I am writing in response to Beth Behland’s article on “genderless gibberish”. I guess I must express my remorse at reading an opinion such as Beth’s. It is sad to know that so many women take their rights for granted—they weren’t given away out of the goodness of anyone’s heart.

The rights that we have now were (and still are) fought for—tooth and nail. And that’s what this issue is all about—human rights. Sure, it may be petty to some, but for others it’s a very important issue.

First of all, I don’t see how teaching sensitivity to English students is malicious censorship in any way. It is extremely tactful, not to mention professional.

You may notice that nowadays, most textbooks are written to be gender sensitive. That means many more people (other than the Selfs) have had a problem with exclusive language too.

This isn’t a technique that is meant to make it more difficult for people to write or to stifle creativity, it’s a way of reconstructing our thought processes to include the female counterpart.

Furthermore, I don’t believe Lois and Robert Self labeled individuals who use masculine word forms as sexist. I would venture to guess that they probably regard them as uninformed, but not sexist.

So, in order to counteract this enigma: they are simply trying to promote awareness of the issue, while explaining the fact that gender specific language is exclusive and professionally unacceptable.

Also, the label “hippie-feminist” sounds like a vindictive statement towards someone who we should be thanking, not rebuking. Beth, do you realize that if it weren’t for feminists like Lois and Robert Self, you wouldn’t have any voting rights?

Nor would you have the freedom to have a career, own your own property (and not become someone else’s) or even write a column in the newspaper under your own name (just to name a few).

In fact, women suffragists from all eras have given us so much; I find it difficult to find enough ways to THANK them, not discourage them.

Beth, this letter is not an attempt to cut you down or label you as sexist, it’s simply a point of view that I hope you will consider before taking offense to the changes that the Selfs are trying to institute.

Finally, if this letter has reached just one person out there in Northernland—it was worth it.

June Paul

Senior

Marketing