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Gender Benders

Correct grammar beats political correctness, even in France. Each of the seven women in the French Govern­ment is in future to be addressed as Madame La Ministre according to the decree of the Prime Minister. But language laughs at legislators, for French grammar recognizes no governments other than its own rules. Ministre, like most titles and descriptions of professions in French, is of the masculine gender. The designation of a doctor, director or mayor is masculine, even when the holder of that post is a woman. Linguistic gender has no connection with sex or "natural" gender. Female sailors and farmers were rare in Ancient Rome. But their occupations are in the feminine gender in Latin, the mother of all the Romance languages. A spoon is masculine in German (der Löffel); a fork is feminine (die Gâbel); and a knife is neuter (das Messer). Suspicious French feminists have recently published research suggesting that words of the feminine gender describe domestic items such as une casserole (a saucepan), while masculine words carry more prestige, like un livre (a book). Their evidence is gibberish. Even in languages such as English, where gender is mercifully vestigial and recalled only in pronouns, countries, ships and vehicles are called "she", as well as "it". Gender is not a matter of feminine stereotypes, for "she" can be used in anger. Guns, tanks and trucks that refuse to work are still cursed as feminine.

This question of French gender is being debated with fit passion, as some people care more for political correctness than grammar. Language does evolve, but not for official circulars. So, why not go the whole way and have La Ministresse? If the French are starting to find gender odd, then it will fade away, as it has in English. Even French female masculine ministers have no right (or power) to alter French grammar.

Exercise 21. Are you "politically correct"? Which of the following terms do you use?

1. a) Mrs b) Ms

2. a) a chairman b) a chairperson

3. a) a fireman b) a firefighter

4. a) a pensioner b) a senior citizen

5. a) the handicapped b) the disabled c) the differently abled

6. a) a Red Indian b) a Native American

7. a) ladies b) women

8. a) a congressman b) a member of Congress

9. a) a mailman b) a mail carrier

10. a) mankind b) humanity

11. a) a policeman(woman) b) a police officer

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