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April 2009

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From:
"O'Sullivan, Brian P" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 9 Apr 2009 07:45:30 -0400
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I've used the default feminine, to which Marshall refers, in my own writing; I guess the rationale is that, whereas using masculine pronouns as default may have tended to reinforce the perception that the masculine point of view is the default or universal point of view, there is, after millenia of patriarchy, no corresponding risk of using feminine pronouns the same way.  But I think there are times when this feminist gesture can backfire. I was working on a flyer for a tenants union once, and, in a first draft, I wrote something along these lines: "A low-income single parent who needs emergency help making the rent should contact the Community Action Program and explain her situation." And one of my fellow volunteers thought I was assuming that only a woman would find herself in that situation.

In teaching my classes, I've been pretty much following the NCTE guideline Marshall mentions without knowing that there was such a guideline (thanks for that information, Marshall--I feel validated). In the Writing Center I direct (and tutor at when I have time), it doesn't come up often, but when it does it's more complicated; I have to say the same kind of thing that Herb and Marshall have said about audience, and then maybe help the student make an educated guess about what kind of audience his or professor belongs to. (There--I used "his or her" in deference to DD!)

It's interesting to know, Marshall and Herb, that "they" and "their" have been used with singular antecedents for so long. Am I right in believing that this usage has become much more prevalent since their have been feminist concerns about gender bias in language?
  
Brian 



-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar on behalf of Myers, Marshall
Sent: Wed 4/8/2009 8:50 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Any member can give their opinion
 
Brian, 

I'm very interested in the responses you get to this question.

As a comp-rhet person that focuses on linguistics, I still suggest that my students use the singular personal pronouns if the audience is expecting such. Say a paper in front of English literature people. 

But for informal papers, things like personal essays, I don't mark it at all.

NCTE published a little flyer several years ago that advises that writers may use "their" when it is obvious that "the referent for the pronoun is clearly understood to be plural." The flyer then cites this sentence: "When everyone contributes their own ideas, the discussion will be a success."

When I was in high school, if the referent was unknown, it was assumed to be masculine. As in: Everybody knows his address.

The problem of using "his" in the above sentence is obviously that many interpret its use as sexist.

In composition studies scholarship, often if the gender is unclear, the feminine form is used. As in: Every scholar knows her way around the library. I haven't figured out the rationale for that usage, though.

I found a text from the late 1500's, published in England,that used the plural pronoun with everybody. So the problem has been around for a long time.

Marshall 

-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of O'Sullivan, Brian P
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 7:16 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Any member can give their opinion

I was wondering whether list members find that it is now acceptable (or at least accepted in some circles) to use "they" or "their" as an alternative to constructions like "he or she" or "his or her"--that is, as a gender-neutral third-person pronoun (as in my subject line).

 
Brian 

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