User:Ahartz2/sandbox

This is my sandbox.

Sexism in Language
Sexism in language exists when language helps to devalue members of a certain sex and thus fosters gender inequality, reinforcing ideas of gender-based dominance. What is now termed sexist language often promotes the idea of inherently male superiority, resulting in discrimination against women.

Sexism in language has arisen as a topic of concern as academics have pointed to the role that language plays in articulating consciousness, ordering our reality, encoding and transmitting cultural meanings and affecting socialization. Researchers have pointed to the semantic rule in operation in language of the male-as-norm. This results in sexism as the male becomes the standard and those who are not male are relegated to the inferior. Examples include the use of generic masculine words which refer to all humanity, like man, master, father, and brother. Other examples include the use of the singular masculine pronoun (he, his, him). Further examples point to terms ending in 'man' that may be performed by individuals of either sex, such as businessman, chairman, policeman. Finally, ordering of words also relegates women to an inferior position, in examples like "man and wife". Sexism in language is considered a form of indirect sexism, in that it is not always overt.

Sexist and gender-neutral language
Various feminist movements in the 20th century, from liberal feminism and radical feminism to standpoint feminism, postmodern feminism and queer theory have all considered language in their theorizing. Most of these theories have maintained a critical stance on language that call on a change in the way speakers use their language. One of the most common calls is for gender-neutral language. Many have called attention, however, to the fact that the English language isn't inherently sexist in its linguistic system, but rather the way it is used becomes sexist and gender-neutral language could thus be employed. At the same time, other oppose critiques of sexism in language with explanations that language is a descriptive, rather than prescriptive, and attempts to control it can be fruitless.

Sexism in Languages other than English
Languages other than English are also charged with sexism in language.

In the French language, for example, due to pressure from several feminist groups, the word 'mademoiselle', meaning miss was declared banished in 2012 by Prime Minister François Fillon. Current pressure calls for the use of the masculine plural pronoun as the default in a mixed-sex group to change.

In Chinese, some writers have pointed to sexism inherent in the structure of written characters. For example, the character for man is linked to those for positive qualities like courage and effect while the character for wife is composed of a female part and a broom, considered of low worth.

Spanish has also been accused of sexist structures, in that the masculine form is the default form. To combat this, Mexico's Ministry of the Interior published a guide on how to reduce the use of sexist language.

German speakers have has also raised questions about how sexism intersects with grammar.