Year: 1996
Type: article
Abstract: Gender neutral language has been religiously observed by many people in recent years.I use it myself, and usually insist on it in my editorial work, to insure that the reader or listener does not interpret what is intended to apply to both genders as only applicable to one.This preference for gender neutral language embraces the avoidance of pronouns and nouns that may be intended to be generic but are often construed otherwise.To insure gender neutrality, the possibility of confusion between generic and gender specific language needs to be considered.Although clarifying constructions are sometimes more awkward than the supposedly generic ones, clarity is worth the price.In addition, the awkwardness may serve the strategic purpose of provoking some individuals to recognize inadvertent sexist tendencies in their interpretations of supposedly generic language.Despite these points favoring gender neutral language, its use entails ethical pitfalls that need to be identified and avoided.The principal pitfall occurs when the gender neutrality obscures differences that are relevant to evaluative judgments.The aim of this Article is to overcome this pitfall with regard to genetic technologies by focusing on their implications for women.In the area of reproduction in which genetic technologies are often discussed, the tendency to use gender neutral language has become common, misleadingly masking significant sex and gender differences that must be examined if men and women are to be treated fairly as individuals.'Sex and gender differences tMary B.
Source: bepress Legal Repository
Author: Mary B. Mahowald
Institution: University of Chicago
Language: English
Topic: Gender Studies in Language
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W774042874