TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: women and men (was Re: Hey, take it eas From:Vicki Rosenzweig <murphy!acmcr!vr -at- UUNET -dot- UU -dot- NET> Date:Mon, 21 Nov 1994 12:15:17 EST
Dave,
You may be immune to the masculine implications of "he" when used
as a generic pronoun, but many people are not. (One study asked people
to choose illustrations for book chapters, using two sets; the text
was identical except that one used "man" in the titles ("Man the
Farmer") and the other did not ("Farm Life" or "Early Agriculture").
People of both sexes given titles with "man" consistently chose only
male images.
As for "why would a woman *want* to hide her gender, anyway?" ask
Shannon Faulkner, who could not have been admitted to the school she
wanted to attend if she hadn't. Look at the records of women tryint
to get into med school in the 19th century--"J. Smith" could get in,
but "Jane Smith" couldn't. Even now, otherwise identical papers are
rated better if they have a male than a female author name. I'm not
ashamed of being a woman--I'm *angry* that people will think less of
me because I am a woman.
Vicki Rosenzweig
vr%acmcr -dot- uucp -at- murphy -dot- com
New York, NY
