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The Struggle For Gender Free Language Is it Over Yet?

The Struggle For Gender Free Language Is it Over Yet?. Presentation By: Wesley Ray. Bias in Language. All current style manuals address the need for bias free language. Some believe that this bias free language is overly stressed. The “Generic he ”.

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The Struggle For Gender Free Language Is it Over Yet?

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  1. The Struggle For Gender Free LanguageIs it Over Yet? Presentation By: Wesley Ray

  2. Bias in Language • All current style manuals address the need for bias free language. • Some believe that this bias free language is overly stressed.

  3. The “Generic he” • This word is avoided because it is considered not inclusive to all readers. • The word he is a masculine pronoun

  4. Ways to Eliminate Gender Bias • Pluralize • Make the subject and verb plural. (His becomes their) • Use “you” or “we” instead of “he” • Use “he” or “she” • Substitute passive voice

  5. Problems with Using Gender Free Language • Wording sounds forced. • Additions to works requires writing in the original selected voice and person. • Imprecision and wordiness. • Using “he” is more accepted in spoken language than in written language.

  6. More Ways to Eliminate Gender-Bias Language • Replace gender-specific terms with inclusive terms • Ex: Police Officer, Flight Attendant, Newscaster • Problems: • Not always easy to come up with words that have the same meaning. (Ex: Congressman, Forefathers) • Alternative words may sound awkward (Ex: Chairman -> Chairperson,

  7. The Struggle Continues • Some words are not obviously gender-biased and are still used. (Ex: Mastermind, Craftsmanship, Sportsmanship) • New usages for words may develop in the future. But writers must take care not to loose the substance of their message by using alternative wording. • There are still some who refuse to change.

  8. Work Cited Jane Rea, “The Struggle For Gender-Free Language: Is It Over Yet?”, EII Communications <http://www.eeicommunications.com/eye/gender.html>

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