Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Are there many `gendered` job names left?

80 replies

DropYourSword · 16/10/2013 09:06

Was thinking recently about this and the pointlessness of defining whether the worker is male or female.

Doctor, pilot, teacher, nurse etc aren't gendered (although I do appreciate that some people may assume the workers gender). I know we use headteacher now instead of headmistress / headmaster and stewardess is now flight attendant etc.

The only thing I can think of is waiter and waitress. I wad wondering if there were moreand what the suggestion would be for renaming it.

OP posts:
TiggyD · 16/10/2013 20:54

How about the job "Nanny"? Male ones often get called "Mannies", but It sounds [vomit]. (We NEED that smiley!)

Lottiedoubtie · 16/10/2013 20:52

That had already been answered. It's 'Houseparent'. Although it isn't universally used. Largely because it implies the job is shared between husband and wife- which is the case in some schools but not most.

ProcessYellowC · 16/10/2013 20:48

But I don't get how the term nursery nurse is gendered?

ErrolTheDragon · 16/10/2013 20:41

The masculine of housemistress is housemaster.

yes, the question is what could be a gender-neutral term. Hm, looking at synonyms for 'master', how about house-commandant? Wink

kim147 · 16/10/2013 20:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lottiedoubtie · 16/10/2013 20:38

The masculine of housemistress is housemaster.

ProcessYellowC · 16/10/2013 20:34

Sorry I'm being thick - I can't figure out the nursery nurses?

BerstieSpotts · 16/10/2013 20:33

And Tiggy, wow, that's weird Confused I like the montessori philosophy but that seems just bizarre.

BerstieSpotts · 16/10/2013 20:32

Ah maybe! Actually I have heard houseparent too. Maybe DF doesn't like the idea of being a "parent" Grin

ProcessYellowC · 16/10/2013 20:32

Foreman

Best boy

kim147 · 16/10/2013 20:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TiggyD · 16/10/2013 20:10

I enquired about a job at a montisorry nursery a while ago where the staff were know as Directresses. They said male staff wouldn't be called Directors because it makes them sound like they run the company. I think they got round the issue by making sure they never employed men. Angry.

Takver · 16/10/2013 20:01

Or I've heard Houseparent

ErrolTheDragon · 16/10/2013 19:23

My friend is a housemistress in a boarding school. I don't know if that has a gender neutral term!

DDs school doesn't board but they have 'Head of xxx House' - perhaps that might work?

MsIngaFewmarbles · 16/10/2013 19:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ananikifo · 16/10/2013 18:59

I can't believe no one has mentioned sister and matron for senior nurses!

BerstieSpotts · 16/10/2013 18:52

My friend is a housemistress in a boarding school. I don't know if that has a gender neutral term!

Takver · 16/10/2013 18:41

Thought of another one very close to home - which doesn't even have a sensible female equivalent: Seedsman

PedantMarina · 16/10/2013 18:37

Hmm, good point, errol.

MortifiedAdams · 16/10/2013 18:13

Our Housekeepers are the Managers and Supervisors.of the Room Attendants.

ErrolTheDragon · 16/10/2013 18:11

Room Attendants instead of Maids/Chamber Maids.

The term in the US which I quite like is 'housekeeper' (and it isn't always a woman)

MortifiedAdams · 16/10/2013 18:09

My work.now has Server or Host for the people that bring your food, and Room Attendants instead of Maids/Chamber Maids.

ErrolTheDragon · 16/10/2013 18:06

Pedant - the actual job name for King/Queen is 'Monarch' isn't it?

PedantMarina · 16/10/2013 18:04

Queen/King
Prince/Princess
Duke/Duchess

Well, they are jobs. Sort of... Halloween Grin

Lottiedoubtie · 16/10/2013 17:57

^Jane froggat did it several times in a BBC interview about Downton. Still happens, but I agree, I prefer 'Actor'.