Are there many `gendered` job names left?

[DropYourSword]

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.

[wem]

Kim - I guess the point is there is the default (male title) and then the other (female title). To use the 'tress' suffix is to make the point that it is a female version of the norm. Like saying lady doctor.

I like the idea of making the default the female version, but it seems rather unlikely! At least if everyone has one default then there isn't the distinction.

[DropYourSword]

I can't remember where I read it now, but I did see someone once where they put forward the suggestion of gen to replace man . I think gen came from generation and represented non gendered person. Theywould suggest genkind, chairgen, postgen, policegen etc. Although it does seem a little clunky to me.

[PumpkinGuts]

In the states we usually say server not waiter/waitress.
Waitress always sounds 80s to me

[PumpkinGuts]

I like letter carrier for postman

[ErrolTheDragon]

A while ago there was a thread where someone was struggling to come up with a good non-gendered version of her job, which was 'cameraman'.


I've not heard a female thesp refer to herself as anything other than an actor for a long time.

[Lottiedoubtie]

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

[PedantMarina]

Queen/King
Prince/Princess
Duke/Duchess

Well, they are jobs. Sort of...

[ErrolTheDragon]

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

[MortifiedAdams]

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

[ErrolTheDragon]

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]

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

[PedantMarina]

Hmm, good point, errol.

[Takver]

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

[BerstieSpotts]

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

[ananikifo]

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

[ErrolTheDragon]

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?

[Takver]

Or I've heard Houseparent

[TiggyD]

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. .

[ProcessYellowC]

Foreman

Best boy

[BerstieSpotts]

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

[BerstieSpotts]

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

[ProcessYellowC]

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

[Lottiedoubtie]

The masculine of housemistress is housemaster.