Wednesday, March 4, 1998
Letters
LETTERS:
Troubling headline
I was disappointed with the sexist word choice for the Daily
Bruin’s front-page headline on Feb. 26, "Albert Carnesale searching
for a No. 2 man." Shame on the editing staff of The Bruin, who
should have known better than to use sexist language that ignores
women.
Research in the psychology of language has consistently shown
that people do not, in fact, interpret masculine forms as generic
terms equally including or referring to both men and women. Does
the job description for the executive vice chancellor require that
a man fulfill this position? Biased language use has no place in a
university, or anywhere else for that matter. I expect better from
The Bruin.
Jo Anne Beazley
Graduate School of Education and Information Studies
The Bruin reeks of sexism
I am bothered by the headline you chose to accompany the story
about the search for the executive vice chancellor ("Albert
Carnesale searching for a No. 2 man," Feb. 26). I am sure it was
not your intent to suggest the search committee will be looking for
a man, but the headline reeked of sexism. Must we still use phrases
like "right-hand man," "No. 2 man" or "the best man for the job"? I
would hope an enlightened establishment like the Daily Bruin could
move beyond the colloquialisms of yesterday.
Anthony Danna
Fourth-year
Sociology