On: Why Sexist Language Matters

http://www.alternet.org/story/48856/

Speaking as a member of an allegedly priveleged class (ie. white male), I really have no authority to comment at all now, do I? Because I can't know what it's like to be discriminated against for who I am, especially through something as insidious as the very language we speak.
Okay, forget commenting on the alternet article. Does any white male enter any situation tabla rasa? Don't you think it takes us at least a few moments to convince "the underclass" that, despite superficial similaries, we aren't the father who neglected them, the uncle who diddled them, the frosh who raped them, the racist who taunted them, the boss who harrassed them...
A little note to anyone who thinks you and yours are the only ones who have it hard: Life is shitty for everyone. No one gets treated fairly. Everyone's got handicaps, internal and external; male, female, white, black(sic), rich, poor. Like Homer Simpson says, we all have a crayon up our nose.
So, bringing "personhole cover" into vogue is going to cure sexism? Cute. Unfortunately, any plan for equality which relies on changing the behaviour of the offending party is doomed for failure. In fact, it's counterproductive. Do you really think you'll be seen as an equal if you run off and tattle on your supposed equal?
We teach people how to treat us. They believe about us what we believe. I spent several years working in an office as the only male. Was I offended when the group was addressed as "girls"? Hells no. I knew the intention counted more than the linguistic specifics. Were my co-workers offended at being called girls? They didn't appear to be. I guess they didn't get the memo. Or maybe they just didn't depend on someone else to determine their identy.
Yes, there are certain behaviours which cannot be tolerated. Yes, sometimes the force of an outside organization is required. But no one's handing out "equality." Sometimes it requires believing, knowing you are equal, despite what anyone (or everyone) says.