History of Feminism

longship

(40,416 posts)

3. It is a difficult problem to solve

Thu Apr 12, 2012, 05:26 PM

Apr 2012

How far do you take it before it gets a bit silly.

English is a particularly knotty problem. Yes! Cultural history plays a huge part. But what can we do? I think we can use gender neutral language where it's available. I really like "they" as a gender neutral singular. But the there are silly things like herstory. Maybe the advocates for that one would also support hersterectomy, or (horrors!) hersterical.

Myself, I find the rhetorical games all a bit silly. Instead, one has to take on culture itself. That is precisely what Sweden seems to be taking on. More power to them. After you've done that, maybe new gender neutral pronouns can be introduced. I just cannot see the rhetoric succeeding without a cultural lead.

If only it was so simple.

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Sweden’s New Gender-Neutral Pronoun: Hen [View all] Little Star Apr 2012 OP

the Canadian government has adopted "they" as third person singular iverglas Apr 2012 #1

I'm still trying to digest this article.... Little Star Apr 2012 #2

one does have to hand it to them, though iverglas Apr 2012 #4

It is a difficult problem to solve longship Apr 2012 #3

well, herstory ;) iverglas Apr 2012 #5

I think I made a case against "herstory" longship Apr 2012 #6

I think that maybe herstory has to do with boston bean Apr 2012 #7

let me try again iverglas Apr 2012 #8

Etymology of "history" longship Apr 2012 #10

excuse me iverglas Apr 2012 #11

I will let "herstory is history written from a feminist perspective" speak for itself longship Apr 2012 #13

do what you like iverglas Apr 2012 #16

I apologize for any offense longship Apr 2012 #20

you might have noticed the name of this forum is History of Feminism boston bean Apr 2012 #17

you are missing the point it talking specifically and not being asked to used generally. firstly seabeyond Apr 2012 #14

I agree 100% longship Apr 2012 #18

i dont use the word. if i am hearing right, and what i am seeing.... seabeyond Apr 2012 #19

No offense taken or delivered longship Apr 2012 #21

I appreciate your passion about this MadrasT Apr 2012 #23

I, too, have moderated my opinion longship Apr 2012 #25

"lobbying for parents to be able to choose any name for their children" Warren DeMontague Apr 2012 #9

it's fairly common in European countries iverglas Apr 2012 #12

Of course. What constitutes a "valid public concern" is by no means universally agreed upon. Warren DeMontague Apr 2012 #15

chuckles iverglas Apr 2012 #26

I make an exception for Kaidan Alenko. Warren DeMontague Apr 2012 #27

I had no idea that anyone regulated naming. MadrasT Apr 2012 #24

"Intel Dual Core"...? BlueIris Apr 2012 #22

To be fair, some of these may be Palins. Warren DeMontague Apr 2012 #28