to object to terms such as manageress or authoress?

[MaundyBra]

It was mentioned on another thread but was really a side issue, so I've started another one.

On what grounds do you object?

Hmm, i have noticed we only have actORS now, not actors and actresses

does not bother me TBH

YANBU.

Manageress is archaic. If Mrs Slocombe had been promoted she would have been a manageress though.

I agree with you, OP!

And what about 'poetess'?

Sorry posted accidentally before I'd finished typing. Surely it's sexist to point out that the job holder is a woman by adding the suffix, rather than the "norm" which is a manager or author.

I don't find it offensive, just a bit old-fashioned and twee.

atswim - poetess suggests someone dressed up like Little Bo Peep sitting in a field of poppies imo.

It is quite patronising.... but who actually says this? Have you been called 'manageress' by someone or something?

And what do we think about "Madam Chairman"?

I was hoping your were joking... but you're not. It appears that there are no limits to the offense that is seemingly caused by proper words. [hmm)

You're completely unreasonable, it's just a word and it will get the point where nobody can talk about anything without a series of disclaimers and a retained lawyer standing by... so tiresome.

Revolting - it was in the OP of the baby crying in the restaurant thread and there was a mini debate about it among all the general flaming.

No YABU. They bring gender into issues where it is irrelevant at and manage to be derogatory at the same time.

No not really.

I'm proud to be female and I don't care who knows it

Is er=male and ess = female in itself sexist? any more than him and her, she and he? I don't think it is.

If you come at it from the pov that people think a manager is a man unless otherwise specified, then that is sexist. If you see it as above, then that is just - grammar? and not sexist.

Will be reading with interest for other pov though. Always happy to be educated on this issue.

LyingWitch - It's not something I would get severely het up about and certainly wouldn't bring in the lawyers, but I have to say that I do find it somewhat patronising.

In some situations I actually prefer it, but then again I'm old. I won't put up with sexism but I see nothing sexist in referring to, for example, a woman who acts as an actress. IMHO "actress", "manageress" etc only become offensive when the knowledge that the person is a woman is used to discriminate against her.

Something I find far more unacceptable are terms such as "Chairman" when the post-holder is a woman and should thus be "Chairwoman". After all, "Chairperson" sounds ridiculous and "Chair" is an item of furniture, not a position within an organisation.

My late headmistress would be turning in her grave at the very thought of being called "headteacher"!

"Is er=male and ess = female in itself sexist?"

I'm not sure er=male. In the case of manager, I means one who manages surely. Manageress, is one who manages who happens to be female imo.

sorry should read "it means one who manages surely"

How is identifying your gender 'patronising'?

Surely it's only patronising if you feel less of a person for being female?

I certainly don't feel less of a person because I'm not a man...so therefore I'm quite happy for my gender to be known in my absence.

altinkum - lots of nouns are patronising.

I suppose it would be annoying if you were the area manager

MaundyBra... You might not get het up about it but that doesn't mean that gender-specific terms don't light the blue touchpaper as it is.

I really can't understand the fuss some people make about it... if someone uses a term that isn't appreciated, a quiet word asking them to stop usually does the trick. I have a preference not to be called 'Poppet' when I'm in a meeting but I'm not going to leap across the table, snarling and pinning the perpetrator up against the wall should he forget himself.

I guess this is just one of those things that makes me think that the long-fought credibility of women starts to slide into the abyss of trivia.