[Ads-l] Berkeley and gender neutral words

[Barretts Mail]

Presumably “maiden name” > “family name”.

I would bet that most city and state codes have issues like Berkeley is addressing. Going through everything systematically is a large process. 

When Washington State went through this process (ADS list; http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2013-February/125267.html), the word “manhole” was left. It’s interesting to see that Berkeley has found an acceptable replacement.

Benjamin Barrett (he/him/his)
Formerly of Seattle, WA

> On 18 Jul 2019, at 12:40, Baker, John <JBAKER at STRADLEY.COM> wrote:
> 
> I had to take a minute to see the problem with “heirs.”  While the gendered word “heiress” does exist, that’s really more of a social term; the legal term is gender-neutral “heir.”  And “beneficiaries” does not have the identical meaning, as it does not include heirs at law (those who take without a will).  But I suppose language can change in a good cause, and lawyers will still find a way to differentiate between heirs at law and beneficiaries under a will.
> 
> I thought at first that Berkeley was being a bit behind the times, since the struggle to minimize gendered terms stretches back for decades.  But apparently the city is also trying to support nonbinary genders; hence the opposition to “pregnant woman,” which previously would have been seen as unproblematic.
> 
> I haven’t figured out yet how replacing “maiden” with “family” makes sense, or for that matter why “maiden” is in the city code.  Probably the answer to either of those questions would also answer the other.
> 
> 
> John Baker
> 
> 
> 
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>] On Behalf Of ADSGarson O'Toole
> Sent: Thursday 18 July 2019 2:44 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Subject: Berkeley and gender neutral words
> 
> Website: Fortune.com <http://fortune.com/>
> Article: Goodbye, Manholes: Berkeley Goes Completely Gender Neutral
> Author: Chris Morris
> Date: July 18, 2019
> https://fortune.com/2019/07/18/berkeley-gender-neutral-ordinance-terms/<https://fortune.com/2019/07/18/berkeley-gender-neutral-ordinance-terms/> <https://fortune.com/2019/07/18/berkeley-gender-neutral-ordinance-terms/%3Chttps://fortune.com/2019/07/18/berkeley-gender-neutral-ordinance-terms/%3E>
> 
> [Begin excerpt]
> Berkeley, Calif. is taking gender neutral to the next level.
> 
> The city has passed an ordinance to replace terms in its municipal
> codes that refer to gender with non gender-specific words. So, for
> instance, a manhole will become “maintenance hole,” while a sorority
> or fraternity will now be called a “collegiate Greek system
> residence.”
> . . .
> 
> Among the other terms getting new non-gendered replacements are:
> 
> “Bondsman” becomes “Bonds-person”
> “Chairman” becomes “Chair“ or “chairperson”
> “Craftsmen” becomes “Craftspeople” or “artisans”
> “Fireman,” “Firewoman,” “Firemen,” and “Firewomen” become
> “Firefighter” and “firefighters”
> “Fraternal” is now “Social”
> “Heirs” becomes “Beneficiaries”
> “Journeyman” becomes “Journey”
> ‘Maiden” becomes “Family”
> “Male” and “female” become “People of different genders”
> “Manmade” becomes “Human-made,”
> “Master” becomes “Captain,” “Skipper,” “Pilot,” “Safety Officer,” or “Central”
> “Ombudsman” becomes “Ombuds” or “Investigating Official”
> “Patrolmen” become “Patrol” or “Guards”
> “Policeman,” “Policewoman,” “Policemen,“ “Policewomen” become “Police
> Officer” or “Police Officers”
> “Pregnant” (woman, women) become “Pregnant employees”
> “Repairman” becomes “Repairs” or “Repairer”
> “Salesman” becomes “Salesperson” or “Salespeople”
> “Sportsman” becomes “Hunters”
> “Watchmen” becomes “Guards”
> [End excerpt]
> 
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