Have you noticed that the issue of gender identity seems to be coming to the fore? A recent BBC programme talked about the 'gender continuum' and looked at some of the differences between gender and sex. The programme memorably suggested that sex was what was between your legs and gender was what was between your ears. But then pointed out that it was possible to have female chromosomes and male genitalia.
Why am I wondering about this? Well, because I recently spoke to a school teacher who was in the habit of addressing her class as 'ladies and gents', but recently one of her pupils took exception to this and asked why she didn't use a gender neutral term. So that is my question: how do you address your students? If there really is a gender continuum rather than clear categories is this something we need to think about?
I know that some teachers address their students as 'guys', which seems to have become slightly non gender-specific in the plural - but if I said I met a guy recently, wouldn't you nevertheless think I meant a male?
What do you call your students?
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Ladies & gentlemen when I used to take classes. We were discouraged from using 'guys' etc as (I was told on my PGCE course) this is frowned upon by the likes of Ofsted. In the situation that you describe, it may have been interesting if the students had a discussion on this and proposed their own alternative by consensus. Debating and resolving such arguments is a skill to be learned and could have also been an excellent exercise in considering equality issues.
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Hi John. Well, I don't have students currently - though I used to tutor on U210 The English Language - but couldn't resist responding!
I think the plural usage, as in "you guys", is a US usage that's become widespread in the UK in recent years - as I understand it, it does refer to both sexes. However, I agree that "I met a guy recently" implies a male.
Don't know what's current in the classroom these days. "Ladies and gents" seems a tad archaic to me, though it could be used with tongue in cheek.
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My sons school teachers use the 'guys' approach in what he describes as a 'them and us' manner as well as ducking the issue by using the collective 'Year 11'.
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I discussed this issue with a class of adult trainee teachers today. Their suggestions was to use some sort of group term like 'team' or 'gang' or 'class'. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Perhaps here in Somerset it would be appropriate to say 'my luvvers'!!
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"everyone"
Jan
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I have used, group and everyone. I try and keep it neutral. I also don't like the word students when it comes to adults, as I think of students at school. I tend to use candidates or leaners.New comment
What on Earth is wrong with Ladies and Gents, or Girls and Boys?
These terms encompass what a person was, is, or is likely to become. Last time I checked gender was either masculine or feminie. When did we create a third option.
In my view 'trans' is not a noun and means beyond; across or through.
Does a transgender person necessarily want to be described and therefore identified as something other than what they have become?
Just saying....
He or she or both or something else or… it's getting complicated
@JoAnn, there's a change that is occurring in society that I think is happening fast and seems unstoppable. An example occurred on one of my modules where it was not clear whether one of the authors should be referred to as "he says" or "she says". The answer was…complicated: