"Gender Neutral" Agreement

Gender Neutral Agreement

Using pronouns that include both males and females

A gender neutral pronoun means that a pronoun is not masculine-only or feminine-only.

In formal English, we use the pronoun his to refer to a male or a female. However, some speakers and writers feel that his does not reflect modern attitudes toward gender equity. "Attempts to invent pronouns for this purpose date back at least to 1850."† Speakers and writers apply different strategies to deal with the problem. Some avoid the problem by rephrasing (using passive voice), others use both his and her, and others use the plural form – their.

Because language is constantly changing, this plural pronoun use is one of those gray (grey) areas that may take some time to resolve.

Speech changes as does fashion. Grammarians can be prescriptive, saying how something should be done, or they can be descriptive noting how speech is used in different contexts and social situations. The examples on this web page are intended to be descriptive. Ask your instructor about his/her suggestions on this grammar point, keeping in mind the intended use: informal, business or academic English.

†"Gender Neutral Pronoun." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 13 June 2010. Web. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender-neutral_pronoun > 14 June 2010
Bodine, Anne. "Androcentrism in prescriptive grammar: singular ‘they’, sex-indefinite ‘he’, and ‘he or she." Language in Society (1975), 4 : 129-146 Cambridge University Press < Link >
Lakoff, Robin. Language and Woman's Place. Oxford University Press. 1975. p. 70 -71. Print < Link >

Gender Agreement Problem – singular versus plural possesive pronoun use

SINGULAR – GENDER STATED	PLURAL – GENDER NOT STATED
Formally, a singular possessive pronoun is used with a singular personal noun such as anyone, everyone, each person, a baby, a chid, a person (an indefinite pronoun that does not specify gender.) Use formal agreement for business and academic English.	Informally, and mostly in speech, a plural possessive pronoun is often heard together with a singular personal noun such as anyone, everyone, each person, a baby, a chid, a person (an indefinite pronoun that does not specify gender.)
Everyone had his picture taken. A m asculine possessive pronoun refers to a male or female.	Everyone had their picture taken. Everyone is usually followed by a singular pronoun. However, in this sentence, their is being used when (1) the gender is unknown; or (2) the speaker wishes to mask the gender of the person being discussed; or (3) the speaker doesn't want to exclude one gender by using his.
Everyone had her picture taken. A feminine possessive pronoun refers to a female (only if everyone in the group is female.)
Everyone had its picture taken. (its - is not used for people)

Gender Agreement Strategies

GENDER AGREEMENT QUESTIONABLE	GENDER AGREEMENT STRATEGIES
Many speakers feel awkward choosing one pronoun - his or her.	OPTION 1: Rephrase.
Everyone must mail his income tax by April 15. (Do only men have to pay taxes?)	DOUBLE POSSESSIVE PRONOUN: "Everyone must pay his or her tax by April 15." (his/her) PLURAL SUBJECT: "All Americans must pay their taxes by April 15." SING. SUBJ – PLURAL POSSESSIVE PRONOUN: (informal – not for business or academic use) "Everyone must pay their taxes by April 15."
Some baby-book writers alternate using "his" and "her" in their text.	OPTION 2: Change the verb to passive voice to avoid mentioning the pronoun.
A baby may be able to stand up by herself by the age of 10 months. (Do only baby girls stand up at 10 months of age?)	PLURAL PASSIVE: "Income tax must be mailed to the government by April 15th."

Once you decide to switch from using a singular subject (a person) to a plural subject (people), keep to that choice throughout the rest of your paragraph or paper.

Conventions are formed with time and this one is not decided yet. Ask your instructor or professor his/her/their preference on which you should use.

Practice

Strategies for Editing Agreement

Identify the agreement problems and use 3 strategies for rephrasing.

Read the paragraph below about a basketball summer camp. The writer wants to encourage both boys and girls to attend. However, the paragraph has pronoun agreement problems:

BASKETBALL CAMP PHILOSOPHY: MORE THAN CHAMPIONS

Our camp provides a service to help everyone reach their potential. Our goal is for each camper to work hard and feel good about themselves in a safe, disciplined, highly structured and motivated environment of learning and fun. We place every child and their personal development ahead of the game. Every one of our children gets positive encouragement to improve their fundamental skills. Players also learn sportsmanship while working with their team to win. By the end of the camp session, every child will get their certificate. Every child will have enjoyed his basketball camp program.

day-camp (n.) – a place where children can go in the day during the school holidays to do sports, art etc
certificate (n.) – an official paper stating completion of a course, study or exam
champions (n.) – winners of a competition
development (n.) – the process of becoming bigger, better, stronger, or more advanced
disciplined (adj.) – obeying rules and controlling behavior
encouragement (adj.) – giving a person confidence to do something
environment (n.) – the people and things that are around the person, the general situation and feeling one has in the place

fundamentals (n.) – the most important ideas, rules, the basics
goal (n.) – something that a person hopes to achieve in the future, an objective
motivated (adj.) – very much wanting to do or achieve something, especially because it is interesting or exciting
philosophy (adj.) – the attitude or set of ideas that guides the behaviour of a person or organization
potential (n.) – a natural ability or quality that one has, a talent that practice enables
skills (n.) – an ability to do something well, especially because you have learned and practiced it
structured (adj.) – carefully organized, planned, or arranged

How would you improve the above paragraph?

Select the response from each menu that best completes the paragraph agreement.

Our camp provides a service to help everyone reach potential. Our goal is for each camper to work hard and feel good about in a safe, disciplined, highly structured and motivated environment of learning and fun. We place every child and personal development ahead of the game. Every one of our children gets positive encouragement to improve fundamental skills. Also, sportsmanship while working with to win. At the end of the camp session, every child will get . By the end of the camp session, every child will have enjoyed basketball camp program.

Compare your responses:

STRATEGY 1: CHANGE ALL TO SINGULAR

Using singular pronouns (masculine) makes the paragraph grammatically correct, but it does not appeal to girls.
Using double singular pronouns (masculine and feminine) is a bit repetitive and awkward.

STRATEGY 2: CHANGE ALL TO PLURAL

Using plural nouns and pronouns removes the focus from the individual to "all".
It avoids indicating gender.

Our camp provides a service to help children reach potentials. Our goal is for all campers to work hard and feel good about in a safe, disciplined, highly structured and motivated environment of learning and fun. We place all children and personal development ahead of the game. All of our children get positive encouragement to improve fundamental skills. Also, sportsmanship while working with to win. At the end of the camp session, the children will get . By the end of the camp session, campers will have enjoyed basketball camp program.

Practice 2

General vs. Individual Focus

STRETEGY 3

Use plural nouns and pronouns for general statements.
Use singular nouns and pronouns for statements focusing on the individual attention given by the camp.

#	YOUR EDIT	ANSWERS
1.	Every child will receive his lunch and snack daily. CHANGE TO PLURAL AGREEMENT: All children Every child will receive his lunch and snack daily.
2.	All children will get individual help with their ball handling skills. CHANGE TO SINGULAR AGREEMENT: Every child All children will get individual help with their ball handling skills
3.	Campers, who have special needs, should talk to their counselors. CHANGE TO SINGULAR AGREEMENT: A camper Campers, who have special needs, should talk to their counselors. camper or day-camper (n.) – term for a child participating in a day-camp (sports program) activity.
4.	Campers will receive T-shirts with their names on them. CHANGE TO SINGULAR AGREEMENT: Each Campers will receive T-shirts with their names on them.
5.	Every day-camper will participate on a team to improve his sportsmanship skills. CHANGE TO PLURAL AGREEMENT: day-campers Every camper will participate on a team to improve sportsmanship skills.
6.	Each player will have an opportunity to get his name on the Award Board. CHANGE TO PLURAL AGREEMENT: Players Each player will have an opportunity to get his name on the Award Board.
7.	The children will find themselves becoming more confident. CHANGE TO SINGULAR AGREEMENT: Every The children will find themselves becoming more confident.

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PRACTICE ON POINTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Agreement