The Struggle for Gender- Free Language: Is It Over Yet? Harsh Shah

Generic ‘HE’ and the problems Gender bias Gender bias Masculine term Masculine term Automatic assumption is male Automatic assumption is male Many profession are assumed to be masculine, ie, firefighter. Many profession are assumed to be masculine, ie, firefighter.

Thing that can be done Use ‘us’ or ‘we’ instead Use ‘us’ or ‘we’ instead Their, them or they Their, them or they Passive voice can be used as well Passive voice can be used as well Using second person instead of third Using second person instead of third

Complications Often fixing the ‘he’, can lead to long and empty words. Often fixing the ‘he’, can lead to long and empty words. Many professions have been characterized as masculine, therefore those would have to be considered. Many professions have been characterized as masculine, therefore those would have to be considered.

Future It's clear that even though it is doen with the best intentions and repeatitive efforts, people still lack a direction to free language of gender bias. It's a work in progress It's clear that even though it is doen with the best intentions and repeatitive efforts, people still lack a direction to free language of gender bias. It's a work in progress

Conclusion As Webster's Dictionary of English Usage quotes from Ebbitt and Ebbitt, "the hard choices in word selection with respect to sexism have to be made by middle-of-the-roaders; the partisans — the militant feminists and the entrenched elderly males — have already made up their minds and are seldom in doubt." (Jane Rea ) As Webster's Dictionary of English Usage quotes from Ebbitt and Ebbitt, "the hard choices in word selection with respect to sexism have to be made by middle-of-the-roaders; the partisans — the militant feminists and the entrenched elderly males — have already made up their minds and are seldom in doubt." (Jane Rea )

Reference Jane Rea, The Struggle for Gender-Free Language: Is It Over Yet?, ender.html Jane Rea, The Struggle for Gender-Free Language: Is It Over Yet?, ender.html