[Ads-l] FW: "pregnant people"

Wed Sep 29 17:08:12 UTC 2021

Same article also used "menstruators".  Not a first by any means, but it's
been uncommon (until now?).

On Wed, Sep 29, 2021 at 4:17 AM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
wrote:

>
> https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/menstruators-women-nonbinary-periods-trans-cis-191609748.html
> :
>
> "Earlier this month, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez chimed in and was
> subsequently criticized for using the term 'menstruating people' during a
> CNN interview discussing Texas’s strict anti-abortion law."
>
> On Mon, Sep 27, 2021 at 1:53 PM Charles C Rice <charles.rice at louisiana.edu
> >
> wrote:
>
> > https://twitter.com/verbingnouns/status/1441337006999568391?s=21
> >
> > I tried to copy the tweet for those who can't access Twitter.
> >
> > @UniofNewcastle
> > this is exclusionary wording that alienates your nonbinary and trans
> > staff. I know you've worked really hard to be inclusive, so may I suggest
> > that "people" is such an easy word to use here instead. cc
> > @rainbowNCL
> > @EqualityNCLUni
> > newcastle.sharepoint.com/hub/orghas/Doc
> >
> > The University post is in a jpeg, which I can't post to the list. The
> > tweeter has highlighted the phrase in bold:
> >
> > If you are 28 weeks pregnant and beyond, or if you are pregnant and have
> > an underlying condition that puts you at a greater risk of severe illness
> > from COVID-19 at any gestation, you should take a more precautionary
> > approach. This may require working flexibly from home or working in a
> > different capacity. These arrangements should be based on the risk
> > assessment which is required for all pregnant females who have informed
> > their manager/employer. Where adjustments to the work environment and
> role
> > are not possible and alternative work cannot be found, you should be
> > suspended on paid leave.
> >
> > Clai Rice
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU<mailto:
> > ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>> on behalf of Laurence Horn <
> > laurence.horn at YALE.EDU<mailto:laurence.horn at YALE.EDU>>
> > Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2021 7:00 PM
> > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU<mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> <
> > ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU<mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>>
> > Subject: Re: "pregnant people"
> >
> > CAUTION: This email originated from outside of UL Lafayette. Do not click
> > links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the
> > content is safe.
> >
> >
> > > On Sep 23, 2021, at 1:12 PM, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM
> > <mailto:wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>> wrote:
> > >
> > > I've heard "pregnant people" on cable news (not, I think, from a
> > > journalist).
> > >
> > > Some writers now replace "men" and "women" with "people," whenever
> > > possible.
> > >
> > > JL
> >
> > Since the {women/people} doesn't really add much, we could solve this
> > problem by substantivization:  "The pregnant remain at high risk"; "Far
> too
> > many pregnants remain at high risk...";
> >
> > The plural version might take a while to catch on...
> >
> > LH
> >
> > >
> > > On Thu, Sep 23, 2021 at 1:05 PM Stanton McCandlish <
> > smccandlish at gmail.com<mailto:smccandlish at gmail.com>>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > >> Trans-related language-change activism seems to be making inroads into
> > >> major newsrooms.  From today's *Washington Post*: "Far too many
> pregnant
> > >> people remain at high risk of covid-19. It didn't have to be this
> way."
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> >
> https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/21/far-too-many-pregnant-people-remain-high-risk-covid-19-it-didnt-have-be-this-way/
> > >>
> > >> I think this will continue at left-leaning publishers, because lots of
> > >> trans activists are strongly motivated to complain any time they see
> > >> "pregnant women", but hardly anyone is motivated enough to write a
> > letter,
> > >> even an electronic one, if they encounter "pregnant people".  Many
> > probably
> > >> don't even recognize it as socio-politically charged activism.
> They'll
> > >> just think it's poor writing, which the news is increasingly full of,
> as
> > >> editorial review decreases the more pressure there is to get material
> > out
> > >> faster and faster via as many channels as possible. (I think most of
> us
> > by
> > >> now are used to the average major-newspaper article having multiple
> > typos
> > >> in it.)
> > >>
> > >> For an "interesting" time, check out recurrent internal debates at
> > >> Wikipedia as well, about using language like "persons with prostate
> > >> glands", "people who menstruate", etc., at medical articles.
> > >>
> > >> ------------------------------------------------------------
> > >> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
> > truth."
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >
>
>
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org