Klarinet Archive - Posting 000160.txt from 2008/07

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl]"man" was Conn-Selmer Relocates
Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:16:52 -0400

At 12:08 PM 7/31/2008, Ann Bell wrote:
> Mmmm..... but I don't think that carries. I'm sure there are some
> word lovers who can find examples BUT- have you ever heard of a
> female dominated job referred to in that way- nurseman, nannyman,
> knitterman (.... I do think early knitting guilds were male
> dominated though). I also doubt so many men would be thrilled to be
> referred to as a woman in their job title. Maybe that's one reason
> that titles like barmaid, milkmaid etc... aren't in common current usage.
> I was in the Navy and for a time was referred to as a "Fireman"
> being that it is the name of the rank I really didn't give it a
> second thought. Now I guess I consider it sort of a relic- but
> there was certainly open animosity concerning my non"MAN"ness. I
> consider it patronizing to be told that I should just take the word
> in a gender neutral manner and not worry about it.

"Stewardess" comes to mind. Yes, it was a feminized version of
"steward" but in the airline industry it was at one time a TOTALLY
female-dominated occupation. They eventually had to substitute
"Flight Attendant." And there is still no male word for "nanny" that
I am aware of. The female aspect is built into it even though it is
not immediately obvious. "Male nanny" is all that is available to
differentiate, just like "male nurse."

>One of the problems is that (as another research study supports)
>people tend to continue to associate -man or -men with MAN or MEN
>not as a universal "one." So people hearing "chairman" etc....
>actually envision a man in that role. The only people who would
>envision someone like Crystal after hearing "AIRMAN" would be ones
>who have actually known a female Airman (or have been following this
>conversation). If the term were really gender neutral that wouldn't
>be the case.

As would be true of ANY member of the Air Force, so, within the job
context, the title would be neutral. And remember, if I said
"pilot," although there is no "-man" suffix, I'll bet that a male
image would pop into your brain first! It is cultural more than
linguistic. If I hear the word "flutist" I will automatically think
"female," too. All of that is the result of internal bias, yes, but
bias created by EXPERIENCE. It is the result of our highly developed
human brains using shortcuts to simplify processing of new people and
things by categorizing them with other previously encountered people
and things. It is quick but, like most shortcut methods, prone to
error. It is, however, human nature to do this.

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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