essay
What can we do? Create a literary world that represents females equally. You can start by simply switching the pronouns as you read the book. Thing One and Thing Two could be sisters. What would the Cat in the Hat think about that?
plexing as the stubbornness of the gender pay gap. But like equal pay, there’s a simple solution. If we generally accept that “they” works as a gender-neutral catch-all term, then poof!, it’s official. In fact, The Associated Press recently added “they” as a singular, gender-neutral pronoun. If “they” is not for you, there are still ways to infuse a female-driven narrative into our everyday lives. Do you work in marketing? Choose symbols and pictures where women do the action at least 50 percent of the time. Do you write a mommy blog? Refer to that adorable poop-machine as a “she” just as often. In conversation, put the female pronoun in front of the male one: “she and he,” “hers and his” “her and him.” Because if we don’t put women first, who will? Then go outside. When you see a bird, call it a “she.” When a dolphin chuffs, blue fin slicing through the harbor, say, “Look at her. Isn’t she beautiful?” You don’t have to say “she” for every animal, but aim for 50 percent. And that gnat you swatted? Biting mosquitoes are always female. Represent! This isn’t a new concept, but we are in a new era. If we begin writing our own narrative with the proper pronouns, perhaps we really can rewrite hisherstory.
Gervais Hagerty Del Porto is a professor at The Citadel. She teaches leadership communications and is the director of The Patricia McArver Public Speaking Lab. Prior to working at The Citadel, Gervais wrote, reported and produced radio and television newscasts in the Carolinas. She holds a B.A. in psychology from Vanderbilt University and a master’s of business administration from The Citadel. She lives in Charleston with her husband and two daughters.
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