People Of Personchester Beware!

[naomi24]

In its “inclusive language guide” for staff and students, Manchester University says sibling should be used to replace brother and sister, parent or guardian should be used rather than mum and dad, and husband and wife are also discouraged so as not to offend anyone, with partner being the preferred term instead.

Fortunately they don't appear to have noticed the 'Man' in Manchester…. yet.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/19230338/manchester-uni-ban-brother-sister-mum-dad/

[Arrods]

Stretching a point, it’s also got ‘he’ in it.

[Peter Pedant]

//Exactly why we need Kemi and not Penny.//

no that is her favourite subject and not favourite thing or activity

[Gromit]

// The very fact that these are terminologies they would prefer to be used is bananas. //

Why? Language is constantly evolving, it is not static. Words go out of favour, other words replace them.
Peoples’ inability to cope with change is why you do not like the guidelines.
Nobody complained that schools had parents evenings, not mother and father evenings. Manchester University says it prefers parents. You will not lose your place at Uni if you disagree because they are only suggestions. The fact that the Sun and half of AB is upset is pathetic.

[naomi24]

//Peoples’ inability to cope with change is why you do not like the guidelines. //

That's not the reason I dislike it. I dislike it because it's utter nonsense. Mothers are, in fact, mothers, and calling them something other than mother doesn't change that.

[sp1814]

This is a guide for staff - not an edict.

So (for instance), if a member of staff were to write in a report:

“Stacey Williams may have to bring their mother and father in for an interview to reassess the grant”

They could instead write:

“Stacey Williams may have to bring her parents in for an interview to reassess the grant”

Seems pretty sensible - the word ‘parents’ applies to all parents whereas ‘mother and father’ is an inaccurate phrase when you consider sane-sex parents, and single parents.

[sp1814]

Meant to write:

HER mother and father

[sp1814]

Gromit - exactly.

It’s like the word ‘partner’. Notice how over the past ten years or so younger people have stared using that instead of husband and wife?

I put that down to language changing to meet the needs of society. People are getting married later (if at all) and boyfriend/girlfriend doesn’t really sound right when you’re referring to someone in their late 20s.

Same here - as society morphs, language should morph as well.

[youngmafbog]

//Notice how over the past ten years or so younger people have stared using that instead of husband and wife?//

I put that down to fewer being married.

[sp1814]

youngmafbog

Yep…I kinda said that in my post.

Language changes to meet societal changes.

[douglas9401]

'Dictum' has connotations in the porn star pecking order.

[naomi24]

Single parents and same sex parents are still mothers and fathers.

[albaqwerty]

Off topic, but would spelling woman "womb-an" help ? Same pronunciation

[Maydup]

Oh for goodness sake, a same sex relationship with two men doesn't involve a mother!

Queer men have husbands not wives!

[sp1814]

naomi24

A same sex couple who are raising a child will not be mum and dad. They will be mum and mum or dad and dad.

Therefore ‘parents’ is a better word to use as it encompasses all parents of whatever denomination.

[sp1814]

But to the point of the story - this is a language guide which can be referred to rather than the uni banning words.

[Redhelen72]

I prefer to be referred as partner rather than wife - as I am his equal

[Ellipsis]

> dad and dad

But ... but ... what if one of them is obviously the woman in the relationship? ;-p

[naomi24]

Whether children have one parent or two, mothers and fathers still exist. You can’t airbrush words that don’t suit you or your particular lifestyle out of existence, SP. it’s for you to work around -not the rest of us who are quite happy to be referred to, quite rightly, as mothers and fathers.

[pimplyteen]

I think the world is coming to an end :0) 2 males 1 mother and one daddy. Oh glory, oh god, help.

[naomi24]

RH, there’s nothing stopping you. Personally I’m very happy to be my husband’s wife.