Community Chat

[JeanLouiseFinch]

I was brought up at a time when there were gender specific titles too.  To me, it's fine if someone still uses them.  It's no big deal.  I'm so sick and tired of all the PC and gender neutral ****** all the time.  So many in society just aren't happy unless they can find something to get offended by and complain about.  

[ChynnaBlue]

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@Shanus wrote:

@QVCkitty1. Don't have a clue. I call them all hosts. It's like waiters and waitresses have all become wait people, I guess...gender neutral kind of thing.

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Yes, some people are more used to gender neutral terms than others. As language adapts, it's tough to transition because of habit. Some terms are also easier to adapt to than others.

Actor is now the preferred term for an actor of any gender. I often use actor, but sometimes still use actress out of habit because that one is newer.

Stewardess was changed to flight attendant when I was pretty young, so that one is easier for me. I usually say "server" instead of waiter or waitress and then I don't need to even know the person's gender.

[Kittehsister]

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@JeanLouiseFinch wrote:

I was brought up at a time when there were gender specific titles too.  To me, it's fine if someone still uses them.  It's no big deal.  I'm so sick and tired of all the PC and gender neutral ****** all the time.  So many in society just aren't happy unless they can find something to get offended by and complain about.  

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So...... you are offended and complaining?

🤔

[suzyQ3]

Style manuals, even from quite some time ago, advised against using diminutive endings for females like "-ess" or "-ette", describing them as demeaning.

I feel for those who pine for the old days and who just can't fathom this newfangled world full of the dreaded PC stuff  that makes us more attuned to how we speak toward and about others.

Here's a usage note from the dictionary:

Usage Note: When used in occupational terms like sculptress, waitress, and stewardess, the feminine suffix -ess is often considered sexist and demeaning. This is because the suffix gratuitously calls attention to gender when there are often neutral words ending in -or or -er. The implication of the feminine ending varies. Sometimes it implies that the task at hand somehow differs when performed by a woman than by a man or that the task is rightfully the realm of men. A word like poetess, for example, is unredeemingly derisive. Sometimes the -ess suffix implies that the occupation is one rightfully kept in the realm of women (seamstress, stewardess). The creation of gender-neutral terms like server (instead of the gender-marked waiter or waitress) and flight attendant (instead of steward and stewardess) has largely rendered -ess unnecessary except for a few uses in sociology (such as chiefess), in history and literature (such as goddess and giantess,) and in zoology (such as lioness).

[Kittehsister]

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@Magny wrote:

Jane Treacy used to say that they are called " hosts", because Hostess makes cupcakes.  It also sounds very dated, sort of like saying "stewardess".

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@Magny

That's cute!

😄

[sunshine45]

i still say mailman.......

HOSTESS

[hoh-stis]

noun

1.

a woman who receives and entertains guests in her own home or elsewhere.

2.

a woman employed in a restaurant or place of amusement to receive, seat, or assist patrons.

3.

a woman who acts as master of ceremonies, moderator, or interviewer for a television or radio program; host.

4.

a woman employed by an airline, railroad, bus company, etc., to see that passengers are comfortable throughout a trip, usually receiving and seating them, and sometimes serving them refreshments.

5.

a woman who manages a resort or hotel or who directs its social activities.

[suzyQ3]

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@sunshine45 wrote:

i still say mailman.......

HOSTESS

[hoh-stis]

noun

1.

a woman who receives and entertains guests in her own home or elsewhere.

2.

a woman employed in a restaurant or place of amusement to receive, seat, or assist patrons.

3.

a woman who acts as master of ceremonies, moderator, or interviewer for a television or radio program; host.

4.

a woman employed by an airline, railroad, bus company, etc., to see that passengers are comfortable throughout a trip, usually receiving and seating them, and sometimes serving them refreshments.

5.

a woman who manages a resort or hotel or who directs its social activities.

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@sunshine45, you will find the definitions for all the words with such suffixes in the dictionary. The dictionary also defines "ain't." In other words, because something is in the dictionary doesn't relate to its relevancy or appropriateness.

I think that the main objection to such words is when it comes to business and occupations. It's reasonable to ask why there needs to be a separate word for a woman. As my usage note explains, it's rooted in anachronistic ideas about women in the workplace.

As for "mailman," the same concept applies. It implies that only men do this work. That's the reason that "letter carrier" or "mail carrier" is preferred today.

[sunshine45]

@suzyQ3

i dont find the use of the word HOSTESS inappropriate or irrelevant when discussing the women on tv. if THEY find if offensive then i would definitely refer to them as a HOST. so far no one has said anything to me. LOL

[Kachina624]

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@sunshine45 wrote:

i still say mailman.......

HOSTESS

[hoh-stis]

noun

1.

a woman who receives and entertains guests in her own home or elsewhere.

2.

a woman employed in a restaurant or place of amusement to receive, seat, or assist patrons.

3.

a woman who acts as master of ceremonies, moderator, or interviewer for a television or radio program; host.

4.

a woman employed by an airline, railroad, bus company, etc., to see that passengers are comfortable throughout a trip, usually receiving and seating them, and sometimes serving them refreshments.

5.

a woman who manages a resort or hotel or who directs its social activities.

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@sunshine45  Your dictionary is out of date. 

[sunala]

I guess with this new way of speaking, a Princess would be called a Prince, and a Dutchess would be called a Duke