COMMENTARY

On the Recent Decline of Gender Neutral Language 

Edith W. King

Despite accomplishments of the Feminist Movement and the widely disseminated ideals about equality for women, cultural myths and stereotypes still prevail in the U. S., Europe, and elsewhere. In the latter stages of the 20^th century, gains had been made in the use of non-sexist, gender neutral terminology for governmental and legal usage, in business and the media, higher education, and many other venues. However, in the first decades of the 21^st century, there has been a creeping decline in the use of gender neutral expression in written and spoken forms. In this commentary, critiques are noted, examples are presented, and suggestions for improvement are offered.

The Applied Anthropologist, No. 1, Vol. 32, 2012, pp 39 - 41

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