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Wednesday, 4 July 07 ::
language
i know, i know.. its such a common topic to talk about - language.. and how different language is used in different parts of the country to mean different things, or even different cultures, to signify different levels of respect. being the feminist that i am, i'm particularly sensitive to language that is used to refer to me as a woman.
when i first got to oregon for the first time ever i heard the term "gals" used by people around me. growing up the most respectful title for a woman was Ms. not Mrs, because Mrs signified a partnership where a woman lost her identity to the man she was partnered with and this extended to the use of woman over terms like "lady" or "girls" in reference to grown woman. growing up i never heard either of those terms used by people who respected women as equals. except, of course, from another similarly minded woman as a term of respect.
and now, now i'm in the most culturally different place i have ever lived, and all over the place i hear the term lady (or ladies) and girls in reference to women. i have to admit, each time i hear those terms - or read them - i cringe. it doesn't feel respectful, and considering that i live in the most conservative state in the country, where the religion that has most influence on everything does not allow women to hold the highest leadership positions in all levels of organization, i don't have a lot of trust in the use of those terms. i have a difficult time giving the benefit of the doubt that the use is cultural and that they don't have the underlying impression of sexism.
the reason for the post is really a wondering of how do i know when to say something? i don't want to make someone uncomfortable because of my sensitivities, but i also don't want a feeling of sexism in my work environment - especially coming from those who i clearly deserve respect from. it's something i'm going to have to sit on, think about, talk to the two or three friends around here who understand - or at least sympathize - with my difficulties in this culture.
posted by brooke at July 4, 2007 02:10 PM
