After reading
Sherryl Kleinman’s article for my Comm 160 class, I understand now why language is a big deal. People
should realize it is one step in making women and men equalities. We should not
expect everyone should just jump into the issue of men and women getting equal
wages. Language is a great place to start because it’s something that we use
every day. I never realized saying simple things such as “chairman”, “mankind”
and “fireman” could be so hurtful to women. Until Kleinman pointed out that
switching the gender part of the word for a racial one changes the meaning
completely, I didn't agree with her. I believed that saying those sexual words
was just a habit of people; we have been doing for so long so why change it
now? However, after substituting the words for “chairwhite”, “whitekind” and “you
whiteys” I see how much of a difference there is. Colored people would be
expected to be included in those terms, and I don’t see how they could be
anymore hurtful. Therefore, now I understand where Kleinman is coming from when
she says we must start using nonsexual language if we ever want to get over any
other barrier of men and women inequalities. Women should no longer be expected
to be included in these terms, and men should not be offended when women want
to use a more equal term such as “chairperson”.
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