Gender-neutral language better for communication

TO THE EDITOR:

The excuses used in The Daily Tar Heel decision not to adopt a gender-neutral language policy are flawed at best. The use of male-generic language does not allow better communication; it leads to discrimination and inaccurate reporting.

When the DTH calls a female chair a “chairman,” it is inaccurate journalism. When the DTH changes bylaws of certain organizations or changes words submitted in letters to the editor to use male-generic language instead of gender-neutral language, it is inaccurate journalism. When the DTH calls a group of first-year students “freshmen,” it is inaccurate journalism.

These are not things that happen by accident. They have consistently happened over the last year in multiple issues of the DTH. UNC has developed a gender-neutral language policy in an effort to be inclusive to all students, despite their gender association. Shouldn’t the DTH, as a reflection of this University, adopt a similar policy as well?

Do the writers at the DTH honestly believe that the terms “first-year students” and “upper-level students” are going to be unrecognizable to readers? Soon they will be the most recognizable terms because that is the language UNC will be using in all of its documents, Web sites and policies.



Brandy Starling
Junior
Communication Studies