Monday, March 31, 2014

Sexual Language

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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