Gender Inequality Shown Through Language

After reading the article “Why Sexist Language Matters” by Sheryyl Kleinman, it brought my attention to how often I use “male generics.”  It’s no secret that our language is primarily male-dominant, but after reading the article I realized that I use the phrase “you guys” multiple times on a daily basis without even realizing how one could argue it reflects gender inequality in our society.  Kleinman points out that subconsciously using phrases such as these reinforces the message that men are superior to women.  Because this message is subconsciously in the male brain, it ultimately reflects why males treat females as their “lesser” in society.

Although most of Kleinman’s points of view were easy to agree with, some of her points were arguable.  Her article goes on to state that women enjoy being placed in the same category as men, such as in phrases of “you guys” and “freshmen,” because women want to be included in a more superior group with men.  I completely disagree with this opinion.  I, for one, use the phrase “you guys” without even thinking about.  I will walk into my suite after classes and address my three female roommates as “guys” and I am in no way trying to increase their superiority to be on the same level as a men.  I think that over time, this language has become a more casual way of addressing a group of people and feeling comfortable conversing with them; and I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. 

The Importance of a Good Lead

While looking through a newspaper, it is easy to overlook the importance of a strong lead.  As a reader, the first sentence of every news article is crucial in deciphering whether or not we continue with the article, although we tend not to realize it.  Only when we are writing a lead do we notice the importance of strategically placing the information to attract the reader and keep the readers attention.  In ideally 18 to 20 words, the writer must try to tell the reader the "five Ws and one H" of the article: who, what, when, where, why and how.  This layout of each article is commonly seen in the structure of an inverted triangle, revealing an overview of the article in the beginning and increasing in detail as the story continues.  The most important thing to remember about a lead is that it needs to be written in full sentences.  Leads are not headlines and need to contain all parts of a proper sentence.