TO THE EDITOR:
Saffa Khan (“Why I’m not a ‘first-year’ student,” Nov. 30) argues that words like “freshman” were once “an example of the lower status of women but now represent the change in our understanding of gender equality.”
Our understanding, however, is still lacking.
The UNC men’s hockey team reminded us of this with its cube of a cartoonish, bikini-clad woman with enlarged breasts standing above the words, “Come watch us score.” And here’s a graver reminder: a recent Department of Justice study reaffirmed that almost 25 percent of college women “have been victims of rape or attempted rape since the age of 14.”
“Freshman” makes women invisible and does nothing to move us forward on a path to gender equality.
Besides, it’s easy to change. “Freshman” is becoming obsolete. Worldwide, universities and other learning institutions, including UVA and Hogwarts, refer to students as first-years, second-years, third-years and so on. Khan suggests that we amend male bias by adopting “freshwoman.” The goal isn’t to get even, but to use a term that is truly generic, inclusive to non-gender conforming folks as well. “First-year” does exactly that.
In September 2009, the University adopted a gender inclusive language policy. If the DTH truly cared about
inclusiveness, it would do the same.
These steps would not only build the campus community’s understanding of gender equality, but also initiate change.
Anthony J. Maglione
Class of ’09
