It's interesting that we have to explain why certain language is sexist. Am I right in assuming that it's the non-native English speakers who aren't getting it? I know that English grammar books teach that the male pronouns are generic, and include women. Well, the books may say so, but in the real world male pronouns = male. Period. Most of the English-speaking world understands this, at least in the US, and attempts to use inclusive language.
Language is powerful- it shapes thoughts and perceptions. It really does matter, and I think it's within the scope of Debian-Women to take on a task like this. It's pretty simple- one of the biggest perceptions we're trying to overcome is that Debian is a big ole boy's club, that doesn't want any stinky old girls. When documents like the one Helen cited only talk to men, it reinforces the boy's club perception. -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Carla Schroder this message brought to you by Libranet 2.8 and Kmail ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
