Sexism in workplace language, or two gals in a garage and John McCain

Last updated on: July 28, 2017 at 4:36 pm by Jennifer Woodruff Tait

Sexism in workplace language, or two gals in a garage and John McCain 2017-07-28T16:36:24-05:00 Jennifer Woodruff Tait

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

startup-photos

I am, naturally, grateful that I still have health insurance this morning. I got a kick out of this tweet someone pointed me to:

Screenshot 2017-07-28 17.03.56

There’s also a New Yorker cartoon, previously published but re-circulating in response to yesterday’s events, where a woman is sitting in a work meeting composed mostly of men, and has obviously just spoken. The chairman responds, “That’s an excellent suggestion, Miss Triggs. Perhaps one of the men here would like to make it.”

All of which makes this a good day to point you to a BBC article about the way we use language differently for men and women in the workplace. (Why do I share so many BBC articles with you? Because I signed up for their weekly email “If You Only Read 6 Things This Week.” Not product placement here, just truth.)

The reporter notes that while our workplaces don’t sound like Mad Men anymore, we do use language differently when talking about and to men and women. For example, men get more specific performance reviews and women more vague ones, except for comments to women on their communication style. There’s also a note about the terms we used to use for female “versions” of certain jobs and roles, including “cousiness, fornicatress, greengroceress, inventress, murdermongress, pythoness, and revengeress.” (Sorry. I said earlier this week I wasn’t going to turn this into a linguistics blog.) While we can all laugh at those now, the article asks us to consider the implication of modern terms like “guys in a garage.” (Do women ever launch startups? Linguistically, I mean?)

So: ACA repeal was defeated by two gals in a garage. Say their names: Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins. And a guy who joined them at the last minute.

Image: Pexels.

Faith and the Workplace

women

women and work

women in the workplace

Previous Post

July 26, 2017

Health Insurance and Entreprenuership

Next Post

August 5, 2017 A mother and a pastor

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Audio posts Bible and Work Book Review Books Budgeting Calling Common Good Community Development Conferences Discipleship Economics Entrepreneurship Ethics Faith and Family Faith and the Marketplace Faith and the Workplace faith and work History of Work and Vocation Leadership Local Church Meaning New Blogger News Prayer Relationships Seminaries Theology of Work Uncategorized Video posts Vocation Worship Resources

Select a Month April 2026 October 2025 September 2025 July 2025 April 2025 January 2025 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 May 2024 March 2024 February 2024 December 2023 November 2023 August 2023 July 2023 April 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 May 2022 April 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 June 2021 May 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 January 2020 December 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What covered the sky during Jesus’ crucifixion?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Fire Darkness Clouds Rain