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 |  return to list of language debates  Links in this essay will take you to information about the usage experts and their work. Numbers in parentheses are page references. To read about this topic in A Writer's Reference, see section W4-e. |
| Sexist language  During the early years of the
women’s movement, sexist language was a hotly debated
topic. Many people, both men and women, felt there was
nothing wrong with using he to mean he or
she or with using words like mankind—and
they resented being asked to change their ways. They
argued that according to tradition everyone knew that
such terms included women.Feminists attempted
to expose the absurdity of this view with sentences like these:Man, like the other mammals, breast-feeds his young. Everyone should be able to decide for himself whether to have an abortion. In addition,
feminists argued that sexist language has a powerful
negative impact on women: It makes women invisible,
reinforces stereotypical gender roles, and limits
women’s opportunities and even their
aspirations. |
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