6 ms·
I've noticed that economists and other academics like to use "she" in the same cases as the singular "they" - a common-gender third-person pronoun, the "he or s
by dimitar 11y ago
I've noticed that economists and other academics like to use "she" in the same cases as the singular "they" - a common-gender third-person pronoun, the "he or she". Yes, it intentionally uses the feminine third-person, but I guess it makes a point about inclusion this way.
- lsaferite 11y agoIt's a political statement. Usage of the male pronoun is historic just like the usage of the plural pronoun. The choice to go agains hundreds of years of usage is very political. Personally I prefer the plural when you do not know or do not wish to highlight the gender. It jibes more with my personal sense of right.
- ams6110 11y agoI was taught that "he" is gender-neutral as/when needed, and in true Humpty-Dumpty fashion that's what I use.
- efes 11y ago> Yes, it intentionally uses the feminine third-person, but I guess it makes a point about inclusion this way. I end up feeling suspicious of an author that uses she about ~75% of the time since it seems they remember to use it more often when referring to people in a customer/student/etc role or with an example question/mistake, yet more often use he or avoid pronouns when referring to an expert or people with titles. Meanwhile, they works perfectly fine, if it confuses someone that is their problem and if I said her problem there it would be because I was sexist for one reason and his for another. :)