Michael Porte’s Five Forces Model includes:

Michael Porte’s Five Forces Model includes:

Legal problems, Ask question #MiniGrant sells second hand motor vehicles fr...

Ask question #MiniGrant sells second hand motor vehicles from his Sydney car yard. Grant enters into a contract with Eagle Eye Security whose guards are required to patrol his prem

TO WRITE A MEMO, Ask questiYou are the operations manager and in this capac...

Ask questiYou are the operations manager and in this capacity, you have been asked to provide a location analysis on whether your company should expand an existing manufacturing pl

The Inferno, Considering the qualities of fire and ice, which one is best s...

Considering the qualities of fire and ice, which one is best suited to describe the center of Hell and why?

Expository writing , Expository Writing : The How-To Essay Writing To ...

Expository Writing : The How-To Essay Writing To Inform   Expository writing for state assessment tests focuses on your ability to explain how a process works or how to

how many are injured., The autumn morning is sunny with heavy crowds using...

The autumn morning is sunny with heavy crowds using the several subway trains. It is a perfect day for shopping at the mall and other shopping areas around the city. As passengers

Coded language, zee cinema=972 star national=4779 dd national=292 then saha...

zee cinema=972 star national=4779 dd national=292 then sahara one =?

Essay on human rights, HUMAN RIGTHS on the aftermath of the cold war, ...

HUMAN RIGTHS on the aftermath of the cold war, the united nations security council (UNSC) increasingly identified non-military threats, including gross and systematic violatio

sense of place or observational essay, Expository Writing: Sense of Place ...

Expository Writing: Sense of Place or Observational Essay Writing as observation Another kind of expository writing is a sense of place or observational essay. This writin

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd