Avoiding Gender Bias

[MikeBarone]

I work for a major automotive company. I write procedures, manuals, and technical papers as part of my every day responsibilities.

Nothing irks me more when other writers cannot avoid using gender specific words to make their point.

For example, "The user should first turn on his computer." That is poor writing, unless the text is about men in general, that is.

There are ways to write this so it is not gender bias.

Such as, "The users should turn on their computers."
This pluralizes it, which is fine but if the sentence pertains to only one person it will be out of context.

Another option could be, "First turn on your computer."

Mike Barone

http://www.cgiscript.net

FREE CGI/Perl Scripts & JavaScript Generators

 

[chessbot]

One could also use the repetitive but correct approach of repeating the subject (I have seen this most when referring to genderless deities):
The user should turn on the user's computer.

It doesn't sound good, though.

P.S. ESquared:
Try pronouncing "The user should turn on nir computer."
To me it sounds like "The user should turn on 'er computer."

How about "quie, quem, quar, quars"? (Q is nice and rare; it should get more of a chance at being used -- also, it sould be so much easier to find good Scrabble words!)

--Chessbot

 

[jwenting]

Strange isn't it how in the US you can be hit with a claim of discrimination on gender if you write manuals or books using "he" yet when you consistently use "she" it's considered perfectly acceptable.
Personally I'll always use "he" to mean any person irrespective of gender, race or species.
If someone doesn't like that, too bad for them (and in my experience it's mainly men complaining strangely, probably political correctness having infected them)

I've tried "it" but that upset even more people

Men of the world unite! Don't let the politically correct lobbyists let us be reduced to insignificance in literature.

 

[Thadeus]

E²,
Try entering the following string into Google and you'll see how many sites discuss gender-neutral pronouns.

zee zim pronoun

I had a trans-gender acquantaince that wanted to be refered to as zee or zim within our common group. While some really tried, it was definitely forced and hesitant. I was never able to pull it off. As soon as I would use one of them, I would feel fake and self-concious. Funny, because the goal was to make zim feel more comfortable...

~Thadeus

 

[ESquared]

If everyone did it, it soon wouldn't be uncomfortable. Fat chance for that to happen, though.

-------------------------------------
It is better to have honor than a good reputation.
(Reputation is what other people think about you. Honor is what you know about yourself.)

 

[Dimandja]

When Esperanto catches on in Europe, zee, zim and zose ozer zings stand a chance of catching on.

 

[Stella740pl]

Does Esperanto stand a chance? Fat chance, I would say.

 

[SQLSister]

jwenting, since the use of she so clearly bothers you, why is it unaccepatble for me to be insulted when someone uses he to desribe me?

Incidentally I live in the US and I have never been anywhere where the use of she to descibe both men and women is acceptable.

I find it odd that people who are called on for being rude always claim that the iunsulted person wants them to be politically correct. No, we want you to accept that someone other than you has a right not to be insulted.

Questions about posting. See faq183-874

 

[Dimandja]

Men, in general of course, cannot stand to be "effeminized" in any way. They prefer the "macho" image. Women, in general of course, don't have this little gender crisis.

I think it's a Neanderthal gene. I could be wrong.

 

[Stella740pl]

SQLSister,
Incidentally I live in the US and I have never been anywhere where the use of she to descibe both men and women is acceptable.
Haven't been places like that, but many magazines would write something like "Tell your boss that you would like her to give you more challenging assignments" or "You should let your friend/roommate know that you don't appreciate the way she treats you, and that she should be more considerate", even though original topic/question never explicitly or implicitly stated the gender of that boss/friend/roommate/anyone else. On the other hand, most of them are targeted at women.

 

[MikeBarone]

What magazines are you reading, do they target a predominantly female audience?

I do not see anything wrong with specifying gender when your audience dictates it. I am mainly referring to technical writings or copy that is meant for the general public.

Mike Barone

http://www.cgiscript.net

"One forgets words as one forgets names. One's vocabulary needs constant fertilizing or it will die."

- Evelyn Waugh

 

[Thadeus]

The place I see "she" used most often to describe both genders is in books/articles about children.

Modern parenting guides, magazines seem to use "she" more often than not in my estimation. I am not offended, but find the use distracting as I have two boys. I wouldn't expect them to use "him" instead, but it would make me happier

~Thadeus

 

[Stella740pl]

Thadeus,

I noticed that, too.