Manpower and living on the edge
Jul. 19th, 2004 01:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mrsbrownI opened my mouth and put myself in a dangerous position this morning.
At the staff meeting I asked that we discuss 'resourcing' instead of 'manpower'
Interestingly, it's hard to make a request like that, without it being seen as an aggressive or pushy thing to do.
Later, my supervisor justified the use of 'manpower' because "it's used throughout the industry"
It's not something I want to fight with people about. I don't want to make a big deal, but I do want people to think, before they open their mouths.
I don't want to use difficult words like 'chairperson' either - I just want non gender specific words used where appropriate - fire fighter, postal worker, doctor, actor etc.
I work in a male dominated industry, I notice it more when the words or examples that are used don't include the people I identify with - tradesman, manpower, training videos without women.
I don't want to be a person who makes a big fuss about stuff like this, but I do want to be considered.
BTW amusing thought: We all know that the 'man' in 'manpower' is from the latin for hand - it that because men are wankers who use their hands a lot?
At the staff meeting I asked that we discuss 'resourcing' instead of 'manpower'
Interestingly, it's hard to make a request like that, without it being seen as an aggressive or pushy thing to do.
Later, my supervisor justified the use of 'manpower' because "it's used throughout the industry"
It's not something I want to fight with people about. I don't want to make a big deal, but I do want people to think, before they open their mouths.
I don't want to use difficult words like 'chairperson' either - I just want non gender specific words used where appropriate - fire fighter, postal worker, doctor, actor etc.
I work in a male dominated industry, I notice it more when the words or examples that are used don't include the people I identify with - tradesman, manpower, training videos without women.
I don't want to be a person who makes a big fuss about stuff like this, but I do want to be considered.
BTW amusing thought: We all know that the 'man' in 'manpower' is from the latin for hand - it that because men are wankers who use their hands a lot?
