Posted March 15, 200916 yr The politically correct rules also mean a ban on Continental titles, such as Madame and Mademoiselle, Frau and Fraulein and Senora and Senorita. Guidance issued in a new 'Gender-Neutral Language' pamphlet instead orders politicians to address female members by their full name only. Officials have also ordered that 'sportsmen' be called 'athletes', 'statesmen' be referred to as 'political leaders' and even that 'synthetic' or 'artificial' be used instead of 'man-made'. The guidance lists banned terms for describing professions, including fireman, air hostess, headmaster, policeman, salesman, manageress, cinema usherette and male nurse. However MEPs are still allowed to refer to 'midwives' as there is no accepted male version of the job description. The booklet also admits that "no gender-neutral term has been successfully proposed" to replace 'waiter' and 'waitress', allowing parliamentarians to use these words in a restaurant or café. It has been circulated by Harold Romer, the parliament's secretary general, to the 785 MEPs working in Brussels and Strasbourg. Struan Stevenson, a Scottish Conservative MEP described the guidelines as "political correctness gone mad." He said: "We have seen the EU institutions try to ban the bagpipes and dictate the shape of bananas, but now they see determined to tell us which words we are entitled to use in our own language." Philip Bradbourn, another Conservative MEP, vowed to ignore the booklet, which he described as a "waste of taxpayers' money" and called on Mr Romer to reveal its cost. He added: "I will have no part of it. I will continue to use my own language and expressions, which I have used all my life, and will not be instructed by this institution or anyone else in these matters." Seven years ago, an attempt to amend noise laws came close to effectively outlawing bagpipes. However, a number of bizarre EU rules remain in place, including a directive stating that every pair of rubber boots must be supplied with a user's manual in 12 languages. Source: Sunday Telegraph We may be in the worst recession for decades, but you can always rely on the EU to come up with something new to change
March 16, 200916 yr It is a bit sexist how women must be addressed as married or not married (Mrs. or Ms.) while men are always simply Mr. Just sayin'...
March 16, 200916 yr This beats the worst excesses of the GLC :manson: Political correctness gone mad and patronising and demeaning to the very people they are trying to "protect" - women
March 16, 200916 yr It is a bit sexist how women must be addressed as married or not married (Mrs. or Ms.) while men are always simply Mr. It's a fair point actually... Just WHY are there so different terminologies for married/unmarried women anyway....? Who decided this....? And who decided that men should only ever have one terminology....? By a strange sort of contradiction, it appears to make no difference at all if a DOCTOR is female or male, Dr is Dr regardless of gender.... I think it really is about time to do away with these outmoded, outdated distinctions, they have no real logic anyway.... There is no earthly reason for a female actor to really be called an actress, or for a female police officer to be labelled a WPC (a female Private in the army isn't called a "Private-ess" is she...?), one would think it's pretty damn obvious what their gender is when they come knocking on your door, it doesn't need to be labelled... We didn't have a "headmaster" when I was at school either, they were referred to as a "rector" or "head-teacher"....
March 16, 200916 yr It's a fair point actually... Just WHY are there so different terminologies for married/unmarried women anyway....? Who decided this....? And who decided that men should only ever have one terminology....? By a strange sort of contradiction, it appears to make no difference at all if a DOCTOR is female or male, Dr is Dr regardless of gender.... I think it really is about time to do away with these outmoded, outdated distinctions, they have no real logic anyway.... There is no earthly reason for a female actor to really be called an actress, or for a female police officer to be labelled a WPC (a female Private in the army isn't called a "Private-ess" is she...?), one would think it's pretty damn obvious what their gender is when they come knocking on your door, it doesn't need to be labelled... We didn't have a "headmaster" when I was at school either, they were referred to as a "rector" or "head-teacher".... oh lord, you are AGREEING with the eu?... surely to fcuk, a female actor IS an actress? whats so wrong with that? why shouldnt a female head teacher be refered to as the head mistress? ITS WHAT SHE IS! in what way on gods green earth is it derogrotory to women ?
March 16, 200916 yr I quite agree with above - is this really the best thing they can spend time and money on? There are issues in the roots of this, but it has to be the pettiest thing to spend time discussing. It's so ... pointless. There's always Ms for anyone who thinks Mrs/Miss is an issue. Although there's a fab piece from Grumpy Old Women where it goes: Man: Is it Miss or Mrs? Woman: It's Ms? Man: It's what? Is that Miss? Woman: No, it's Ms. Mzzz. It implies my married state neutrally. Man: Oh that's good isn't it! Men should have one of them!! Woman: <_<
March 16, 200916 yr Just why ban 'Miss' and 'Mrs'? <_< That shows political correctness... ehem... more like political 'corruptness'. <_< Making rules about man not hitting a woman (and vice-versa?) is fine but banning signification like Miss or Mrs is a load of BS. Women doesn't deserve to have rule, not even for men if it's the other way. Edited March 16, 200916 yr by funmaker11
March 16, 200916 yr Do I think the EU should spend its time and resources on better things? Yes, of course. But I also think we should always re-evaluate how we communicate. Why do people get so up in arms at the very idea of adjusting our language to better suit the circumstances? In America, everyone used to call the airline server a "stewardess" but as more and more males started to take the job, it was circulated that "flight attendant" is a better title. So over time, by using "flight attendant" in airline industry lingo and having the media adopt the phrase, it has become the most popular and preferred title.
March 18, 200916 yr Ive always really ignored the whole Miss. Mrs. and whatever the hell there is as it doesnt really matter to me nor does it make a difference :wacko: Sure on official legal documents i can understand but otherwise... I always call female teachers in my school Miss anyway.. But surely if Miss/Mrs is sexist then it shouldnt males have the right to get rid of the Master/Mr thing? However MEPs are still allowed to refer to 'midwives' as there is no accepted male version of the job description. And my Sociology teacher says we live in a patriarchal society :lol:
March 18, 200916 yr It's okay, it's not like they have any other important matters to discuss and sort out... ...... :mellow:
Create an account or sign in to comment