Minister seeks a personable language

Press, 11 September 1986, Page 10

Minister seeks a personable language

PA Hamilton The English language, which makes men the human norm and women the exception, can easily be changed to reflect both sexes equally, according to the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Mrs Hercus. In a press release designed to show how easy it is to adopt non-sexist language she points out sexist language can be confusing. ’’Men are women too — at least that is what the Oxford dictionary would have us believe. But then they can also be men only,” she said. ’’Just how are women to know that they have been included when an equally customary use excludes them? ’’The point is that the language allots the universal words to males and

has a sub-set for females.” Mrs Hercus said opponents of changing the language ignored history. Language was not static but always changing to serve the changing needs of society. The challenge to remove sexism came at a time when women were attempting to break down the barriers that had denied them an equal place in society, she said. For example, the top jobs in most areas of public life were described as though the jobs belonged to men, as in chairman. Mrs Hercus suggested words such as man be replaced with person, sentences put in the plural to avoid using his or he for both sexes, or using “his” and “her” or “he” and “she.” Other examples included restructuring the sentence, so that “when a new worker starts at the factory he is always welcomed by the social committee” became ’’the social committee welcomes all new workers to the factory.” Mrs Hercus said the Government was eliminating sexist terms from new laws and regulations but the move needed community support. “The pace at which change occurs will reflect the commitment our society has to real equality for men and women,” she said.