Gender Neutral language

[mat]

A mate of mine at his place of work who’s been charged with breaching the equalities policy.His crime? During a meeting he asked a male colleague for his thoughts and a female one for her feelings. Some twonk in HR has decided he should be disciplined for not using gender neutral language.

It’s really got me thinking about how I use language.

 

[inchy14]

If he called them all cunts is that gender neutral enough?

 

[dronefromsector7G]

Don’t worry your pretty little head about it

 

[mat]

Don’t worry your pretty little head about it

Thanks Hun x

 

[SWP's back]

So it’s because he asked ‘his thoughts’ and ‘her feelings’?

Crikey. Back to his cave for your mate eh.

 

[Gelsons Dad]

When he’s least expecting it there will be a knock at the door and next thing he’ll know he’s serving hard time in the gulag.

Marxism alive and well in the UK

 

[mat]

When he’s least expecting it there will be a knock at the door and next thing he’ll know he’s serving hard time in the gulag.

Marxism alive and well in the UK

I’ll bite....

What does Marxism have to do with it?

 

[SWP's back]

I’ll bite....

What does Marxism have to do with it?

Don’t know although it’s the second time he’s used it in a weird place in a week.

 

[geoff clipp]

Would be good to know the full story as to what's happened here as those details are kind of vague. Like you don't tend to gender people when you're directly addressing them (i.e the question in this instance would be "what are YOUR thoughts?" rather than use of his/her?) so it would be interesting to know the background to the conversation and how it actually went.

Personally I think it's only polite to refer to people as they wish to be referred to and I think a gradual shift towards being more accommodating/tolerant towards all sections of society will be of benefit to of us all in the end (even it takes a period of adjustment). Policing it in an over zealous fashion will only undermine such efforts though and won't help anybody in the long run. In fact it will create pockets of people willfully resisting efforts to improve inclusivity which in turn will be harmful to those seeking wider acceptance.

 

[aguero93:20]

A mate of mine at his place of work who’s been charged with breaching the equalities policy.His crime? During a meeting he asked a male colleague for his thoughts and a female one for her feelings. Some twonk in HR has decided he should be disciplined for not using gender neutral language.

It’s really got me thinking about how I use language.

I prefer "shim" myself personally. "It" does the job as well though.