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Original poster

Do you object when you are referred to in the male form of your job title?

62 replies

headfairy · 08/08/2011 14:41

I'm not sure I'm phrasing this correctly... are you offended for example if you are referred to as a chairman rather than chairperson? Waiter instead of waitress? Actor instead of Actress?

One of the jobs I do is pretty male dominated and the job description is {jobname}man.... It just sounds odd to refer to it as {jobname}woman or {jobname}person. Should I insist on being referred to as a {jobname}woman/person?

Is any of this making any sense at all

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nooka · 11/08/2011 02:19

I thought it might be PrettyCandles. Which is interesting because Mr is not the equivalent of Madam is it. I guess Mrs Chairman would imply that the chair was married to the real chairman.

slug · 09/08/2011 10:37

I'm a manager. But because I work in a very techie area, people always assume I should be male. I get many emails referring to me as "he", and have een once been introduced as "Slug, the blah blah Manager...she's a woman" Hmm

PrettyCandles · 09/08/2011 09:23

He probably did, Nooka. Well, almost. The proper way to address the person chairing a meeting is "Mr Chairman" or "Madam Chairman".

nooka · 09/08/2011 08:17

The only person I've ever head someone say "Madam Chairman' was an ancient old gimmer from another age. I bet he didn't call male chairs "Sir Chairman". Mostly in the sort of meetings I go to people call each other by their names.

jasper · 08/08/2011 23:41

No

TeiTetua · 08/08/2011 23:35

A chair is a piece of furniture.

But a woman who presides over a meeting--you can address her as "Madam Chairman", and how wonderful is that? There are recompenses for not having one's gender fully recognized.

MsScarlettInTheLibrary · 08/08/2011 23:06

Videographer?

GrimmaTheNome · 08/08/2011 22:48

Ah,I stand corrected, my thesaurus had them as synonyms. But then again the OP said 'Camera technician sounds ... a bit technical. I'm an artist don'tcha know' - so if she's not already a cinematographer, maybe that's what she really wants to be. Grin

BelfastBloke · 08/08/2011 21:57

Exactly, TeiT. Cinematographer already has a definition separate from Cameraman.

JessinAvalon · 08/08/2011 21:56

I've been wondering about term would be used for a female "cameraman" for a while and I too would go for camera operator though it doesn't roll off the tongue as easily as cameraman does.

I object to terms like "chairman". You wouldn't get a male calling himself a "chairwoman" yet women I know think it's fine to be called a "chairman". I always say "chair" and other gender neutral terms.

TeiTetua · 08/08/2011 21:51

Ah, but a cinematographer is different. That's the person who sets up the shot in the way the director wants, and it's considered artistic. Not to knock camera, uh, operators, but they're considered to be technicians whose skill is running the camera. It's true that a still photographer would do the equivalent of both jobs, but I think in movies and TV it's different. Or is that all wrong? But in news video, there's no chance for a cinematographer to get to work, and no aim to be artistic. it would be very misleading to call a news cameraperson a "cinematographer".

Pan · 08/08/2011 21:50

if the camera 'takes' images, we could use 'caminicker'. Oh maybe not.

Cleverything · 08/08/2011 21:50

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giyadas · 08/08/2011 21:19

Grimma's is better - cinematographer.
I've just spent far to long thinking about this, I'm supposed to be on my cityville. (you know, the important stuff Grin)

giyadas · 08/08/2011 21:16

camographer?

GrimmaTheNome · 08/08/2011 21:14

What about postperson

'postie'?

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 08/08/2011 21:12

What about postperson, which was my first guess at the OP's occupation?

I too have held the title something officer which was crap as not in any way armed forces, emergency services etc, but at least neutral. I am now something manager which is fine, had never even occurred to me that I might get called manageress.

The head of the DCs school is Headteacher.

GrimmaTheNome · 08/08/2011 21:10

Oh, I think I've got the genuine ungendered term - cinematographer!

TeiTetua · 08/08/2011 21:05

Oh yes, "best boy". Usually right next to Key Grip in the credits (I won't let go of this key, I won't...)

Obviously needs to become "best kid".

And the Gaffer is usually there as well. Should we expect to see a Gammer too?

GrimmaTheNome · 08/08/2011 21:03

(and conversely, 'male nurse'. I suppose the origins of the term 'nurse' may have been the one truly sex-specific occupation though?)

BestNameEver · 08/08/2011 20:58

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AnyFucker · 08/08/2011 20:57

what does a "grip" actually do ?

Pan · 08/08/2011 20:56

or 'the cameradude'.

I did know a Dolly Grip once.

GrimmaTheNome · 08/08/2011 20:55

Do film crews still have 'best boys'?

My suggestion to the OP is 'Camerabod'.

PonceyMcPonce · 08/08/2011 20:41

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