Newsflash: One small step for HUMAN, one giant leap for HUMANKIND

Man-(man)-noun- an adult male person, as distinguished from a boy or a woman.

We all do it, every single one of us. We tend to use words like “mankind” or say things like “you guys” in our everyday lives. Road signs always tend to be masculine, and even the language of the constitution and the Bible seems to be male-dominated. After all the progress women have made, with the first, second and third waves of feminism, we still have yet to address the issue of language. Although women have come a long way in fighting for equal rights and feminine values, we still have a long way to go in accomplishing our goal for complete equality. The issue of gender-neutral language is an important concern and it can no longer be ignored.

In Cynthia Good’s article, “’Men Working’ leaves have the world out”, Good raises a very important issue that has seem to be pushed aside in past waves of feminism. Language, something every human being uses every single day, has been either ignored or deemed unimportant in our efforts to gain equality. Good’s main argument is that our everyday language tends to be male-dominated in every aspect of our lives. She preaches to her son the necessity of using the word “humankind” rather than “mankind” and poses the question, “Would you feel left out if you were referred to as part of ‘womankind’?” Good addresses the challenges women must face in the business world as well. She raises a good point in that many of the work signs are exclusive to males, “Men Working Ahead!” Does that mean that women can’t work construction? Many successful women in high-paying jobs seem to be fighting their way through a male dominated world. One woman, CEO Valerie Weingrad, sits among several men in board meetings, etc. and she endures comments like “Gentlemen, what do you think?” This ignorance of strong women in the workplace can no longer be tolerated. Towards the end of her article, Good raises one last important question: “Is it absurd that women now have parity in numbers in the workplace, they still lag far behind men in pay and position?” Not to mention, women have to tolerate sexist language as well! Her solution to this problem is her most valid and useful point. Good’s final suggestion to her readers is simple: use gender language when possible. It is as simple as that.

After seeing the income difference between males and females in comparable positions, it is understandable why so many women feel inferior in the workplace. Not only do they have to bear listening to male-dominated language, but they also have to suffer through lower pay and unfair treatment. In Ann Critenden’s article, “The Mommy Tax”, Critenden addresses the obvious disadvantages to being not only a female in the workforce, but a mother in the workforce. She notes how often times, women who have children must face incredible difficulties simply because they’ve reproduced. Women who come from lower-income families are affected most by the “Mommy tax”. In response to this article, Good would agree that this is a major disadvantage women must face in the workplace. And after all the progress women have made, they still face major difficulties when it comes to equal pay and fair treatment. Although this is still an issue that needs to be addressed, Good provides a simpler, quicker solution to a different setback for business women. Her suggestion of changing everyday language is simple, yet efficient. The solution Good provides won’t give women the same paycheck as men, nor will it diminish the “Mommy tax,” however, it will make small strides towards creating an equal work environment for both men and women.

Although Steven Lee Myers doesn’t address the issue of gender-discriminatory language in the military, it is an important problem many female soldiers face. Although not as significant as sexual harassment or poor treatment, the issue of gender-discriminatory language is still important. In fact, it may be the simplest way to impose change. The military, because of its tradition, is not only male dominant in numbers but also in language. In Myers’ article, “Women at Arms: Living and Fighting Alongside Men”, Staff Sgt. Patricia F. Bradford claimed that “harassment, bias, hardship, even sexual relations — are… a matter of discipline, maturity and professionalism rather than an argument for separating the sexes” (Myers, 1). Just because it is the military, it does not mean women should settle for less than equal rights. Even if it is something as small as language, the second women start being content with unfair treatment is the same second that world begins to think it is okay to promote a patriarchal system. The military does not deserve to be exempt from women’s demand for equal rights.

Although Johnson’s article on patriarchy was discussed a while back, it very much applies to Good’s article on language. Male-dominant language is an aspect of our patriarchal system that is often overlooked. In his article, Johnson states “We can’t do this without realizing that we all participate in something larger than ourselves, something we didn’t create but that we have to power to affect through the choices we make about how to participate”(Johnson, 29). This relates to Good’s article in that we have no power over the male-dominant language system that has been created for us. However, we do have the power to inflict change on the system. Everyday, we all have a choice. We can decide to sit-back and listen to gender-discriminatory language or we can say something about it. Johnson would encourage both men and women to speak up in the workplace when it comes to sexist language. The patriarchal system is not going to change unless everyone does his or her small part and everyone chooses to make change.

Women have gone through so much trying to fight for equal rights. The first wave of feminism fought for the right to vote. The second wave of feminism fought for reproductive rights. And the third wave attempted to include diversity in their equal rights agenda as well. But why has language fell through the cracks? Language is something that we use everyday, all day. This change doesn’t require protesting at the capital, or holding sit-ins at the local clinics. This change is simple and can be applied in every day life. We as women and men can make a stand and consciously choose to use gender-neutral language at home and at work. We can confront our male counterparts who choose to use male-dominant language and demand change. This problem is simple and it does not take rocket science to impose change on the system. All it takes is a little effort from each and every one of us.