Write Without Gender

by arcbon 6/24/2015, 10:47 PMwith 12 comments

Our biases in writing English give gender unnecessary importance. Here’s a way to avoid it.

by Nadyaon 6/24/2015, 11:20 PM

"Sally is working with Brian. They are working on a method to diagnose cancer in lizards."

Am I talking about Sally and Brian or only Sally? Does the context help at all?

"Sally is working with Brian. She is working on a method to diagnose cancer in lizards."

It is now immediately recognized that I am talking about Sally's work. Perhaps Brian is working on a way to detect clogged arteries in lizards and is working on lizard-related research with Sally.

by taconeon 6/24/2015, 11:11 PM

This is insanity at best. Genders exist, differences exist, accept them and live with it.

And by the way, let's take two languages that use honorifics: french and italian. In those language, the neutral third person does not exist at all. Every being, and every thing is associated to a gender. Take the "sea": in french is feminine, in italian is masculine, and nobody ever gave a dime about it.

by ohjeezon 6/24/2015, 10:54 PM

Oh god no.

Grammar still matters, dammit.

by paulhauggison 6/24/2015, 11:37 PM

"Use the pronouns they/them/their."

No. We have gender differences and writing so gives a different perspective on the subject at hand. Why are we trying to be the same when we obviously aren't?