How does language affect people's perceptions about gender?
What will be an ideal response?
Answers will vary. Many professors routinely use phrases like "Okay, guys, in class today . . ." and no one objects. However, if professors use phrases like "Okay, gals, in class today . . ." there would be different reactions. The students react differently to "guys" and "gals" because people have internalized male terms (e.g., guys, policeman, and maintenance man) as normal and acceptable.Language has a profound influence on how people think about and act toward people. Those who adhere to traditional language contend that nouns like fireman, chairman, mailman, and mankind and pronouns such as he refer to both women and men, and that women who object to such usage are too sensitive. However, if all professors used only she, her, and women when referring to all people, one might question if the men in the class would feel excluded. One solution is to use sentences with plural, gender-neutral pronouns (e.g., they, them) and gender-neutral nouns (e.g., firefighter, chair, police officer, and mail carrier).
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