Problematic
Universalization of "He" and "Him" Pronouns
The
generic uses of "he" reveal the exclusion of women from education and
language. Everything from laws to literature uses language in a problematic
way. The fact that educational institutions are dominated by males has led to
the use of exclusively masculine pronouns or rendering them
"generic." India has made improvements to its laws to support the
weak and disadvantaged, but there is still a long way to go. India should adapt
its everyday language as it moves toward achieving equality because inclusion
and representation are more important than ever right now. He has been referred
to in literature in general terms to indicate an ambiguous gender. This post
will explore why this is problematic.
Promote
Gender-Stereotypes
Language
has a pervasive influence on how people think. In accordance with masculine
supremacy, the pronoun "he" was used to refer to all people. Male
bias is triggered by masculine generics, according to studies, and readers or
listeners are more likely to picture men than models of any other gender.
"Even what would be regarded inconsequential parts of language can have
far-reaching subconscious impacts on how we see the world," writes Lera
Boroditsky, a professor of cognitive science at UCSD. The subconscious and how
a person perceives different genders could be affected by this form of pronoun
generalisation.
For
instance, the pronoun "he" and its derivatives may be used for any
person, regardless of gender, according to Section 8 of the Indian Penal Code.
When referring to the accused, offender, or victim in the offences listed in
the Indian Penal Code, only "he" is used. This discriminatory law has
the potential to alter how people view criminal activity and criminals in
society. As a result, many people still have no idea what sexual assault
against men is, for example. Political science research has recently revealed a
link between more regressive gender attitudes and gendered languages that
assign nouns in this manner.
Prohibit
Gender-Equity
Additionally,
some researchers have discovered that there is less gender equality in nations
where the language is more heavily influenced by gender stereotypes. According
to a World Bank assessment, women in many developing nations face major
obstacles to equal participation in society. The sheer structure of some
languages may influence gender norms in a way that restricts women's prospects,
according to a new line of research that is revealing this surprising and less
obvious potential. "Gender equity is crucial not only because it can help
speed up progress toward ending poverty, but because it gives everyone the
chance to reach their potential," said Asli Demirguc-Kunt, Director of
Research at the World Bank. "Understanding the deeper issues that
determine the challenges women experience can help governments be more
effective in their attempts to create a fair playing field," he continued.
According
to Ozier and Jakiela's findings in the World Values Survey, people who
frequently use gendered language, such as androcentric pronouns, are more
likely to concur with stereotypes like "Men make better business
executives than women do" or "When jobs are scarce, men should have
more right to a job than women." According to research, the way pronouns
are used in general contexts shapes how people see women's place in society and
has a direct bearing on how many women choose to enter the workforce.
Profane
the Dignity of Non-Binaries
Representation
is important. Binary pronoun usage will only prevent people from understanding
that there are people who do not identify with either gender. To ensure that
everyone is treated with dignity, it is crucial to accept the pronouns that
people choose to use. A person's right to dignity is violated when their gender
is assumed and they are addressed using the pronouns "he" or
"he," whether or not you are aware of their choice to identify as a
man. Respect for their gender identity can be shown by not presuming pronouns.
The
Merriam-Webster Dictionary updated its definition of "they" in 2019
to include the phrase "one person whose gender identity is
nonbinary." The American Dialect Society designated singular
"they" the word of the decade 2010–2019. The best method to start
eradicating gender bias in society is by using pronouns that are
gender-neutral, such as they/them, or, even better, by making it commonplace to
ask for one's preferred pronouns rather than assuming same.
Since
the pronoun "they" is used as a plural pronoun in English, there have
been complaints about the potential grammatical problems this could lead to.
Languages can, nevertheless, evolve and modernise in order to keep up with the
times. Accepting change is preferable to having a rigid mindset that assumes everyone
identifies as either male or female.
Conclusion
It
takes deliberate and persistent attempts to bring about a fundamental shift,
such as really challenging the practise of using the same pronouns for all
genders. We could start by carefully examining and altering our everyday
language to bring about this. If we make deliberate attempts to bring about
change, it can happen. Let's go above binary thinking and treat everyone with
the respect and representation they genuinely deserve.