[Leica] Re; Politically Incorrect terminology

[wildlightphoto at earthlink.net (Doug Herr)]

Your comments in this post regarding sexist language are well taken, yet it 
does seem odd that in another post you advised Chris Crawford to "Stand your 
ground. You don't have anything to apologize for" (your words, copied and 
pasted from your post) when Chris had made several remarks that were 
interpreted by many as sexist and insulting.  Perhaps your sensitivity to 
sexist language isn't the standard you're holding the rest of us to.

Doug Herr
Birdman of Sacramento
http://www.wildlightphoto.com


-----Original Message-----
>From: lrzeitlin at aol.com
>Sent: Jul 3, 2013 1:59 PM
>To: lug at leica-users.org
>Subject: [Leica] Re; Politically Incorrect terminology
>
> I've been a semi-invalid for the last week recovering from cancer surgery 
> and I've found the last few editions of the LUG to be a good substitute 
> for "War of the Sexes." They take out the stiches in a few days and I 
> should be back to my usual acerbic self.
>
>
>I personally am appalled at the cultural insensitivity to sexist 
>terminology exhibited by many male LUG members. Despite the fact that some 
>of us disagree with Tina's excessive regard for Leica equipment, we don't 
>refer to her as a senorita (however spelled) or even as a "senorita who 
>snaps." Why not? Because we regard her as a mature woman and an excellent 
>photographer who deserves respect.
>
>
>I may be a bit sensitive to these issues. My sister-in-law was head of 
>protocol at the White House and constantly had to chastise the staff for 
>using diminutive, immature, or overly familiar language in referring to 
>female guests, legislators, or Congresswomen. The Maid of Honor at my 
>sister-in-law's wedding was Geraldine Ferraro, a woman that no one ever 
>referred to as "girlie" or as a senorita.
>
>
>Words that in themselves are not sexist, like girl, chick, gal, skirt 
>become so when used to refer to a woman in an overly familiar way. It's the 
>same when talking of men. No one would ever refer to the Pope or the 
>President as pal, boy, buddy, chum. We don't call Ted a "Canuck who 
>clicks." Unless you actively want to insult somebody, don't disrespect them 
>by diminishing them. A full list of male and female derogatory references 
>is given here: Don't use them!
>http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:English_sexual_slurs
>
>
>I know most of you will say that you don't intend any disrespect. But it 
>comes through in your terminology. It is worse in Latin countries but it 
>exists everwhere. I've traveled extensively and worked abroad for much of 
>my life and there is a cultural insensitivity to sexism in Spain, Italy, 
>and parts of France. No woman Pope since Joan either. And I doubt that any 
>woman will soon achieve a dominant position in Islam - although Mohammed's 
>wife once did.
>
>
>Finally although I respect Jayanard's opinions on business, finance, and 
>photography, he seems culturally unaware of the rampant sexism in India. 
>While it is true that India has had a female head of state, as has the UK, 
>Australia, and Israel, women in general are not regarded as the equal of 
>men. I spent three years as a Fulbright Distinguished Professor at the 
>University of Delhi yet my wife and 14 year old daughter could not walk the 
>streets near our home without being harassed by "Eve bashing" hoodlums. My 
>female graduate students complained that after years at the university 
>learning how to think and make decisions for themselves, when they left 
>they were often forced into loveless marriages that their parents had 
>arranged and once married were subject to the demands of the husband's 
>mother. Even today kitchen stove explosions are one of the leading causes 
>of female death as grooms try to extort more dowery from the bride's 
>parents. My landlord' daughters were forced to
  
> leave the country to practice their professions as a physician and a 
> journalist. My landlord was the Editor in Chief of India's Economic Times 
> but even his position made little difference. So Jayanard, before you 
> criticize sexist sensitivity in other countries, try to get your own house 
> cleaned up first.
>
>
>Incidentally, the U.S. will probably get its first female head of state in 
>2016.
>
>
>By the way, I don't intend to insult anyone. I'm just telling it like it 
>is. Sorry.
>
>
>Larry Z
>
>
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