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2022-01-18T00:42:59Z

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{{essay|WP:HER|WP:FEMININE|WP:ROSIE|cat=Wikipedia essays about gender}}
{{nutshell|Instead of following the age-old tradition of using masculine pronouns to refer to abstract persons, [[WP:Be bold|be bold]] and use feminine pronouns instead.}}
{{caution|'''Note''': The [[MOS:GNL]] guideline (which overrules this essay) advises the following: {{tq|Use [[gender-neutral language]] – avoiding the [[generic he|generic ''he'']] and [[generic she|generic ''she'']], for example – where this can be done with clarity and precision.}}}}
[[File:The dissection of a corpse before a company of surgeons (?). Wellcome V0017131.jpg|thumb|right|300px|In Western culture, women tend to be "[[airbrush]]ed" out of the picture, especially when [[professional]] disciplines are involved. (Pictured: a group of male surgeons dissecting a corpse.)]]
For centuries, Western English writing has tended to use masculine pronouns to refer to abstract persons. If the writing is about professions or leadership positions, the use of masculine pronouns becomes even more pervasive. Doctors, lawyers, professors, dentists, CEOs, conductors and computer engineers are uniformly referred to using '''he''' and '''his'''.

Typical printed passages in books and magazines might read: "When a [[surgeon]] is preparing for '''his''' patient, '''he''' meets with a [[Consultant (medicine)|consulting physician]] to seek '''his''' views..." In a [[music]] context, we often read "When a [[record producer]] is getting ready for a session, '''he''' typically meets with the head [[sound engineer]] to get '''his''' ideas about the mix..." In a movie context, we often read "When a [[film director]] is about to shoot a movie, '''he''' confers with the [[cinematographer]] to get '''his''' perspectives on the lighting conditions..."

Interestingly, if examples are describing hypothetical professionals who work in men-dominated fields with other individuals who are seen as holding [[Occupational segregation|women-dominated occupation]]s, then we may see some feminine pronouns get used: "When a [[Chief Executive Officer]] needs to speak with '''his''' [[administrative assistant]], he calls '''her''' on the [[Intercom]]..." or "When a [[surgeon]] needs a scalpel, '''he''' motions to the [[nurse]] so that '''she''' can pass him the implement..." or "When a [[Dean]] has made a decision about which [[professor]]s '''he''' will interview, '''he''' typically informs the [[receptionist]] by e-mail so that '''she''' can schedule the meetings..."
__NOTOC__
==Be bold!==
Writing for [[Wikipedia]], we don't have to follow these [[Sexism|sexist]] traditions. We can [[WP:Be bold|boldly]] use feminine pronouns to refer to abstract persons. We can let women flourish in every domain!

*"When a [[surgeon]] is preparing for '''her''' patient, she meets with a consulting physician to seek '''her''' views..."
*"When a [[record producer]] is getting ready for a session, '''she''' typically meets with the head [[sound engineer]] to seek '''her''' ideas about the mix..."
*"When a [[film director]] is about to shoot a movie, '''she''' confers with the [[cinematographer]] to get '''her''' perspectives on the lighting conditions..."
*"When a [[computer engineer]] needs to get input on hardware specifications, '''she''' typically calls a [[Computer science|computer science professor]] to get '''her''' suggestions..."
*"When a [[heavy metal guitar|heavy metal guitarist]] is preparing to play a [[guitar solo]] during a recording, '''she''' will often ask the [[record producer]] for '''her''' suggestions on how to build the solo..."
*When a [[Women in conducting|conductor]] is leading an [[orchestra]], '''she''' gives instructions on [[musical phrasing]] to the [[bass trombone]] player so that '''she''' will know how to play the solos...

==Alternating between generic ''he'' and ''she''==
An example from [[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]] in ''Taylor v. Sturgell'', 2008:

{{quote|A nonparty is bound by a judgment if she "assume(d) control" over the litigation in which that judgment was rendered. ... Because such a person has had "the opportunity to present proofs and arguments," he has already "had his day in court" even though he was not a formal party to the litigation.<ref>Ruth Bader Ginsburg, [https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/07-371.ZO.html# ''Taylor v. Sturgell''], 12 June 2008.</ref>}}

[[File:We Can Do It - Self Portrait Poster.PNG|thumb|center|300px]]

==See also==
* [[Wikipedia:Writing about women|Writing about Women in Wikipedia]] (essay)
* [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style#Gender-neutral language]] ([[MOS:GNL]], guideline)
* [[Wikipedia:Gender-neutral language]] (essay)

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Wikipedia principles}}
{{Essays on building Wikipedia}}

[[Category:Wikipedia essays about style]]‎

Wikipedia:Use feminine pronouns - Revision history

Tachyony: Imported page