Monday, February 2, 2009

gender-neutral pronoun.

The default male pronoun KILLS me. "Hir" is a combination of both "his" and "her" and is used in combination with "s/he" in queer theory and literature.

Let's bring it mainstream, folks.
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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

What are your thoughts on G-d? U know - the MAN up above... or is it a woman? Thoughts??

Why do we refer to HIM?

February 9, 2009 at 9:54 PM
Vanessa said...

God is typically and normatively considered male. Actually, all positions of authority are generally thought of as male by default. Perhaps this is being complicated more recently with the enfranchisement of women, but certainly not negated or even challenged very much.

The bible is riddled with fun sexist goodies. Prime example would be the 10 Commandments.

Please note: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant...

It is clear that this commandment is geared specifically toward men, for whom a wife is an object in line with servants and oxen--all of which belong to the male. This also spills into traditional Jewish views of differing male and female sexuality.

Further to the point of the bible as a sexist document, many early feminists attempted to reclaim Christianity through re-drafting the bible to include women. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Matilda Joslyn Gage and others published The Woman's Bible in 1895.

I also have a post exploring "G-d" as well that may interest you: http://thecolonic.blogspot.com/2007/01/god-versus-g-d.html

Thanks for visiting The Colonic! I love when readers comment.

February 9, 2009 at 11:22 PM

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