About time our language catches up with the 21st century. If we used womankind, womanforce, womanholes (don’t even go there), throw like a boy, etc., men would be hysterical – just like a man.
Part of this gender neutral hysteria is sheer ignorance. Not stupidity, but we’re not teaching what used to be common knowledge anymore. “Oh, everybody knows that, so we’ll just drop it.”
The Latin word for hand is “mano”. Penmanship means you’re using the pen with your HAND, bozo. Man-ual labor, man-ipulate. Yeesh.
A long time ago, there was discussion about rewriting statutory and regulatory language in Wisconsin to make everything gender-neutral. There was some hesitation, because of the trouble and expense that were anticipated.
Finally, someone in the know piped up and said that “some woman” in the Legislative Reference Bureau had in fact, on her own time, already done all that. That was Pat Robbins, and no ball-busting “feminist”, just a practical and realistic person. Quite ladylike, in fact.
People’s Republic of Berzerkely at it again. It’s ridiculous moves like this that gets folk like Blimpy elected. The city should concentrate on their crime/homeless problem
With the two examples given, I have no problem at all. Why would using “workforce” instead of “manpower” bother you? It’s more accurate, if nothing else. And why ARE they called “manholes” anyway?
The fact is that “man” as a genderless word for all people IS disappearing in our language. Naturally and dynamically. It now simply sounds wrong to many people, and the younger they are, the more likely that it jars their ear. Language changes and it changes all the time.
pat gorse almost 5 years ago
The sad thing is, I can easily picture all the Democratic presidential candidates raising their hands affirming this policy.
Ontman almost 5 years ago
Just another senseless Kelley comic. Who really cares?
farmer124 almost 5 years ago
No more gender segregated sports teams.
Librarylady almost 5 years ago
About time our language catches up with the 21st century. If we used womankind, womanforce, womanholes (don’t even go there), throw like a boy, etc., men would be hysterical – just like a man.
Dani Rice almost 5 years ago
Part of this gender neutral hysteria is sheer ignorance. Not stupidity, but we’re not teaching what used to be common knowledge anymore. “Oh, everybody knows that, so we’ll just drop it.”
The Latin word for hand is “mano”. Penmanship means you’re using the pen with your HAND, bozo. Man-ual labor, man-ipulate. Yeesh.
Radish the wordsmith almost 5 years ago
I desexed my language in the 1970’s when I was living in Berkeley.
Right wingers are still stuck with sexist racist Trump.
mikemck almost 5 years ago
Corporate America began this process long ago, we actually understand the value of diversity and respect.
Lennia Machen Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I’d say it was the 20-80 rule, but there isn’t even 20% involved! So it’s more like 1.2% causing 98.8% of the issues.
quixotic3 almost 5 years ago
This is a distraction from the more important issues at hand. The bloody house is on fire. Now is not the time to discuss which salad fork to use.
AndrewSihler almost 5 years ago
A long time ago, there was discussion about rewriting statutory and regulatory language in Wisconsin to make everything gender-neutral. There was some hesitation, because of the trouble and expense that were anticipated.
Finally, someone in the know piped up and said that “some woman” in the Legislative Reference Bureau had in fact, on her own time, already done all that. That was Pat Robbins, and no ball-busting “feminist”, just a practical and realistic person. Quite ladylike, in fact.
buckman-j almost 5 years ago
People’s Republic of Berzerkely at it again. It’s ridiculous moves like this that gets folk like Blimpy elected. The city should concentrate on their crime/homeless problem
BubbleTape Premium Member almost 5 years ago
wow. and those are two fantastic examples of how changing the name makes the word more accurate — and, really, not so hard to adjust to.
Ignatz Premium Member almost 5 years ago
With the two examples given, I have no problem at all. Why would using “workforce” instead of “manpower” bother you? It’s more accurate, if nothing else. And why ARE they called “manholes” anyway?
The fact is that “man” as a genderless word for all people IS disappearing in our language. Naturally and dynamically. It now simply sounds wrong to many people, and the younger they are, the more likely that it jars their ear. Language changes and it changes all the time.
Scoutmaster77 almost 5 years ago
Berkley is Berkley. The rest of the nation isn’t Berkley.
Concretionist almost 5 years ago
1: The city of Berkeley is the entity that’s making the changes
2: The changes are entirely to vocabulary, not, for instance bathrooms. As the ordinance makes clear.
You, (and you and you and I) are free to call that silly, but hey: Left Coast. And who does it hurt?
tauyen almost 5 years ago
Can’t wait for a reissue of Helen Reddy’s song ’ I am person – hear me roar’.