Gender Neutral Language ?

Hoping not to introduce a flame war here.

I spent some time getting around "His Excellency Charles lll" as "misgendering.
I can see the difference now, but wonder, do we adopt this at SCF?

Will we ever be able to use "King" and "Queen" in correct context again?

No longer do we refer to "Her Majesty" or "His excellency" rather. "The Sovereign"

Quote
Gender-neutral titles and pronouns will be introduced to South Australia's parliament as part of a series of workplace reforms.

The streamlined language policy is among broader reforms to the standing orders of the lower house, which also include updated maternity leave policies and allowing breastfeeding in the chamber, and permitting video call attendance to committee meetings.

Terms such as "Her Majesty" and "His Excellency", which currently misgender King Charles III and Governor Frances Adamson, will be replaced with "the sovereign" and "the governor".

The gender-neutral "they" and "them" will replace gendered pronouns, while "chair" will replace "chairman".

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article...py/etjl9ngw0

Let's stick to philately. I have no time for language fads.

I am waiting for the Royal Navy to rename all its ships 'IMS.'
At home, we need to come up with a solution, as the neutral and male possessive pronouns are the same.

Rod,

Interesting topic for discussion!

Will there be criminal penalties for those who do not comply with the new social norms?

John

Hi John,
no idea, this is all new to me, just read the info from South Australian Parliament.
I am always open to adapt to new things, but I had a hard time understanding it.
Especially as advice lower down, suggested if preferred gender is unknown, ask
what term the individual prefers.
I have a hard time understanding how "His excellency, King Charles" is in any way offensive. Esp if he prefers that terminology.

It certainly has some relevance to Philately, if not now, but in the future.

Coming from the other side of the globe, our situation is rather the opposite.
First of all, in Hebrew, as in French, everything has a gender. No "it" in the neighborhood.
Second, with a feminist political influence, even titles that had one option were given a female gender option. For example, PM, which in Hebrew is "head (male gender noun) of government", was given a feminine option which translates to "Headess of government".
Last, don't "the sovereign" and "the governor" have a choice in English of "the sovereigness" and "the governess"? Well, maybe not sovereigness, because sovereign is not just a title but also a concept.

Governor and governess mean different things. Governor means, inter alia, the head of something. Governess means a woman responsible for the oversight/education of children - wealthy families would have employed one to oversee their brats.

Thank you GeoffHa, seems like "me Inglish be very little". I knew that word but didn't make the connection.

The governess was a staple of Victorian fiction, eg Jane Eyre.

I find it amusing that this topic would originate from lands "down under".

Otherwise, I agree with 64idgaf, I see zero connection to philately here.

I agree with 64idgaf and John on this


Peter

I think that without us all changing our first names we will never be in compliance with the new rules being mandated by that .000000001 percent of the population on social media that run things now. After all, Rod and Roger and John are SO male and thus inappropriate. From now on we should either be assigned unisex names or alphanumeric monikers.

Thank goodness this is being addressed.

I agree. It is almost a pity that SCF does not have a "water cooler" or "off topic" area where these monumental issues can be discussed, and saved for all time (or possibly used for later criminal prosecutions for those who do not conform).

Just this morning I was asking myself, "What if I identified as an Inverted Jenny? " Could I then demand to be addressed as such?



John

John - You can now be anything your heart desires just by saying it is so. I am contemplating becoming a trans lion with a touch of wild boar.

I never understand why some men have such an issue with this. People should be called what they wish. It's not as if it is likely to affect most people here anyway. Unless they plan to be speaking with the king anytime soon.........