Re: Gender bias (was Evolving language or laziness)

[Janet Valade <jvalade -at- IX -dot- NETCOM -dot- COM>]

I am going to try once more to bring a different perspective to this,
then I am not going to enter this discussion again.  I swear I am not.

You wrote:

>>>"If anyone wants to smoke, it can do it outside?"
>>

>I must disagree with your logic. In fact, using "he" doesn't distract
>most readers, because it's a default condition, not an abnormality.

You believe that "he" is gender neutral and preferable when no gender
is indicated.  Therefore, you would endorse the following sentences:

   If the secretary wants to smoke, he can do it outside.
   Call the nurse quickly; the patient needs him.

For reasons that are still not clear to me, you object to rewording
sentences so that the singular pronoun is not needed.  I would write
the sentences as follows:

   The secretary can go outside to smoke.
      or  Let the secretary know that smoking is allowed outside.
   Call the nurse quickly; the patient needs help.
      or  Press the call buttom quickly; the patient needs the nurse.

I believe the first two sentences, using "he", are distracting and
cause the reader to stumble, interfering with communication.  I prefer
the reworded sentences for smoother communication.  It took me about 2
seconds each to rewrite them.  It seems that we must agree to disagree.

Janet
jvalade -at- ix -dot- netcom -dot- com