Re: Gender Terms (was MentorNet)

[Brian Whatcott <betwys@DIRECTVINTERNET.COM>]

At 06:55 PM 10/14/02, Richard Hake, you wrote:
> ... I merely wanted to
> assure the reader that the use of "girls" was put down exactly as
> printed, i.e., was NOT my wording, and thus protect myself from the
> criticism of those who think that using the word "girl" to describe
> ANY female constitutes an insult.
>
> The Association of American Colleges (1986) thinks that the word
> "girl" stereotypes women and recommends that it be replaced by
> "woman."  No qualifications regarding e.g., physical maturity, mental
> maturity, age, school grade, location of the word (as on doors),
> state laws regarding executability, profession, rank, ethnicity, or
> yearly income are given.
>
> Richard Hake


In my sensible view, which does not necessarily coincide with the
efflorescences of the Association of American Colleges, the term
 'girl' is indeed a stereotypical and dismissive term for 'women'.

In a college context, the campus population is composed of
young men, young women, men, women,  and a very few girls
 and boys.  'Men' and 'women' seem both sensible and
appropriately respectful shorthand terms for their paying
customers.

Moreover, I agree that the term 'girls' for all females, is in
fact derogatory.   Still, I advocate calling a spade a spade,
when so indicated.

Sincerely,





Brian Whatcott
  Altus OK                      Eureka!

This posting is the position of the writer, not that of SUNY-BSC, NAU or the AAPT.