Terms like 'actress' and 'heroine' - offensive? Out-dated? Speak up lil' ladies!
This is relating to a thread from another website, where a bunch of men are discussing the issue of whether terms like 'actress' & 'heroine' are belittling, degrading or offensive to women, and should be replaced with non-gender specific 'actor' and 'hero.' So I thought I'd go straight to the horses - sorry, nags - mouths, as it were.
Personally I don't really care, if it bothers female actors to be called actresses I'll call them actors, though if anyone is actually offended by the term I'd think they were trying a little too hard to be offended. On the other hand I get how language has been largely constructed by white males and is open to criticism about some of its inherent prejudices.
Well, if you know about language, many terms are gender specific--in most languages it's a kind of requirement. In order to convey as much meaning as possible, language was created to be specific--gender specificity included. English is one of the few languages that doesn't generally denote gender, at least in an obvious way.
Anyway, I don't find it to be offensive. It's like suggesting that we shouldn't have feminine pronouns, because "her" and "she" are belittling by their conveying femininity. It just seems odd to me.
Now, "lil' ladies" comes off as more offensive than your suggested genderized occupational language. I think once terms take on a cutesie nature i.e. "sweetie," "honey," "darlin'," and "lil' lady" and it's not a significant other or really good friend who you know isn't meaning to denigrate you: then it can be rather demeaning and highly offensive.
__________________
"Our dad use to murder us in cold blood each night and dance about on our graves singing, 'Alleluia!'" John Cleese in the skit Four Yorkshiremen
People who work in professional environments don't use these terms. I hardly ever hear those, anywhere, actually. in my off-time, I don't hang out at the hickiest bars, either, with all the bum alkies.
Quote:
Originally Posted by always_searching
Now, "lil' ladies" comes off as more offensive than your suggested genderized occupational language. I think once terms take on a cutesie nature i.e. "sweetie," "honey," "darlin'," and "lil' lady" and it's not a significant other or really good friend who you know isn't meaning to denigrate you: then it can be rather demeaning and highly offensive.
People who work in professional environments don't use these terms. I hardly ever hear those, anywhere, actually. in my off-time, I don't hang out at the hickiest bars, either, with all the bum alkies.
Oh, I wasn't suggesting that people in professional environments do use them--I was merely responding to the thread's title.
But now that you've mentioned it, I know they are often used where I live in the south--professional environments and all. So. Disgustingly. Obnoxious.
Oh, and as far as going to hick bars and hanging out with all the bum alkies: I'm not sure if you're suggesting that I do, but that's certainly not the case.
I'm the sad type that does my drinking alone.
Last edited by always_searching; 8th November 2009 at 1:59 AM..
Now, "lil' ladies" comes off as more offensive than your suggested genderized occupational language. I think once terms take on a cutesie nature i.e. "sweetie," "honey," "darlin'," and "lil' lady" and it's not a significant other or really good friend who you know isn't meaning to denigrate you: then it can be rather demeaning and highly offensive.
Okay, this might sound really bad, but I have to be honest - I like being called all of those things.
I find them endearing.
I can see how they can be used in a diminutive or condescending way, but it's rarely been my experience.
And no, they weren't a bunch of hicks or wankers saying these things to me.
I don't know if it has to do with the way I look or not (why they do it) - I do really warm up to someone when they say those things to me.
__________________
Man is a credulous animal, and must believe something;
in the absence of good grounds for belief, he will be satisfied with bad ones.
Last edited by deux ex machina; 8th November 2009 at 2:16 AM..
Okay, this might sound really bad, but I have to be honest - I like being called all of those things.
I find them endearing.
I can see how they can be used in a diminutive or condescending way, but it's rarely been my experience.
And no, they weren't a bunch of hicks or wankers saying these things to me.
I don't know if it has to do with the way I look or not (why they do it) - I do really warm up to someone when they say those things to me.
Really?
Oh, man, when I moved to the south, my very first day of work I was called "honey," "sweetie," and "darlin'" I don't know how many times. I was so put-off. Most of the time it was by middle-aged men who looked at and treated me like I was some sort of ignorant person whom they had to talk to like a child in order to understand what they were saying. Granted, I was only 20 at the time, but still!
Anywho, I do know some people who find it endearing. If my friends were to call me such things, I suppose I would think it acceptable. Or if a man said it in a manner that didn't seem to designate some kind of idiocy to me: then yes, I suppose it would be all right.
Last edited by always_searching; 8th November 2009 at 2:38 AM..
IMO, neutralizing gender in any way is an unhealthy evolution. Rather, such delineations should be respected and celebrated as much as possible.
As an example and in a position of respect and authority, are policewomen and policemen so different from police officers? They're the same people and carry the same responsibilities and authority, just in a differing gender package. Does neutralizing their gender, ostensibly in the name of 'equality', serve any real purpose? People, including those in their organization, who know of the individuals and who may have biases against them based on gender will still have those biases, regardless of the language used. People who respect and value them will still respect and value them, no matter the label. Jane and John Doe, police officers, are still identified by their gender. Perhaps next we will gender-neutralize given names, too. Slippery slope
Perhaps next we will gender-neutralize given names, too. Slippery slope
That seems to be the logical conclusion to me. First neutralize names, then androgynize appearances to the point of gender-unrecognizablity. LOL, though, I suppose both are currently happening and welcomed by many.
Personally, I like being a woman. Designating feminine terms to me doesn't bother me--the recognition of my femininity is actually welcomed. The issue arises when people assume that because I'm a woman I don't have the same equality or intellectual capacities as a man. Granted, women may generally have different strengths and weaknesses as opposed to men (both physically and emotionally, maybe even mentally if we consider that most women are more interested in the arts and not the sciences, but again, this is in general--there are exceptions, and who's to say that these generalizations don't stem from some kind of cultural/social conditioning?), but that doesn't make us any less valuable or any less capable.
Please note: The suggestions and advice offered on this web site are opinions only and are not to be used in the place of professional psychological counseling or medical advice. If you or someone close to you is currently in crisis or in an emergency situation, contact your local law enforcement agency or emergency number.
Hybrid Mode
