This is just a heads-up to let you know that if you write "Mr. and Mrs." when you address a letter, you're a SEXIST a-hole.
--At least that's according to psychologists at the University of Surrey in England. They say that the convention of putting MALE names before FEMALE names is old fashioned and discriminatory.
--Now, a guy named Dr. Peter Hegarty is spearheading a movement to change our sexist ways of thinking.
--He says, quote, "In the 16th century, naming men before women became the acceptable word order to use because of the thinking that men were the worthier sex.
--"This grammar has continued with 'Mr and Mrs,' 'his and hers' and the names of romantic couples like SHAKESPEARE'S Romeo and Juliet.
--"The results of our studies suggest that people tend to put men, or male qualities, before women. As this is a remnant of the sexist grammar of the 16th century, it would seem that psychologically we are still sexist in writing."
(--I get what Dr. Hegarty is saying here . . . I think. But if he's correct . . . if we really are sexist in writing . . . then why don't we use "Gentlemen and Ladies" instead of "Ladies and Gentlemen"? A little food for thought . . .)
--At least that's according to psychologists at the University of Surrey in England. They say that the convention of putting MALE names before FEMALE names is old fashioned and discriminatory.
--Now, a guy named Dr. Peter Hegarty is spearheading a movement to change our sexist ways of thinking.
--He says, quote, "In the 16th century, naming men before women became the acceptable word order to use because of the thinking that men were the worthier sex.
--"This grammar has continued with 'Mr and Mrs,' 'his and hers' and the names of romantic couples like SHAKESPEARE'S Romeo and Juliet.
--"The results of our studies suggest that people tend to put men, or male qualities, before women. As this is a remnant of the sexist grammar of the 16th century, it would seem that psychologically we are still sexist in writing."
(--I get what Dr. Hegarty is saying here . . . I think. But if he's correct . . . if we really are sexist in writing . . . then why don't we use "Gentlemen and Ladies" instead of "Ladies and Gentlemen"? A little food for thought . . .)
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